Nic Packer
Grumbler in Training
Any suggestions for mounting this watercolor painting with torn edges? I was thinking of just mounting it straight to foam board but I figured there may be some better ideas. Thanks!
Mounting torn edge watercolor
- Thread starter Nic Packer
- Start date
Hi, Nic. This kind of thing is what got me to finally learn mulberry paper hinging. After having something taped fall from it's backing a dozen years ago, I listened to my fellow Grumblers and cooked up some rice starch. Learning this method was a huge game changer, and it's such a relief to know that sucker is going to stay put. lol... Some people use wheat paste; I've just always used rice. In the years since, other kinds of paste have also become popular. Klucel G is a preservation quality, non-organic paste that's activated with alcohol. You can do word searches here to bring up past threads on mulberry paper hinging.
Before I learned how, it sounded too scary, so I just didn't try. When I finally started, the only way I could manage was to be very simple. To begin cooking rice starch, even tiny amounts are good for practice. You can put one teaspoon in a 1-cup microwavable Corelle (or Pyrex) container, add 5 tsp. distilled water, and stir them together. Then, microwave, stirring occasionally, until it's foamed up and cooked enough to be paste. I tend to go a bit longer with mine, until it's clear, but it only takes a couple of minutes, at most. With a tiny amount, even less time. For making Klucel G, people often make a batch, the store it in a jar. For that, the hinges are pre-pasted and dried, then re-activated later, with alcohol. To float hinge this, you can either attach the hinges to a hidden platform of rag matboard, or you can cut a mat window, wrap the hinges around that, and then replace the fallout back into the mat and attach them together with linen tape from the back.
Other folks will be along to add more, but please be encouraged to give these methods a try. We buy our mulberry paper in different weights from Hiromi Paper, and I usually get my rice starch from Larson Juhl. Also, please check out Frame Tek's article library. Great instructions on a variety of techniques, including hinging. https://frametek.com/ FrameTek, LLC
Before I learned how, it sounded too scary, so I just didn't try. When I finally started, the only way I could manage was to be very simple. To begin cooking rice starch, even tiny amounts are good for practice. You can put one teaspoon in a 1-cup microwavable Corelle (or Pyrex) container, add 5 tsp. distilled water, and stir them together. Then, microwave, stirring occasionally, until it's foamed up and cooked enough to be paste. I tend to go a bit longer with mine, until it's clear, but it only takes a couple of minutes, at most. With a tiny amount, even less time. For making Klucel G, people often make a batch, the store it in a jar. For that, the hinges are pre-pasted and dried, then re-activated later, with alcohol. To float hinge this, you can either attach the hinges to a hidden platform of rag matboard, or you can cut a mat window, wrap the hinges around that, and then replace the fallout back into the mat and attach them together with linen tape from the back.
Other folks will be along to add more, but please be encouraged to give these methods a try. We buy our mulberry paper in different weights from Hiromi Paper, and I usually get my rice starch from Larson Juhl. Also, please check out Frame Tek's article library. Great instructions on a variety of techniques, including hinging. https://frametek.com/ FrameTek, LLC
Nikodeumus
SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
Yup, same as Shayla. Learning paste and starch hinging methods was a big step forward for me as well.
Some threads that may help get you started learning:
www.thegrumble.com
www.thegrumble.com
Some threads that may help get you started learning:
Seeking advice for long Washi mount with exposed edges
Hello everyone! I'm a framing amateur and have recently decided to try the process myself for a watercolor painting on Washi (nothing valuable, just sentimental value). I wanted to do my best job in terms of archival safety/reversability while avoid ruining the painting. The painting is quite...
www.thegrumble.com
Conservation - Mixing and Storing Starch Paste
Ok so full disclosure. I still don't use starch paste on everything I honestly should. I am endeavoring to be a better framer and get over the lazy factor. I really just don't feel like cooking it up every single time I need it. I'm looking for tips and tricks on mixing and storing for...
www.thegrumble.com
+1 to Shayla's advice above.
I've boiled it down to its simplest form. (Pun intended) Wheat paste, available from Lineco, half a teaspoon with two teaspooons tap water. Then stir thoroughly w/a chopstick in a small thick glass until mixed. 30 seconds in a microwave at 20 percent power. (I have a fairly hot unit, you'll need to experiment w/yours.) It's hot and clear, let cool, use many smallish Asian paper (P.C; used to be called Japanese paper) hinges around the perimeter of the work to hold it down. Weight them until dry. You can mount any work on paper this way safely. I've floated 3' x 5' prints this way, secret is to use many small hinges. Use a hinging paper similar in color and weight to the paper stock you're working with.
I don't make big batches of paste as it is so easy to make and dries up in the frig in a week or so. It also doesn't take much to do the work. You can also do tear repair with small strips of your Asian paper. You want to impress the heck out of your customers? That's the way.
Once you get the hang of it you'll be doing more good than all the hacks out there!
I've boiled it down to its simplest form. (Pun intended) Wheat paste, available from Lineco, half a teaspoon with two teaspooons tap water. Then stir thoroughly w/a chopstick in a small thick glass until mixed. 30 seconds in a microwave at 20 percent power. (I have a fairly hot unit, you'll need to experiment w/yours.) It's hot and clear, let cool, use many smallish Asian paper (P.C; used to be called Japanese paper) hinges around the perimeter of the work to hold it down. Weight them until dry. You can mount any work on paper this way safely. I've floated 3' x 5' prints this way, secret is to use many small hinges. Use a hinging paper similar in color and weight to the paper stock you're working with.
I don't make big batches of paste as it is so easy to make and dries up in the frig in a week or so. It also doesn't take much to do the work. You can also do tear repair with small strips of your Asian paper. You want to impress the heck out of your customers? That's the way.
Once you get the hang of it you'll be doing more good than all the hacks out there!
Nikodeumus
SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
I just discovered a Hinging Hack by accident!
Lineco Mulberry Hinging Paper is actually 2 ply.
It separates quite easily, which makes lighter hinges.
Since the regular paper is 52gm, it safe to assume that these single-ply layers would be approx. 26gm?
I know there are other types and lighter weights available, but this works in a pinch.
Lineco Mulberry Hinging Paper is actually 2 ply.
It separates quite easily, which makes lighter hinges.
Since the regular paper is 52gm, it safe to assume that these single-ply layers would be approx. 26gm?
I know there are other types and lighter weights available, but this works in a pinch.
Old One
Grumbler
3-M makes an acid-free ATG tape which, in my opinion, would do the job easily.Hi, Nic. This kind of thing is what got me to finally learn mulberry paper hinging. After having something taped fall from it's backing a dozen years ago, I listened to my fellow Grumblers and cooked up some rice starch. Learning this method was a huge game changer, and it's such a relief to know that sucker is going to stay put. lol... Some people use wheat paste; I've just always used rice. In the years since, other kinds of paste have also become popular. Klucel G is a preservation quality, non-organic paste that's activated with alcohol. You can do word searches here to bring up past threads on mulberry paper hinging.
Before I learned how, it sounded too scary, so I just didn't try. When I finally started, the only way I could manage was to be very simple. To begin cooking rice starch, even tiny amounts are good for practice. You can put one teaspoon in a 1-cup microwavable Corelle (or Pyrex) container, add 5 tsp. distilled water, and stir them together. Then, microwave, stirring occasionally, until it's foamed up and cooked enough to be paste. I tend to go a bit longer with mine, until it's clear, but it only takes a couple of minutes, at most. With a tiny amount, even less time. For making Klucel G, people often make a batch, the store it in a jar. For that, the hinges are pre-pasted and dried, then re-activated later, with alcohol. To float hinge this, you can either attach the hinges to a hidden platform of rag matboard, or you can cut a mat window, wrap the hinges around that, and then replace the fallout back into the mat and attach them together with linen tape from the back.
Other folks will be along to add more, but please be encouraged to give these methods a try. We buy our mulberry paper in different weights from Hiromi Paper, and I usually get my rice starch from Larson Juhl. Also, please check out Frame Tek's article library. Great instructions on a variety of techniques, including hinging. https://frametek.com/ FrameTek, LLC
It would fail overtime for sure. I also would never use anything like ATG directly on art.
When dealing with original art, the 'hedgehog mount' is my favorite method by far.
What Ylva said. I once had a lady who was mystified as to why her floated watercolor had fallen. She had stuck it to the backing with ATG tape, then driven it around in a hot car. We try to attach things in such a way that the attachments won't fail, even if exposed to extremes of temperature. Whether on the trip home, while being shipped, or during a move.
I've never used ATG to attach artwork, but your note brings to mind what we used before I learned starch hinging. It was a white, flexible fabric tape, that my first framing boss used. Worked fine until all of a customer's floated watercolors fell. That's when I learned starch hinging. I've since had some with that flexible tape come in that are still holding. But, others have given way. It's interesting to frame in the same town for so long, as people sometimes bring in art for a design update. We can see how things we framed in the 90's are still holding up, and it's been a good lesson.
I've never used ATG to attach artwork, but your note brings to mind what we used before I learned starch hinging. It was a white, flexible fabric tape, that my first framing boss used. Worked fine until all of a customer's floated watercolors fell. That's when I learned starch hinging. I've since had some with that flexible tape come in that are still holding. But, others have given way. It's interesting to frame in the same town for so long, as people sometimes bring in art for a design update. We can see how things we framed in the 90's are still holding up, and it's been a good lesson.