TYVEK vs. Lineco vs. ????

[ajhohen]

I have been using Lineco for as dust cover for about a year and really like it, BUT am always looking for something better and/or less expensive. Someone said (i don't remember who) that they use TYVEK as the dust cover. Does anyone use it? If so, where do you get it from, what size does it come in, what is the cost and what are the good and bad points about it. Does anyone use and other type of material for a dust cover, excluding regular of black Kraft paper? Thanks for any info.

Note: I called a local lumber yard and they stock the paper, but they said it is used to "wrap" exterior walls on buildings before bricking. They said it comes in 9 foot wide rolls 100 feet long. I don't know if this is the correct item.

[This message has been edited by ajhohen (edited September 07, 2000).]

[Marc Lzier]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR> ajhohen sez:
The local lumber yard stocks the paper, but they said it is used to "wrap" exterior walls on buildings before bricking. They said it comes in 9 foot wide rolls 100 feet long. I don't know if this is the correct item. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

In answer to this part: Yes it is the same material, but it has stuff written all over it.

Franks Fabrics in CA carries the stuff in realistic sized rolls, and, of course, with no writing on it (it is all white). I don't know who else carries it for framers.

[MerpsMom]

Did anyone ever establish that it is or isn't suitable for full conservation framing?

[JRB]

Merpsmom,
When your doing full consevation, if your putting a four ply rag behind the picture and then acid free foam core, I think being concerned about an acid free dust cover is overkill. One hundred years from now no mater what you use for a dust cover it will probably be torn or disintegrated just from time and the ellements.
Back in the sixtys I pulled a frame job from the early 1700s apart. It was a heavy oak frame with wood backing and square handmade nails holding it together. Behind the wood backing was a complete newspaper from that era. The newspaper was made from rag paper, not wood pulp. The first page against the wood was burned black from the acid in the wood, the second page was dark brown, the third page was light brown, the fourth page was white, the rest of the paper looked like it had been printed yesterday. The picture was in just about prestine condition even though it had been put directly against the glass ( it was a steel engraving ) If you look at the thickness of newspaper against four ply rag I don't think you have to concern yourself about the acid content of a dust cover, I mean over 200 years ago they used WOOD and newspaper and the picture was fine.
I am not a conservator and I don't pretend to be one, but believe me, kraft paper is just fine.
John

[This message has been edited by JRB (edited September 07, 2000).]

[MerpsMom]

You're probably going to hear something about that last statement, John. http://www.thegrumble.com/framer/ubbs/smile.gif

[JRB]

I know, don't you just love it ?
John

[JPete]

John, I agree.

[Frank]

I agree with John too. I can't imagine that the backing paper could damage the art through the AF foam core and 4ply backing board I use in conservation framing. At what point do we stop? Acid free paint on the wall that the picture hangs on? The only real advantage is that 50 years from now the acid free paper should still be in good shape on the back of the piece whereas kraft paper will have disintegrated by then.
Tyvek was brought up at a conservation class (PPFA sponsored??) I took a couple of years ago. If I recall correctly it seems the main advantage of Tyvek was that moisture can only pass in one direction through it which is why it is used in the building trade to wrap houses. Hopefully you put it on in the right direction so moisture can come out of the frame package not into it. Another advantage is that people can't put their fingers through it when they incorrectly grab the top of the frame to carry it. I hate that! I can't remember if it was considered acid free but as a plastic (or fiberglass?) based product it will probably last thousands of years.

[Frank]

How did I end up posting twice?

[This message has been edited by Frank (edited September 09, 2000).]

[ArtLady]

Falconeast Carries it.

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Timberwoman
AL
I cut the mat, I pet the =^..^= cat.

[po' framer]

That's probably me, Frank; I'd end up putting Tyvek on back'erds and the frame would fill up with water and never drain out.

[cutting edge]

Please don't anyone get mad at me, but sometimes if I am framing a commission I have created for someone's birthday, or holiday gift, etc., I will use heavy weight, appropriate wrapping paper for the dust cover. It is very festive. On large pictures, I use a layer of Kraft with a layer of gift wrap over that.

[Marc Lzier]

That sounds like a #### fine idea. Around the holidays I replace the craft roll in the store with a roll of neutral holiday paper to wrap customer stuff as needed. But for the backing is not such a bad idea after all.


marc

[JRB]

In the old days a lot of framing was done at the neighborhood paint and wallpaper store. They used to use short rolls, discontinued, etc. of wallpaper for dustcovers.
I think using gift wrap is a fantastic idea, especially for wedding photos and invitations.
CUTTING EDGE. thanks for a great idea.
Please keep trying to make us laugh,
John

[MerpsMom]

I'll second and third this: what a versatile backing option this creates. Who will now weigh in and flog us for non-conservation usage? They may be right, but they won't have as much fun. Let's just put the fun stuff on top of the Lineco acid-free.

[Kit aka emrr]

I love the holiday gift wrap idea when it's mounted over something stronger so I don't put my thumb through it. But I'll pass on the wallpaper, especially the pre-pasted kind. Silverfish take one look at that stuff and start licking their little lips and saying "Yum, yum." Or, as Frank suggested, are we obsessing over a non issue?
How does everybody feel about the idea that framed pieces should be taken apart every ten years or so, freshened up, cleaned up, checked for problems? Kit

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Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana

[BUDDY]

Kit ,I was told that the frequecy was every 5-7 years .Personally I think it 's Great for business but I wonder how many consumers see it the same way. I think a lot of these "RULES/suggestions" are designed for Serious art collectors and most of my clients don't fit this description.
In the words of Herb Carithers " You need to tell clients what they need,since most don't know ....But then in the real world" I think you get the idea.I think most wonder ,'Didn't you do it right the first time?' Or'Why am I paying this much if it's temporary?'
BUDDY

[This message has been edited by BUDDY (edited September 10, 2000).]

[Susan May]

I switched to brown paper on the back about 10 years ago so the my customers could write on the back. I have found that a lot of people like to put information on the back.

1) Name and age of people in photo
2) Date of wedding, anniversery, graduation, etc.
3) "Memories from vacation"

And so on....

My customers seem to appreciate that I think about the future owners of the artwork.

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Sue May :)
"Everyone is born right-handed, only the greatest can over come it!"

[Lance E]

Maybe, just maybe it would be fun to put NEWSPAPER on the back. http://www.thegrumble.com/framer/ubbs/smile.gif

[Kit aka emrr]

Nah. I have enough trouble putting it in the front. And then there's the question of who gets to do the cross word, you or the customer. But what about all those lovely big sheets on brown paper that come between the lights in a box of glass? Kit

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Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana

[This message has been edited by Kit aka emrr (edited September 10, 2000).]

[JRB]

Most of the finer high end custom framing shops put that yellowish beige plastic packing tape over the crack between their corrogated cardboard backing and the frame.
You can pick this stuff up in those $1.98
tool bins at your neighborhood conveniance store.
You can also apply a quick but quality hanger on the frame by stretching a piece of string across the back of the frame and stapeling it in place.
If you think I'm joking, I've seen this done many times, all though I am pushing it a little bit on the high end framing shop part.
John