Hanging a lot of poster prints can be expensive...unless you use recycled materials for DIY.

This map is printed in a lot. The off-the-shelf suspension rod will not cut it.

Posters or large-format prints look great on your wall, but just stick them in place and they look more like what you find in your student dormitory than your lovely home. Instead, using poster hangers to hang large prints may be a more attractive solution—and much less expensive than trying to find a huge frame.

The poles connect to your poster from the top and bottom: the top strip provides a way to hang it on the wall, while the bottom serves as a weight to keep the poster close to the wall. 

But some fishing rods are not cheap, especially if you want to buy fishing rods for huge billboard-sized prints. I recently ordered a 47x71 inch print, but if I want to hang it up, I need to get a customized pole, which costs about $80.

The wooden baton I got was cheap, but it was dirty and worn.

Instead, I made it myself with wood I bought for a dollar. That's it. 

Step 1: I measured the top edge of the print. If you hang it vertically, it will be a shorter measurement. If you hang it horizontally, it will take longer to measure. I wanted the rod to extend slightly beyond the print, so I added about 2 inches on each side.

Step 2: I visited a local reclaimed wood supplier. If you can recycle and reuse other discarded wood, it is always better than using original wood, but there may not be a wood recycling shop near you. (Google will help you there.) I found a few pieces of mismatched wood, but this is not a problem, I asked the wood shop to cut them to the right size. I spent 78 pence in the UK, which is almost exactly one dollar. I cannot argue with value. 

I used orbital manual sanders for a while and they looked like new.

Step 3: Recycle from old furniture. I think the wood is a bit chipped and rough, with visible pen and printing marks. I used an orbital manual sander and polished two pieces thoroughly until they looked and felt great. 

Step 4: I used Danish wood oil on an old rag (previously an old T-shirt) and dipped the oil into the wood to make it darker. This is just an aesthetic choice, if you prefer the natural tone of wood, you don't need to follow it. 

After oiling and drying, I screwed on a picture hook to connect the rope used to hang the frame.

Step 5: I screw the two picture hooks into the part that will form the top bar, and tie a rope between the two. I used enough rope to wrap it back three times to make it stronger overall when hanging. Although one or two times may be enough, I worry that the weight of the printed matter plus the wood may cause too much pressure.

Step 6: Attaching the printed poster to the hanging pole is the most difficult part. The preform usually has two pieces on the top and two pieces on the bottom. Each pair is usually snapped together using a magnet to capture the print and hold it in place. I couldn't find thin enough wood to do this, so I chose a solid piece with larger ends, and I used small nails and glue to stick it on the poster. 

I first fixed the printed matter to the pole with small nails. It makes it easier to put the prints in place and keep them taught at all times.

The disadvantage is that you cannot simply exchange prints by releasing the magnet when you want to refresh. Using my solution to remove the print will involve tearing off the top and bottom. On the bright side, if you know you want to hang this photo for a long time, this is a very cost-effective solution. If this is the case, use this permanent repair method. 

I squeeze some glue into the gap between the nails to add extra strength.

The poster should be affixed to the back of the pole with enough overlap so that you can put the poster in place. When your print is aligned with the bar, use small nails (or a sturdy staple gun) to hold the print in place and move it along its length to ensure it stays tight and aligned. Then, using a tube of thin-end glue, insert the glue into the gap between the nails or staples and stack some heavy objects (I used some books and a PlayStation 4 that happened to be nearby) until the glue dries. 

I weighed the pole with a book and PS4 until the glue dries.

Step 7: Hang the installed print from a rope attached to any conventional picture hooks or nails on the wall. Make sure that the hook or nail can bear the weight of the newly installed print, especially when it is hammered into the old plasterboard. 

Step 8: Take a step back and enjoy your lovely big print.