need picture rail help

[Ireland House]

Almost all of the common areas in my house have picture rail. I seems to be placed too high, either too close to the ceiling or the crown molding. I cannot get hooks onto it. It seems to be in its original position. Is there a different kind of hook, or am I just not getting it? Ther are two hooks on the rail in the living room that will not come off, but will move side to side. Could they have put the hooks on it before they put it up? If so, now what do I do?

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[Mick_VT]

what do the hooks that you are trying to use look like?

[Ireland House]

We ordered it from HoAH. All of theirs pretty much had the same hook.

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[phil]

I can't really visualize the molding. it looks like it is a crown molding up against the ceiling and the picture is upside down ? maybe it's too early for me

I was wondering if the rail is for plates not pictures?

[Ireland House]

Here is a closer picture. It is the bottom row of woodwork that is shorter than the upper molding. They put mitered returns on all of the open ends, so you can't even slide one on the end. The same rail is along some of the ceilings, with only about 1/8" gap.

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[phil]

maybe if they were the same general shape but made of round wire about the weight of a coat hanger then you might be able to turn them sideways and slip them in. I'd try a bit of coat-hanger or if you want something thinner and easy to bend as a test.
When i got the shape then maybe bend them out of brass wire. braising rod is an easy source. You could use silver wire too. the stuff you use for silver solder might work OK; probably a bit harder than pure silver like you might find in jewelry making supplies.
otherwise yea you'd have to remove the return to get them in which might not be impossible either. you might be able to use a coping saw blade to modify the return and the cut wouldn't be very noticible.
a dremil with a small spiral bit might be a way to cut a slot without taking it down.
like this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nF8-SV6ZA0M

[Mick_VT]

I'm thinking you likely just need to reshape the hook a little (flatten the top out) and it should pop in, so long as it is still hook shaped it should work fine.

This is particularly interesting to me as I am planning on fitting a similar picture rail setup in my dining room.

[Casey]

It looks like there are two teeth or prongs on the end? I would start by grinding those down, see if you can get them in then. Round off any sharp edges so as not to scratch that wood! It's great!
Casey

[JRC]

I have the same problem. Until your post, I assumed that maybe someone put up a thin layer of drywall--or a skim coat of plaster--to conceal cracking original plaster. But now, I think the picture hooks are just too big. (and mine aren't so easily modified as yours)

[Ireland House]

Thanks guys. Will let you know what we figure out. P