Framing Large Map

[jacqueline]

This job is done, so I'm a bit late asking for advice, but am curious to know how others would have handled this job. A hospital wanted a 5' x 6' laminated map framed.

Here's what we did:
Mounted it to a product called Alumilight - supposed to be lightweight but was very heavy! This was recommended to us by a sign shop that we called to get gator board. They no longer carry gator board wider than 4'.

We mounted it with PMA with strips of 969ATG running between the sections of PMA - started to wet mount but was afraid of wrinkling. Larson's tech line recommended Spraymount 77 but I didn't want the spray mess in the shop, and did not really think that it would hold better than the PMA - even though they said that it would. The 969 was added as a bit of "insurance".

Customer wanted Non-Glare plexi. We were only able to obtain regular plexi from a local manufacturer.
We used spacers between map and plexi.

We used a Nielsen 95 profile frame.

The big question - how to hang it? We wired it with #6 Teflon coated wire - rated for 60 lbs. I cross wired it on the back to help stabilize it. There was little torque because of the aluminum backing, but frame "popped off easily because of the size.

I suggested to client that they build a small ledge on the wall to help hold picture up.( very small so that it would not easily be seen under frame but big enough to help alleviate gravitational force). He decided that they had some sort of brackets that they could put all around it to hold it up. He was the head of maintenance - the map was for a hospital administrator. I had purchased wall buddies for metal frames only to find that they did not fit the 95 profile. We called Nurre Caxton and they said that the wire and their screw hangers would hold it.

I'm going to do a follow up call to client tomorrow to see if it worked out o.k. But...

How would you have done this? How much labor would you charge for putting something like this together?

Thanks,
Jacqueline
Back after many months of computer problems.

 

[AWG]

Couple of ideas come to mind -
anything super-oversized we contract out for mounting - could the sign shop mount it? Or perhaps a local photo lab? We use one here for BIG stuff you describe.

Wouldn't wire it - Albin makes something called a FrameStrap (I think that's what it's called - UMS sells them) to help stabilize the frame - if too small we'd fabricate something similiar, but not wire - it'll probably stretch over time.
If not Wallbuddies - HookUps would be an alternative - or fabricate some sort of cleat or even security hangers.

No idea on price b/c I'm not at the shop, but between the custom fabrications, delivery and install would probably add $150-$200 to the tab fro frame and plexi. This sounds like one of those jobs where you can just about name your price, because so few people are equipped to handle jobs like this. Unfortunately most shops underprice themselves on jobs like this, too.

Tony

 

[j Paul]

Jaci, First you have posted your question in the wrong forum so you might not get too many answers, as this forum relates to things for sale.

Second if I understand the problem is that the frame is sagging under its own weight because of width and package. Being this is the selected moulding perhaps security hangers which would have also been installed along the bottom rail as well as the top would have held it all in place. Sure there are many other answers but again not many likely to see it here. Maybe someone will move it to the correct forum.

 

[trapper]

Just the other day we had a job like that. They wanted this huge map on a window shade. I remembered when I was in school that we had a periodic table on a pull down type of shade so we looked up several companies on the internet and found one who would do the job.
After doing all the figures on the job we found out that is was not worth the hassle, so we farmed it out and made only a finders fee.

 

[wpfay]

I think the N-95 profile is thick enough to accomodate a strainer frame. That's the way I would have gone. That would have solved the hanging issue as well.
If the map was laminated, why was glazing necessary? I would have gone with Gatorboard for this project, and if the map weren't laminated, I would have suggested doing so to avoid having to use glazing. The same sign shop that Tony suggested (with the 60" roller press) can put on a heavy vinyl matte laminate at the same time they are mounting the piece.
The PMA will probably fail eventually. There are other products like it that are "permanent" but not "positionable".
I'm not at the shop so I can't give a price.

 

[jacqueline]

Thanks, everyone for your help. A couple of additional items of info here...we did give him several security hangers and show him how to use them to bracket it to the wall. The wire die stretch, just with us testing it. We were wary of the idea, but was trusing Nurre Caxton's advice (should have come here!)

The cutomer wanted plexi over the laminate - actually he wanted glass but we had to turn him down on that one!

I called several sign supply places and noone had 5 foot gator board.

I called several sign places about mounting - noone wanted the job.

Our cost on the plexi was $150 (included cutting and delivery).
The alumilight backing was $139 (including delivery - we cut it.)

We charged him $950. But I think that it should have been even more given the labor involved. The research took many hours - but I figure that was our problem.

Strainer stock sounds like a FABULOUS idea and =now I remember reading that somewhere!!!

Thanks again,
Jacqueline
who will learn to post to proper forum!!

 

[framah]

Be prepared to have to remount this piece as you used adhesive materials that aren't strong enough to withstand the expansion and contraction of the map.
PMA is not recommended for pieces this big. I know because long time ago when I first started out, I mounted a 4'x4' map with it and it quickly bubbled loose. Upon calling 3M about it they told me the limit of paper size is about 24" square. Larger than that, the shear strength of the adhesive will not be able to resist the papers movement. To verify this, call 3M and find out for yourself.

The spray 77 WOULD have been the right choice to use. If the map was laminated on both sides, did you scuff up the side to be glued? If not, there is another reason you will be redoing this job. The adhesive needs a rough enough surface to hold and a smooth surface like a laminate just doesn't work.

Good luck removing the map when it comes back to be fixed. Some lessons are hard learned.

 

[Tommy P]

UMS no longer carries the Albin support system. Anyone know of another supplier or if they can be bought direct?