tombe
True Grumbler
Has anyone had trouble with mountcore and need to counter mount.
I pre-warm my release board.When using a release board you need to add another minute or two to get the adhesive to activate properly.
I will be framing. Only about a 16x20 poster quality print but wrecked surface of one I am replacing and trying to make sure of things. Will also be putting a thin mat per cust. request. A digital print I think and was thinking of lower temp then 160 I was using with fusion. Can check my other reply.Are you using a mechanical or vacuum press?
I use a mechanical Seal press.
For larger items/posters there can sometimes be a fair bit of bowing.
Here's what I do to minimize (not completely eliminate) bowing on larger items:
Sometimes even this won't get rid of all bowing.
- use the lowest temperature I can, while still achieving a good bond.
- whenever possible, put the paper item between two slips of kraft paper and put it under the press for 15 seconds or so.
- this is recommended to remove any moisture that may be in the paper item, plus I like to take out any curl in the paper item before mounting
- I don't know if it really matters, but the reasoning seems sound to me: a curled item will want to "pull up" a bit more, because of the difference of the bonded side of the Mountcor reacting to the activated glue differently than the non glued side. It also really depends on the nature of the material the item is made from.
- do only one "bite" of the press, then immediately put under weight covering the entire item, not just the heated section
- layers over the mounted item on Mountcor: a coated slip sheet, then foam board, then weights
- have all items laid out and ready to put in place, so the Mountcor doesn't cool down at all before being weighted
- let it sit for at least 5 mins or more
- repeat steps above for the next bite, etc.
- after all sections have been bonded, if it still has some bowing, I will warm the entire piece (not under pressure) and re-weight for 10-15 mins.
Is this for an item to go into a frame? Or for an unframed display?
I usually caution my customers that Mountor is not always the best choice for non-framed displays. Simply because of the nature of this problem of bowing.
I have never used it, but I think Gatorboard is a better (stiffer) mounting material, but it doesn't have pre-applied glue, like Mountcor.
I pre-warm my release board.
While preparing the item on the Mountcor, the press is warming up with the release board under the platen.
All toasty and ready to go.
Many years ago I had a similar thing happen to a 12x18 cheap cheap cheap poster print a customer ordered online.I wrecked the surface sheen of a print that I am replacing and thought mountcore might work.
Did read their material and that is why I was thinking of mountcore. Poster did look similar to one you were talking abut. Some photos also look that way. Maybe pressuer sensitive would work. Will order a couple of them at 15.00 each and experiment with one for future reference.Mountcor functions at only 130 deg.
MountCor® - Gilman Brothers CompanyGilman Brothers Company
gilmanbrothers.com
Excellent idea, I never have tried thisI pre-warm my release board.
I was thinking of mountcore because of lower temp and worried about affecting the surface inks of the print/poster that I think is digital. Not sure how good a digital as they also sell a giclee version.I'm pretty sure MountCor still has a thermosetting adhesive, which means that it can be activated by heat only once. It's essential to get it right the first time, since re-heating would not increase the bond. Also, reversing the mount requires a solvent bath.
If you want a more forgiving dry mounting board, Kool Tack has a thermoplastic adhesive, which means that it can be reactivated by subsequent applications of heat. So, you could put it back into the press if the bond didn't hold the first time. Also, you can reverse it using heat.
I lay on a flat surface of usually smooth mat board for most, face and back, with plate glass weight and leave for awhile. Some I leave under weight till I use. Sometimes leave release paper on and sometimes not. By the wa,y do you usually use regular release paper? usually don't have a problem with. I am more concerned about wrecking the finish of this kind of poster/print then buckeling.We almost always use Mount Cor for such things. (Although I sure was happy, when I accidentally mounted a Post-It under something, that I'd used KoolTack).
When you remove the mounted art from the press, what do you do with it? Lay it flat? If so, with or without weights? Or do you stand it up, leaning against something?
Hmm. Thanks for that information, Wally. Maybe something has changed from the original adhesive. It would be interesting to know why it can be reactivated before actual mounting, but not afterward.Jim, I have used cut offs from used Mountcor and reused them with the same results as a fresh board. You can't reactivate and release the bond on a mounted item, so this falls somewhere between those two definitions. I use a fair amount of the product and find that new and used act pretty much the same.
Another benefit of MountCor is that it would not be affected by high heat from some ambient condition. I once heard of Kool Tack releasing after exposure to high heat in a sun-drenched vehicle, but that would not happen with MountCor....I really like the individual release sheets provided with each sheet of Mountcor.
I still use a release paper over it. Used to use a release board, but haven't in a few years.I lay on a flat surface of usually smooth mat board for most, face and back, with plate glass weight and leave for awhile. Some I leave under weight till I use. Sometimes leave release paper on and sometimes not. By the wa,y do you usually use regular release paper? usually don't have a problem with. I am more concerned about wrecking the finish of this kind of poster/print then buckeling.
The release material on the mountcore is a huge plus and shiny smooth. Regular release paper is good on many things but I have to use care that there is no crinkles or other things on it from using more then once. I use "fusion" on somethings and have to make sure nothing is left behind especially the blue type of release paper but not so much the other. I also used the board for awhile and haven't lately for some reason. May get out again and see why.I still use a release paper over it. Used to use a release board, but haven't in a few years.
Another nice feature of MountCor is that it has tiny holes all through it. (Maybe every 1/2", or so.) Really helps to prevent bubbling.
The only problem I've had was a few years ago, when someone brought in a print from a local sign maker. I didn't realize it was basically a giant sticker, with a peel off back. It had also been coated with something. It mounted fine, but the finish dappled a bit. Ever since, I've told people who bring in prints with coatings about the risk that it could do that. This has only happened a few times, and tended to be with small prints on canvas that didn't have enough to stretch. They didn't want to add Beva, either. We ended up cold mounting to another substrate with acrylic gel medium and weights, and it worked well. But in general, any simple, postery thing gets Mount Cor. That said, KoolTack is great, and as long as the printing medium can take the heat, it's a fine option. And, as you've used it before, you likely know that their adhesive can come on different substrates.
Most printing for our industry these days is pigmented ink with ink-jet technology. Giclee is just a fancy word for ink-jet. They are all digital technologies.I was thinking of mountcore because of lower temp and worried about affecting the surface inks of the print/poster that I think is digital. Not sure how good a digital as they also sell a giclee version.
I'm so glad you said that Wally.Giclee is just a fancy word for ink-jet.
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