Homemade vacuum press

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cuttingedge

Grumbler in Training
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Northwest Arkansas
Hello everyone. I am new to framing and am posting an ignorant question to all of you who have way more experience than I do. To give a small intro to myself, I have a BA in art and learned an iota of framing/matting in college and went on to become a stained glass artist. I recently bought out a hobby frame and glass business. I wanted it for the stained glass side, but the framing came along in the deal. I am now trying to recall what I learned 18 yrs ago in college as well as learn tricks, tips and hints and am making it so far in the framing except when it comes to vacuum pressing. Soooo my question is this: when we bought the business it came with a homemade vacuum press that they swear works just like the commercial presses. My question is how do I vacuum press a poster? I have Beinfang release board, vac u mount spray, a slippery paper that I was told is part of the process and obviously the poster and some regular foam board. What are the steps? Do I have everything I need? And, yes, I have a practice poster to experiment with before I attempt to mount the customer's piece. Thanks and I apologize for the ignorance, I searched the web without luck for the process, so I figured you all could help!
 
Honestly, if its homemade...we couldn't tell you how this particular model works...

The essence of it would be a platform between two bladders....and a vacuum press to pump out the air... as well as an assembly for heating.

We could tell you normal dwell times...but that may not apply to what you have because its not what we have. What is made of will control how quickly it heats up...or cools down...... see what I mean?

Any chance you could get the maker to demo it for you?

As far as your questions about the materials you should use and how to assemble them??? And... do you have everything you need....

To learn "how" to drymount ... the mechanics of it itself and the different types of materials used, I'd recommend "The Mounting and Laminating Handbook".

It's an excellent guide for many different papers, etc. and tells you exactly what you need to be using, depending on the project.

Have any pictures? I'd like to see it.
 
Follow the directions on the can and then put it in the press, turn it on and hold the lid down until you hear the pump change sounds. You may need to hold the lid down the entire time but if you post a photo of the press I can give you some clues.

Also welcome to the Grumble.
 
The press doesn't have any heat, I was told it was a cold mount system. Thanks for the info Jeff, I will listen to the pump and try to get a photo of the table.
 
Ditto on the vacuum gauge. It's the only way to tell if you're getting proper vacuum. You want to get about 27-28 in. HG or probably at least 25. I'm not a huge fan of vacuum without heat and I prefer drymount tissue or speed mount board or Kool Tack board with the adhesive combined with the mounting board over spray glue and cold mount.
Good luck and welcome to the Grumble.
 
Vacuum presses only create pressure. They will help make bonds with wet glues, pressure sensitive adhesives, pre-coated pressure sensitive adhesive coated boards, and spray adhesives. Only some wet glues would be considered "permanent". The rest are not permanent nor easliy removable.

Spray adhesives are cumlative in your lungs. They also don't like heat or humidity much. Not easily removable either.

If you're going to mount a lot of "Decorative" art, save up and get a heat/vacuum press and use heat activated dry mount tissue. Considered permanent and not generally removable without solvents. (Think what the solvents would do to the art).

Don't mount any valuable or important art. Probably the most important thing you will ever frame will be some kids finger painting that your'e framing for the mom.
 
Post a picture of your homemade vacuum press. I would like to see it.

I've made a couple of vacuum presses. One was a kit purchased form Corona company (no longer in business) It worked great! I used for years.

As far as cold mounting, I have been doing it for about 25 years.
To mount a poster I coat the mounting board with adhesive (I use Yes Paste or Seal VacuGlue) apply your poster and cover it with release board or good quality paper put it in the press and pull a vacuum. Leave it in for 10 minutes or so for large posters, small posters it only takes a few seconds.



 
Here, trying to break my question down to the simplest of terms.

Which side goes toward the "hard"? Do you put the print toward the glass/hard surface or do you put the backing to the hard side?
 
Bob Doyle said:
Here, trying to break my question down to the simplest of terms.

Which side goes toward the "hard"? Do you put the print toward the glass/hard surface or do you put the backing to the hard side?
Click to expand...

The print faces the glass.


 
snafu said:
The print faces the glass.


Click to expand...

Was just trying to find the most universal way to ask the question :) I had seen some homemade "bag" systems that were basically a plywood board in a vacuum sealed bag and wasn't sure how they would be used.

I think the bladder in my old system was starting to fail as I was getting inconsistent results from it.
 
I took some pictures, the table has shelves underneath and is made out of steel. The thing weighs a ton! It has 1/4 thick glass on top and is 4' x 8'. photo(10).JPG

photo(11).JPG
 
Bob Doyle said:
Was just trying to find the most universal way to ask the question :) I had seen some homemade "bag" systems that were basically a plywood board in a vacuum sealed bag and wasn't sure how they would be used.

I think the bladder in my old system was starting to fail as I was getting inconsistent results from it.
Click to expand...

I have a vacuum bag 54x109" from http://tapeease.com/vacuum_bags.htm
I use it to mount any thing larger than my 40x60 Corona press can handle.
Using the bag system I would apply adhesive on the mount board, lay the print on the adhesive, cover it with paper then cover with a sheet of foamcore on top then slide it all into the bag and pull a vacuum.

I've never seen one with plywood in the bag.


 
The vacuum doesn't crumble the fome core?

The bags I have seen were carpenters doing curved veneer work. Oh and I saw the press table used once at a prior job. It filled a 12 by 20 room :)Top was impregnated with holes an you threw a big blanket over it and then started up what sounded like jet engines. And we used a vacuum formed bean bag to make the relief for some pretty cool seating modifications. Haven't used vacuum bags for framing, yet :)
 
Using Vacu Mount spray you coat the back of the art as described on the can and lay the art on the mounting board face up against the glass. Presize the mounting board for best results. The press should work great but you may want to hold the lid down until the vacuum is achieved. Vacu Mount spray has a decent amount of "Open Time" or time before it is too late. If you ever spray one and don't get it on the mount board soon enough another coating of spray will reactivate the dry spray.

Wet mounting is a very effective way to mount posters in cold presses. United sells the paste that you would need.
 
Bob Doyle said:
The vacuum doesn't crumble the fome core?

The bags I have seen were carpenters doing curved veneer work. Oh and I saw the press table used once at a prior job. It filled a 12 by 20 room :)Top was impregnated with holes an you threw a big blanket over it and then started up what sounded like jet engines. And we used a vacuum formed bean bag to make the relief for some pretty cool seating modifications. Haven't used vacuum bags for framing, yet :)
Click to expand...

Nope, no crumbling. the only issue is that you have to have a smooth surface on top of the print. I use foamcore but you could use acrylic or release board.



 
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