I have this set of 4 wood picture frames that I love- and use them in my kitchen all of the time to display inspirational or holiday art. I change out the artwork every month or so- and because these frames were constructed using bendable metal fasteners, I have found that over time, they have worn out- to the point where they just break off.
These fasteners normally work by inserting a knife under them and lifting up…
But several of my frames have reached the point where we have none of these metal closings left. Since I love my frames, I wanted to find an easy way to repair them myself… and with a little trial and error- here's what I did:
How to Repair a Picture Frame:
1. Purchase new hardware
I ordered these 1″ Fasteners
2. Secure the fastener
I temporarily attached the 1″ lever fastener to the back of the frame using scotch tape. Make sure that you position it close enough to the inside edge of the frame so that when the lever is turned, it will hold the frame back firmly in place.
3. Secure the teeny tiny screw
The screws that work with these fasteners are miniscule. And trying to hold one in place in order to screw it into the back of the frame is darned near impossible. I tried using a electric drill with a small magnetic bit, I tried holding it…. nothing worked. It is just too small. So here's where things get a little goofy….
Secure the screw in place by placing another piece of tape over the top of the screw and down on both sides of it and onto the frame. This will keep the screw upright while you…
4. Hammer the darn thing into place!
I know! It goes against all common sense to hammer in a screw. But with an object this teeny-tiny coming into contact with such a hard piece of wood as is on the frame, it is impossible to properly start and then tighten down the screw. That is… until you hammer it nearly 90% of the way into place!
5. Tighten it down with a small screwdriver
It needs to be just loose enough so that the lever can move to the side to change out the artwork, but tight enough so that the lever stays firmly in place once you are done.
And Ta-Da! You have a perfectly repaired frame that will allow you to change out your artwork as often as you would like!
What small projects are you tackling around your house this week?
Em22 says
OMG…I cant take these metal prongs that come on OLD OLD professionally framed pictures that I take apart and reuse the frame for a new pricture and usually a new coat pf paint….No matter HOW HARD I try to be careful, once I bend them UP to remove the old backing, thats it, they fall out and cant be bent back into place! I even found the same metal prongs that come on the old frames, but didnt realize they are professionally done…with a machine…that puts these old metal prongs into the frame, lol, I was like NO WONDER I cant figure out how to get it into the frame right! A professional framer told me this after I had tried for a good hour & frustrated myself enough to go into a frame store and ask how they work….it has cost me many a project that I had sitting waiting for a way to put the back on without the picture flopping all over the place or without just saying screw it and hot gluing it to death bc that is where Im at right now! Unfortunately the frame Im working with right now has too small of a backing lip to screw one of these into! Wahhhh!!!!! Back to square negative 10
What I did want to say that helps me though…when a screw or nail (saw tooth hanger are also the bane of my existence) is way too small to hold and hammer or screw into place…I use “Poster Tack”….its a blue gummy material that usually comes in a big square & you can rip it into strips or even little pieces usually used to hang posters on the wall instead of making holes with tacks etc…you can even get it at the dollar store, but it works almost like putty or gum & I take a small ball of it, stick it into the hanger hole, then stick the nail into the ball of poster tack & it holds it in place perfectly! Once I get the nail halfway in, I pull the tack off and finish hammering the nail in (or screw) and whats great about it is the nail or screw will go right through the tack while stil holding in place and its VERY easy to use! Plus, bonus, it never dries out or hardens, & a tiny ball goes forever, lol, a $1 (or $1.25) Dollar Tree item can last you, literally, for a lifetime! Lol, I have had my pack of poster tack from DT for about 5 yrs now, Ive only use a tiny square bc I lost my last bag of saw tooth hangers & in it my little balls of putty I was using and had to start over, lol! And I use these a lot on wood signs I make!
Hope this helps and is easier for you (and anyone else that might read my novel, lol) than the tape bc Id imagine while easier than trying to hold it, it cant be the easiest way to hold a screw into place, lol! Oh and the poster tack ALSO holds the saw tooth in place at the same time!
Sue Phillips says
I know that this post is a couple of years old but I just have to say that I found this post and your advice quite helpful in my time of need!
elena soontit says
How do your do this on a ceramic picture frame? Any suggestions is appreciated.. Thanks a lot.
Sharon Rowley says
Hmm… that is a tough one- perhaps you can glue on the fasteners?
Bridget says
Hi from Alabama Sharon!🥰❤,
Thanks so much for sharing this fantastic tip! I’ve been removing the backs on some framed artwork and cleaning the glass today. Those little metal clasp have been popping all over the place and I was afraid I was going to have to resort to tape or maybe try tacks(??!!)! I am sure all the frames on the highest shelf in my kitchen are rigged! Lol But seriously, though, great article. I enjoyed it and I am excited to be able to refurbish my pretty frames and set them out again.
Nita says
Hi I’m trying to find these fasteners on Amazon by looking up what you called them. Is there another name for them?
T says
Picture frame turn buttons
Petra says
What about if it is a shadow box frame? :/
Daisy says
Hi but where do yo buy the the repair kits? Also I am looking for small pieces of flat metal in the shape of an L to pull together the frame. Can someone where can get these in bulk? Thanks!
Em22 says
You need a special machine for those…lol, can ya tell what brought me here…but those cant be put back in, trust me Ive tried for yrs…then I asked a professional framer how to put them back in and they told me its a special machine that did it…and had no other suggestions…Ive resorted to nails in the past, not the best I know…but I was out of ideas, like I am now and facing this issue again. The lip is too small for one of these button turn thingies she used in this post. Ill prb hot the glue the heck out of it, at least it doesnt have glass on front. But its not thick enough for a nail or even a staple which are also things I tried in the past but for the same reason, didnt work. Very frustrating
Anonymous says
Thank you! Exactly what I was looking for…I have frames that I change each year with my children’s school pictures and they’ve been broken but I still like the frames.
Sheri S says
I’m having this exact same problem and I’m not handy with tools at all, so this is more my speed. Thanks for the share!!
Becky says
Super helpful article! I’d seen those button turns for picture frame on the back of nicer picture frames but never would have known what to search for. I fixed up a few of my old frames this morning. Thanks so much!
Alicia says
THANK YOU! I have so many frames with those stupid metal pieces that break after three or four uses.
Rachel says
OMG. This is the most valuable piece of information I found online. I’ve searched and searched the Internet. Everything online says to use gun to insert new insert tabs. I’m not a framer nor do it as a hobby and purchasing a $60 tool to do some projects is mind boggling. So thank you!!
Kyle S. says
Wouldn’t it be easier to drill a pilot hole with a pin vise rather than pound in a screw?
John says
Did you drill a pilot hole?
Sharon says
I didn’t- but my husband will tell you that it would have been easier on me if I did!
Kyler Brown says
My wife put up some pictures in our entry way, and I’ve already knocked them off the wall by accident multiple times. I appreciated this post because I think I owe my wife some repairs on the frames. I liked your tip to hammer in the screw, which I agree normally would go against all common sense. Thanks for sharing!