Melting bumpons!!!!!!!

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J

JPete

SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
Founding Member
Joined
Nov 5, 1997
Posts
1,991
Loc
Huron SD USA
Eeek! It has happen here, had a returned frame today for us to replace these ooooy, goooy things. She almost ruined her wall paper cleaning it off. These are brown and started running down the wall. I've not talked to her yet but will when she returns. These little blobs of brown are a mess. Now this frame probably left our store in late 93 or early 94 and yes they are the 3-M as far as I know. I'm going to check the supplier and see if they carried anything else at that time.

Like Jim Miller, we've used these forever it seems and didn't rush to change.

So those of you who had this problem, have you contacted other customers and replaced them all from that time period or just prayed alot.

Replacing the product (bumpons) is not a problem but what about other damages?

[ 05-20-2003, 12:36 AM: Message edited by: JPete ]
 
Jeanette,
I order the 3M bumpons made for metal frames. They are clear, and about twice as thick as the old brown ones. They seem to hold better, too.
I don't use the brown ones, the felt ones; nothing but the thick, 3M bumpons made for metal frames. They're in the United catalog, but it's not here right now.
I retract my former statement...I will occasionally use the felt on the TOP of the frame, if I think it needs it.
The ones I described stick really well, work good, and last a long time.

Oh, I meant to say that the BUMPONS are for metal frames. I use them on ALL our frames, wood or metal.

[ 05-20-2003, 05:25 AM: Message edited by: CharlesLowry. ]
 
Yes John, I did the search and printed out their info so I'm going to try and maybe give them some feed back.

Now did TC ever buy anything but the 3M bumpon's in the early 90's? Did the warehouse store in extreme heat? How much longer might these continue to show up? If we only had one box of the bad batch, that is still a possible 500 frames.

How many grumblers have had these come back and not post about them? I'd like to know. THanks
 
Originally posted by JPete:
...Like Jim Miller, we've used these forever it seems and didn't rush to change....
Click to expand...
Well, not exactly. It's true I've been using 3M BumpOns since 1988, and never have had a problem.

However, I have used ONLY clear ones and black ones -- never brown.

When this topic has come up before, weren't the melting BumpOns always the brown ones? I made a note to avoid all framing materials that are brown & mushy.
 
Hi Guys.
The same thing happened to me with a picture that I framed for myself 10 years ago or so. I noticed the Drip From **** while laid up with a bum ankle last spring. I could see this 3" long brown drip from across the room but couldn't do any thing about it. I thought I was hallucinating. I later tried to clean the wall with every legal chemical I could find. I finally had to lower the picture 3" to cover the problem. This picture wasn't subjected to any unusual environmental conditions. It hung on a cold interior wall on the far side of a seldom used kitchen. At the time the owner of my shop, who has a doctorate in chemistry, suggested that perhaps the latex wall paint reacted with the Bumpon causing the melt down. His other theory is that kitchen grease accumulated over time in just the right quantity to dissolve the Bumpon. Apparently cooking grease can be a very destructive to some materials. Even though I never cook that theory seems reasonable to me. Grease on a range hood will, over time, dissolve the paint on the surface. Well I'm glad I'm not alone. After reading the letter from the 3M **** I'm certain we won't get any answers from them. I think I'll check my other pictures at home. Then I think I'll place an order for felt bumpers.
Thanks.
Tim
 
United part # 3970. Try 'em. You'll never go back to other types!
 
Oooops, sorry Jim, I should have known. If they are clear how will you know when they run!

Charles I'll check those out. Thanks

[ 05-20-2003, 08:25 PM: Message edited by: JPete ]
 
Small blocks of conservation quality board can
be glued to the bottom corners of a frame and
they will serve to keep the frame from the wall
and should not interact with the wall nor should
they degrade and make a mess. These blocks can
be fixed to metal frames with strong pessure-
sensitive adhesive and the weight of the frame
against the wall should help keep them in place.

Hugh
 
If you check the Archives ,I think you will find a post from ME that states that 3M knows that it only occurs with the BROWN Bumpons and only those made at a certain time. There is no reaction with anything external ,but a bad formulation of the conpound when they where made .They aren't stable and over a period of time they begin to break down.If you contact the 3M's cutomer service you can get the entire low down ,and while you are speaking to them be sure to mention any damage that occured to the clients belongings and that they are upset and may hold you at fault.I'm not sure but I think they may have some remedies both physical and monitary.
And 3M assured me that it was ONLY the BROWN ones and only those made some time ago ,also that it takes a while for the breakdown to start.
BUDDY

[ 05-21-2003, 09:37 AM: Message edited by: BUDDY ]
 
JPete: I've only worked at TC for 4.5 years but to my knowledge we've only carried 3M bumpons. I had not heard of this problem until it showed up here about a year ago. Also, as far as I know it is only the brown ones.
 
For years I used some brown 3M bumpons to stabilize a radar detector on the dash of my car, then one day I noticed that they melted. They left a brown trail of goo across my dash. To this day it won't clean off. I thought that it was because of the heat or direct sunlight. I have never had this problem using them on the back of frames.
 
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