Do you tape the points?

Susan May

Susan May

PFG, Picture Framing God
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Just wondering... (since I have heard a few different answers to this question) When you are fitting a frame job, do you use tape on the points/nails to either keep them in place, or give a nice clean look (if the paper tears) on the back?

I was taught to use "Framers' Tape" and had reciently had the chance to reopen one of my own frame jobs... yuck! :eek: Since then I have not taped the points on ANY of my jobs. The tape had dried out, and was starting to shed dry adheasive. It also left a yellow acid burn where the tape had been on the back of the Art Care Foam Core. So much for the Framer's Tape being Acid Free!

So... If you do tape your points, what kind of tape? If not, why?
 
Originally posted by Susan May:
do you use tape on the points/nails to either keep them in place, or give a nice clean look (if the paper tears) on the back?
Click to expand...
I've never done it because:
(a) If for some reason the points start to come out, I don't think the tape would hold it. and
(b) Who says they look ugly? As a wise woman is known to say, "we're not magicians" and something has to hold stuff in place! ;)

Back in the "olden days" we used finishing nails over corragated cardboard and covered the nails with masking tape. Now that was yucky!

Betty
 
I tape the points only if they are so close that they may tear through the paper. And I use acid free artist tape.
 
We use the Fletcher #2 (diamond shaped) glazers points on almost all of our fittings.

Those kind of points are pretty flexible. In a tight frame where the ends stick up, we just “flatten” them flush with the (usually) foam board backing using a screwdriver or some such easily found tool. Once they are flush with the backing, there is no need to tape. Tape is awful expensive anyway – we cover up such ugliness with black Kraft paper.
 
I tape the points. I do it mainly to keep the art from shifting in the package, since there is always a little "play". I use FrameTac, PH neutral framer's tape for preservation packages, and acid free Artist's tape for everything else.
 
Susan's description of how tape degrades serves
as an excellent caution against the use of pressure-sensitive tape in porximity to valuable
material. Such tapes seem to "dry out" very
rapidly in proximity to alkaline surfaces. This
suggests that spinning window mats or securing
hinges or edge supports to the back mat, with
such tape, is likely to lead to eventual failure of the tape's hold.

Hugh
 
Susan's description of how tape degrades serves
as an excellent caution against the use of pressure-sensitive tape in porximity to valuable
material. Such tapes seem to "dry out" very
rapidly in proximity to alkaline surfaces.
Click to expand...
Hugh, Shout it from the mountain tops!!!!!

Bad tape!
Bad tape!
You might as well use duct tape!
Sorry got carried away.
 
For those of who like to tape the points, what would you recommend, if anything? I'm always up to changing my ways if it means doing a better job overall.
 
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