Opinions Wanted An invitation....

[RoboFramer]

To join in a discussion on the TFF - The (UK etc) Framers Forum, or to comment on it here if you are not registered/don't want to register.

http://theframersforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=7207

Photos in the OP may take a while to load, but by the time you've read the gist they should be done.

 

[D_Derbonne]

I can't remember my user name so registered again. Wonder how long it takes to be approved and how long it will take them to kick us out of there?

 

[Rick Granick]

Isn't the glaze on tiles essentially glass? It does look to me like the backing layer of the tile was scraped away in the corners before the adhesive was applied, because the largest glob was in the center, and the center back of the tile does not look abraded. I don't think the silicone did the damage. I think it just failed. Aside from the question of whether the acetic acid causes harm, silicone has a "shelf life". Often, silicone that is "past its prime" never cures properly. I suspect that is what happened here.
:kaffeetrinker_2: Rick

 

[osgood]

John,
I guess you already know my thoughts on the use of silicone in framing, as they are the same as yours.

As most of us know, avoiding the use of products that might have harmful chemical affects is advisable!
Mechanical mounting methods where no chemicals, especially acids is advisable!


With the revelation of this huge discovery on TFF, it gives me great hope that in the future another certain harmful product will also lose it's high esteem in your part of the world!


Sorry I have no interest in posting on TFF, again. I noticed that 'conservation police' seems to becoming a popular phrase, again from some participants! Pretty sad really!

 

[Prospero]

I wasn't entirely serious about the chewing gum Ormond.

 

[osgood]

Peter,
I recognised that you were doing a bit of leg pulling!

 

[RoboFramer]

It does look to me like the backing layer of the tile was scraped away in the corners before the adhesive was applied, because the largest glob was in the center, and the center back of the tile does not look abraded

There was no silicone in the centre, I just put the lose bits in the centre of the board, the tile is convex.

 

[Rick Granick]

Ah. OK, then.

Bottom line is that mechanical mounting methods are superior to adhesives of any kind for mounting objects, not only for safety of the object but also for reliability of the mount. These, however, are not "invisible". Often it comes down to explaining to customers why their ideas of what is "possible" may not be "appropriate" or "advisable". I usually have success by by explaining that if they look at how objects are displayed in museums, they will see that the mounts are not invisible. On the contrary, they are elegantly designed to be unobtrusive yet sturdy and effective, and do not spoil the object's presentation at all.

If preservation is not a concern for a particular job and a completely invisible, permanent float mount is what the customer wants, why use silicone anyway? Might as well go straight to the Liquid Nails, PC7, or some other construction grade goop for more predictable long-term performance. Obviously it would be important to make sure the substrate is not just a thin layer of paper or fabric glued to a board which would be the "weak link in the chain".

The customer should understand that the decision to use an adhesive object mount is an "all or nothing" proposition (because halfway measures pretty much guarantee eventual failure of the mount), and that this is not something about which they can change their mind later.
:kaffeetrinker_2: Rick