Mounting a large brittle map

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meena

True Grumbler
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Feb 28, 2007
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I posted about this a while ago but I need more opinions. I have an old map, 70"X70". It's very brittle and there are large holes with pieces missing. She does not care if it's valuable or not and is okay with mounting it. I'm not sure how I should mount it. I have a heat press slightly smaller than 32x40 so I will not be able to get to the center of the map to mount it because of the size.

Spray mounting or wet mounting something that large scares me because I don't want it to dry in places before I lay it on the backing. If it's just hinged I'm afraid that it will ripple pretty badly because of the size and the fact that there are holes in it.

I'm really hoping someone has a great idea. :help:
 
Something that large and damaged is not the time to experiment.

I would suggest sending it to a conservator that specializes in mounting collectible/antique advertising/movie posters.
 
meena said:
....She does not care if it's valuable or not and is okay with mounting it....
Click to expand...

It is curious that customers do not care about value when asking for a price. I guess they figure that if they declare that an item is valuable, it will automatically cost them more and, conversely, if they declare it has no value, the same quality of framing would cost them less. But after they realize that value is diminished or destroyed by mounting, their concern seems to grow.

If the item has sentimental, monetary, or historic value, I would not mount it. If you suspect that it has significant value, I would echo the suggestion to consult a conservator.

One alternative would be to use an acrylic overlay mount, assuming it is a traditionally-printed paper map with no sticky or 3-dimensional features. That would give the fragile paper overall support without changing its condition in any way. An item of those dimensions should have acrylic instead of glass anyway, due to its lighter weight and shatter-resistance.

Be sure to use UV-filtering acrylic, at least. Acrylic also treated for abrasion-resistance would be better still. Museum Optium Acrylic would be best, as it is UV-filtering, AR treated, and optically coated for the best possible clarity and reflection reduction. Especially for projects of large dimensions, reducing glare and reflections may be an important attribute.

Museum Optium Acrylic is available up to 72" x 120", and it may be among your most supportive, most protective, least invasive mounting choices. Considering that an overlay mount would involve few other components and not much labor, it could turn out to be among your most cost-effective choices.
 
meena said:
I posted about this a while ago but I need more opinions. I have an old map, 70"X70". It's very brittle and there are large holes with pieces missing. She does not care if it's valuable or not and is okay with mounting it. I'm not sure how I should mount it. I have a heat press slightly smaller than 32x40 so I will not be able to get to the center of the map to mount it because of the size.

Spray mounting or wet mounting something that large scares me because I don't want it to dry in places before I lay it on the backing. If it's just hinged I'm afraid that it will ripple pretty badly because of the size and the fact that there are holes in it.

I'm really hoping someone has a great idea. :help:
Click to expand...

I've actually run into this a couple times. Most often I've found it better to scan it in, color correct it, and reprint it. Then mount and frame it any way you want and archive the original. We do all that in house here, so it may not be cost effective if you have to farm it out, but another option none the less. Another option we've used is a 3M product. It's essentially a double sided stick tape that holds really strong, and comes right off with Unstick. It's a very thin tape, and we just cut it into inch long squares and place them in a grid pattern across the back and then mount that to the matboard or floating substrate.
 
That sounds kinda scary, especially on an old, brittle, oversized item. I sure wouldn't want to be the one to have to reverse that mounting.
:eek: Rick
 
Meena, please don't experiment with this one.
It is OK to sometimes admit "something is out of my area of expertise" and recommend taking it to another framer. I have a good rapport with the framers in my area, and my customers appreciate when I can provide a lead to someone capable in an area I am not. An "old" map may be quite valuable. As framers we are not at liberty to ascertain whether something is or is not of value. You are in an area of the country that may have very valuable paper maps hiding is someone's attic.
 
Maybe

I have had great success with projects that are deamed not valuable using Vac-u-mount spray. I coat the back of the piece heavily, then let it dry completely. Once dry, I position it on the backing and starting in the middle and lightly heat it with my heat gun and I hand mount it, slowly and with much care. The thicker the glue coating, the more play and strength the piece has. The plus on this is that is can be reversed if neccessary. I have rarely found it neccessary.
Shellie Mundy
Art Conscious Picture Framing
 
Vac-u-Mount = Reversible? I think not. How would you remove the residue from the fibers of the paper?
:kaffeetrinker_2: Rick
 
"Reversible" and "removable" are among the tricky words in framing vocabulary.

I think she meant the item could be removed from the substrate, but removing the adhesive residue would make a terrible mess.

(sigh) But that's why we have conservators, eh?
 
These guys are giving you some pretty good advice. If you do go ahead with
this, no matter what you do, it would be in your best interest to have her
sign something saying she won't hold you liable for further damage to the
piece. While it's true that such things don't always stand the scrutiny of a
court case, they're a good winnowing tool to help people think about
how valuable the piece really is to them. And if they've signed one, most
people will respect it.

I saw a huge (whatever the word is for 'having to do with volcanoes') map of the world, probably eight feet high by twelve feet long at a college. It was pressed against the wall by a big piece of acrylic, with metal screw things holding the acrylic to the wall. If it were valuable and she didn't mind spending money, that would be an idea. But it sounds like she doesn't want to spend a lot.

It also sounds like this thing is so brittle the paper wants to break. You need to be aware that if you do try to mount it, against these people's advice, it might
break and crumple in ways you can't foresee. What would you do about splicing the foam core backing? If you do decide to take this on, be sure to think
of every charge for both materials and labor when you give her a quote.
 
Oversize + Safe Framing = Don't Want to Spend A Lot

The above equation does not compute. This sounds like a lose/lose proposition for you, the framer. Either you do something improper, and put yourself at risk, or you lose money, or both. Under those circumstances, I would politely and respectfully advise the owner of the map that their expectations are not realistic relative to budget. We all hate to turn away business in the current climate, but just be careful not to get yourself into a nightmare situation over this. That's my .02 anyway.
:kaffeetrinker_2: Rick
 
Most folks want it cheap...I try to impress on them the value in preserving the past. I agree with what others have said in being willing to turn away work. If the customer is willing to preserve the piece though, I usually outsource complicated mounting like this to a oversize poster conservator. It really should be linen-backed. You can find some great ones on the internet that do this work. I include their price + a little extra in my mounting fees. Usually if it's anything of value I've found that they will go with my suggestion. If not turn them away!!
 
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