Hidden Dove Tail Picture frame Mount

Hidden Sliding Dovetail Picture Frame Wall Mount

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This is a custom 3D printable sliding dovetail picture frame mounting system designed to hold lightweight picture frames and wall decor with a clean, low-profile look.

 

This is only v.1; v.2 is being designed with framing and installation in mind. 

 

The system uses two matching parts:

• Frame-side male dovetail rails
• Wall-side female dovetail slots

The male dovetail rails attach to the back of the picture frame, and the female dovetail slots attach to the wall. Once installed, the frame slides into place and is supported by the dovetail geometry.

I designed this mount for my own picture frame and tested it in a real wall installation. 

Installation Method

The easiest way I found to install it was to use the frame itself as an alignment guide:

1. Attach the male dovetail rails to the back of the frame via double-sided tape.
2. Slide the female dovetail wall mounts onto the rails.
3. Temporarily tape the female mounts in place so they do not slide off with a less abrasive tape.
4. Add double-sided tape to female mounts.
5. Use a level to mark a straight reference line on the wall.
6. Press the full assembly onto the wall in the correct position.
7. Remove the temporary tape.
8. Lift/slide the frame off, leaving the wall-side mounts aligned.
9. Secure the wall-side mounts properly before final use.

This method helps transfer the exact spacing from the frame to the wall without measuring each dovetail mount separately.

Load Design Information

This mount was designed around my actual picture frame, which weighs approximately 2.34 kg / 5.16 lb.

Estimated frame weight force:

2.34 kg × 9.81 m/s² = 22.96 N

So the frame applies about 23 N of static downward load.

The design uses four dovetail joints. The total target shear capacity was approximately 69 N, which means each joint was designed around:

69 N ÷ 4 joints = 17.25 N per joint

Compared to the estimated frame load of about 23 N, the design target provides roughly a 3.0× static load safety factor:

69 N ÷ 22.96 N ≈ 3.0

This equals about 46 N of additional static shear margin above the estimated weight of my frame.

These numbers are design calculations only and are not a certified load rating.

Print Recommendations

Recommended settings:

• Material: PLA, PLA+, PETG, or stronger
• Nozzle: 0.4 mm
• Layer height: 0.2 mm
• Wall loops: 4 or more
• Infill: 15% or higher
• Test-fit before mounting anything valuable

For best results, print one male/female dovetail pair first and make sure the parts slide together smoothly without being too loose or too tight.

Included Files

This upload includes ready-to-print files and CAD-friendly files for makers who want to modify the design.

Included file types may include:

• 3MF print profile
• STL files
• STEP files for CAD editing/remixing

Important Safety Disclaimer

Use this model at your own risk. This is a DIY 3D-printed wall-mounting system and is not professionally tested, certified, or load-rated.

Actual strength depends on filament type, print settings, print orientation, layer adhesion, screw choice, wall material, adhesive choice, surface preparation, installation accuracy, temperature, humidity, and user installation quality.

Do not use this mount for heavy, fragile, expensive, overhead, safety-critical, or irreplaceable items. Do not install above beds, seating areas, walkways, pets, children, or anywhere failure could cause injury or property damage.

The user is responsible for choosing proper hardware, testing the mount, and confirming that the installation is safe for their use case.