hangingplasterwalls
I'm looking to hang up some canvas art (already on stretcher bars). However, I don't know what kind of hardware I need to use, because I have no idea what kind of walls they are. They don't seem like drywall because they seem like they're solid walls. Here is a likely useless video of me tapping on the wall.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufvZzCUg1Gc
Is this plaster? If I want to put a screw in, should I drill a hole first? Should I be looking for studs?
Add the studs at the ends of the wall. It should not affect the installation.
Look at the video. At 3:38 they talk about having clips close together in some places. They say it is normal.
Metal studs are great for framing walls. They are super light, easy to work with, straight. But you've discovered one drawback...they don't have nearly the strength of a wooden 2x4 for mounting things to it.
Metal studs do come in different gauges though. The heavier, the better. But it sounds like yours are fairly lightweight.
Some options:
Best Answer
The walls look and sound like plaster, probably over wooden lath. The lath is then nailed to wooden studs at intervals, probably at 16 inch centers.
A common approach to hanging art and mirrors on both plaster and plasterboard (drywall) is to use picture hooks with thin, hardened nails, such as these
The nails are sharp enough and thin enough not to do damage to most plaster. The hooks (properly sized and in multiples) are strong enough to hold up over 100 lbs. Canvases on stretchers should be no problem unless they are many feet long.
Use at least two hooks to spread the load and improve leveling of hte pictures.
When the load approaches 100 lbs., extends out from the wall, or is subject to movement, it's time to find studs, or at least heavy duty toggle bolts.