Looking for input with respect to a Dry Mount Machine Situation

[anaspiringpictureframer]

Hello all,

I am in the market for a dry mount machine, and have located one locally. Before possibly purchasing this machine, I am looking for your input/advice. The machine is a Corona(i believe no longer in business) Vacuum Press(dimensions are about 48X64) approximately 15 years old. The person that owns it had an employee who used it for the first five years, but for the last 10 years it has sat in his basement and collected dust. The price he is asking for the machine is very attractive, however I have some concerns.

I took 2 pieces over to his place and attempted to drymount them. During the process I could see and hear that there was air pressure being taken out. I took these two pieces to another local frame shop owner and asked him his opinion (please note, I currently outsource my drymounting through this local frame shop owner). In looking at the two pieces, he was able to peel back the corners of the prints off of the foamcore(one far more than the other). He said that either I hadn't applied enough glue or that there was a problem with the machine creating a vacuum.

While inspecting the machine it appeared to me that there had been some sort of epoxy/glue put on the machine right were the tube enters the chamber to suck the air out. I asked the owner about this, and he didn't have any knowledge of anything ever being wrong or ever doing any repairs to the machine.

Some questions I have are as follows:
1: Being that those were the first two prints that I had ever attempted to dry mount in my life is it possible I didn't apply enough glue? I put an even coat over the entire back side of the print. How much is enough?

2: Is there a way to test to see if a good vacuum is being created? While the machine was on, the needle on the air pump would not stay stable and would jump around. I have only seen one other machine in operation and that machine the needle stayed steady. That machine was not 15 years old however.

3. If the seal/vacuum on this machine is bad. Is there an inexpensive way to repair it?

4. Is it possible that this epoxy type stuff at the opening is normal? I wouldn't know not ever having looked at another Corona machine.

4. Is this a bad situation and should I shop for a dry mount machine else where?

Any advice you may have would be appreciated

Thanks,

Greg
Wisconsin

 

[Alan Sturgess]

Some answers to your questions.

The key question is what is the cost of the press?

Yes the seal can be easily fixed at a reasonable cost. We do it regularly for our customers.

Are you talking about a cold mount vacuum press or a heat/cold combination vacuum press?

Silicone is typically applied around the exhaust vent. I cannot ever remember seeing it inside the bladder.

The pressure is easy to test. Simply purchase a vacuum gauge and connect a hose you can plug into both the pump and into one of the hoses sucking out the air. A gauge costs about $60 and you may need a few fittings so you can adapt it to measure whatever fittings are on the press. They sell the gauges at any Grainger location or they will bring it in for you.

The vacuum pump should give you a minimum at 23 to 24 inches of mercury at sea level and most presses will read 27. Remember that this is at SEA LEVEL. The number drops as your altitude increases.

I would be very wary of purchasing a CORONA HEAT press that old. A cold vacuum press is another story. Getting the right heat controls for an old Corona could be a problem. If you bought a Corona Heat press you could be driven to drinking Corona in a big way.

For what it is worth you might want to check with this company. They seem to have surfaced in the Seattle market with some of the old products that Corona used to sell. The company is called F A S or Framing Adhesive Specialists, 430 South 96th Street, Unit 12, Seatlle WA 98108 tel 1-888-346-8028

Alan

 

[Ron Eggers]

There should be a vacuum gage on the Corona vacuum press or any other vacuum press.

I had a Corona vacuum press (with a gage.) It worked fine. I liked the glass top so I could see what was happening inside. I did NOT like using spray adhesives or roll-on paste adhesives. The latter will work well, but usually will require counter-mounting to keep the mounting board from bowing badly.

As for your two "bad" mounts - is it possible the adhesive was not fully dry? The drying process continues after the work is removed from the press, which is why the counter-mounting is important.

FAS will have the needed parts and adhesives.