PMA (positionable mounting adhesive)

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Tadpole879

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I just got a hold of this "new-to-me" product and love using it to mount "child art" , and artwork that can not go into my Seal Vacum Press. I am curious to hear what some of you that have used this product think of it, and what you use it most often for.
 
I love PMA. I've also used it to make shop signs. I use it for digitals and RC photos. I've even used it once or twice for newspaper when there was no Fusion 4000 kicking around. After "squeegying" (Captain English?) it down, I do leave the mounted item under a glass weight overnight before calling it done.

One of these days I'd like to start practicing using it to make decals and apliques... I wonder if cold creep would be a problem...
 
But if only there were a less tortured way of removing the release sheet! Rub, peel a little, rub, peel a little... am I missing something here?
 
Originally posted by Tadpole879:
...I am curious to hear what some of you that have used this product think of it, and what you use it most often for....
Click to expand...
Tadpole879,

3M's PMA is still a very popular adhesive for attaching fine art papers to beveled foam centered board strips, when you wish to create your own Deep Wrapped Bevels.

John
 
Ellen... Yes, you are missing something. After setting the piece onto the PMA and trimming the extra off, you turn it over and burnish the whole thing 2 or 3 times in each direction, starting from the center working out to the edges. This needs to be done on a harder surface than foam core. Once you have burnished the whole side, you should be able to peel the release sheet off just fine.
For Kittyefaces... quite a while back I called 3M about this stuff and they said they don't recommend it for larger than about 20x24 +/- as the forces of the paper that size or larger expanding and contracting would overcome the strength of the adhesive.
I've used this stuff for ALOT of things. A shop isn't complete without it!
 
PMA is a messy alternative to dry mounting and the cost per square of mounting with it is considerably higher than dry mounting, but in some instances it is the only way to go.

Cibachrome (Ilfochrome) and some digital images cannot withstand the heat of a press. And it is useful to fabricate thin strips of spacers to plunk in a rabbet if you need to.

With a little effort and some sugar, you can make an effective fly trap, too.
 
Ellen... Yes, you are missing something. After setting the piece onto the PMA and trimming the extra off, you turn it over and burnish the whole thing 2 or 3 times in each direction, starting from the center working out to the edges. This needs to be done on a harder surface than foam core. Once you have burnished the whole side, you should be able to peel the release sheet off just fine.
For Kittyefaces... quite a while back I called 3M about this stuff and they said they don't recommend it for larger than about 20x24 +/- as the forces of the paper that size or larger expanding and contracting would overcome the strength of the adhesive.
I've used this stuff for ALOT of things. A shop isn't complete without it!
 
Love the stuff! I find that things look better mounted with this over the drymount way. I no longer use drymount for anything under 16 X 20.
 
For no particular reason, I have gotten into the habit of using Crescent's Perfect Mount for these applications, though it is no longer available in my favorite flavor - pre-mounted to Super Smooth board.

It does come in sheets and I'm curious if anyone who has used both can detect any differences between that and PMA. I haven't, though it's been years since I used PMA.

It might come down to whether you prefer sheets or rolls. I also use Perfect Mount on fome board.
 
I have used both PMA and Crescent Perfect Mount Film (CPMF). I prefer the CPMF. I had the same problems with PMA that is described above and not nearly as much problem with CPMF. You can also use the CPMF to every last little scrap. It can be pieced without detection. I also like the fact that it can be purchased in 32x40 sheets for approximately $12.00. I can get what I need as I need it. This is probably more expensive in the long run, but for me it is more cost effective because it would take a long time to use up a complete roll of PMA.

For once, I can answer a question for Ron instead of the other way around!!! :D :D :D

Candy
 
I use PMA to adhere strips of marbled or decorative papers to mats or on their bevel. Simply apply the PMA as you normally would, WITHOUT removing the release paper. Then cut the marbled paper into strips on your matcutter. Voila!

I find that you can apply the PMA to a sheet of marbled paper, leave the release paper in tact, and it's good for more than a year. Cut strips when you need them.

Another alternative to 3M PMA is Neschen's "Gudy-870" adhesive. Pretty much the same concept.
 
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