Glue recomendation help

Create a Post
L

Libbylady

CGF, Certified Grumble Framer
Joined
Apr 26, 2009
Posts
116
A customer has asked me to mount 5 canvases and frame them as cost effectivelyas possible. They are not fine art. They are poster style items that have been painted by students which will be used for a study project for a year hanging in the school cafeteria.
The frames will be simple cap style.
The "posters" are painted on primed canvas, the type that comes on a roll. They are about 25x35 each.
I am not going to stretch these on wood stretchers due to the cost.
I think the best plan is to spray mount them to foam core, or some other better backing?
I have plenty of Spray 77, but is there a better product for this?
TIA, Libby
 
Hi Libby...

In my shop I'd use Frank's Fabric Adhesive for this task. Any good PVA glue would work though. You could also use an acrylic gel medium.

Spray 77 should hold short term without a problem as long as spray and mount quickly and don't give the glue time to set up at all. The permanence of spray glues is directly proportional to th amount of time it dries before mounting although spray glues should never be considered permanent as they eventually will give out.
 
I think the glue down is a bigger headache than cutting some cheap (Decor) stretcher bar & stretching. I've glued canvas to substrate before (Frank's fabric glue), but you don't have a lot of control & it's pretty invasive. How about cutting costs by lining the edge with painted lattice instead of framing?
 
Forgot to address the backing question...

Foam core would work but will warp. The frame should help flatten it but... still a problem.

Gator board for this use would be excellent and lightweight.

Masonite could be used also but would be HEAVY.
 
Cheap strainer bar and strip framing is going to be the cheapest way to go....millions of former art students can't be wrong.
 
Do not glue canvas to foamcore! You will get a ferocious curve that will never come out.

But Gatorfoam work perfectly. I use rolled-on Miracle Muck, it takes about 1/2 to 2/3 ounce per square foot. Roll up the canvas on a tube, roll it out over the wet glue, pat down with a cotton gloved hand. Works great! You'll be a bit of curve at first, but it will flatten out beautifully in a couple hours.

Helps if the Gator is just a little smaller than the canvas on 3 sides, this prevents your hand from picking up glue when you flatten the print. If you pre-tape one edge of the canvas to the Gator on the 4th side makes rolling-out eaiser.
 
Any PVA such as Franks or Laminall. You do run the added headache of warping and that might require you to countermount a piece of kraft paper to the back side of the board.

Gator would be the prferred board but has no savings over stretcher bars.
 
Libbylady said:
I think the best plan is to spray mount them to foam core, or some other better backing?
I have plenty of Spray 77, but is there a better product for this?
TIA, Libby
Click to expand...
Do it or use Bainbridge self adhesive mounting board or Crescent perfect mount.
 
BUT if you use a pressure mount board like perfect mount, let it sit under weight overnight after you mount it down. edges could easily peel up.
 
Prospero, it is amazing all of the hassles we undergo in order to save the customer a few dollars. They always say "Well can't you just....".

"No I can't just.... and that is why it is done the proper way".

Oten times when I calculate the cost of the less expensive way and tell them how much it will cost in labor they say just do it the right way then.
 
Thank you all for your comments! I don't have the hand strength to do much stretching, nor machinery to help me. I have found 77 to be easy to work with, but I think I'll invest in the other glues mentioned and try them out.
I really appreciate that so many took time to write their experiences.
 
Create a Post
Back
Top