Question on mounting a medal?

[The Picture Man]

This is something I could use some help with. I need to mount a medal...(The one you would win and wear around neck). What would be a good adhesive to use that wouldn't damage the gold coin, and what would be used to keep the fabric down. I'm mounting it down to a mat board. There will be a total of 33 of these together on a single board spaced about 1.5 inchs from each other. Thanks for any help.

 

[Bill Henry-]

Welcome to The Grumble.

If these medals are designed to hang around someone's neck, I would think that each would have a little ‘eyelet’ at the top.

I would use a clear, fishing-line type monofilament and sew each eyelet through the backing material. I would avoid using any kind of adhesives on the medal itself if I could.

 

[GhostFramer]

Depending on how heavy the medals are, I have either used a 969 atg or silicone to hold the medal in place. I have done the ribbons a few different ways. If there is no window opening which I dont beleive you are using I fold the ribbon straight acroos the top and pin the 2 corners down. Since you have so many this may creat a space issue. Here is a collage I did for a client that is similar.

 

[Puppiesonacid]

ghost. thats pretty. i have a customer that will be bringing me a bunch of metals to frame. i think they want a suede mat so those v grooves will be hard to do, but i will keep that one in mind. very well done!!


i use atg/ silicone.... or i use the ez tach plastic things not the ez tach gun thing, but similar to fishing line to hold them on depending how valuable they are to the customer. some want them glued down.

 

[PaulSF]

Do these still have the ribbon attached? What I've done with that kind of medal is make a separate double mat window for the medal, and have the ribbon extend past the upper border of the mat window for space efficiency. I can fix the ribbon in place with some sewing or attach-ez. As for the medal itself, I would use the clear film overlay method (get Jim Miller's book!!). If conservation isn't an issue, you could use a little dab of hot glue on the back of the medal.

Here's a picture of how I usually do it.

 

[danny boy]

Welcome to the 'Grumble... We are glad to have you..

 

[The Picture Man]

Thanks for all your replys. Because there are so many, Im thinking of placing each in its own window.(Thank you Wizard). I'm thinking that the ATG would be strong enough to hold the medal. The ribbon I'm still thinking about. Thanks again.

 

[Jim Miller]

...I'm thinking that the ATG would be strong enough to hold the medal...

Probably not.

ATG flows and loses its bond over time, especially on non-porous surfaces. Many of us have had unfortunate experiences using pressure-sensitive adhesives where they were subjected to stress from gravity or impact, especially if exposed to warmer-than-usual temperatures.

A mechanical attachment, such as clear film or polyester monofilament (if you don't mind it swinging) would be much more dependable.

 

[Jim Miller]

Another idea that has worked well for me a couple of times is a direct contact overlay (DCO) mount. Construct a "pillow" mounting board by covering a sturdy board with fabric over about 3/4" thickness of high-density (such as needle-punch), spun polyester batting.

Place the medallions where you want them and press a sheet of glass against them. Compress the assembly during fitting to maintain pressure and depress the medallions into the padded fabric background. If you use optically coated glass or acrylic for the mounting layer, it's almost invisible. This is a quick and easy process, which does no harm to the medals. The only caveat is to place the medals far enough apart that the fabric pillows up between and all around each medal.

Then, put your decorative window mats, captions, photos, etc. on top of that, and then fit with another layer of glazing, with a spacer, on the front.

 

[HB]

...Place the medallions where you want them and press a sheet of glass against them. ... If you use optically coated glass or acrylic for the mounting layer, it's almost invisible...which does no harm to the medals...

The only problem I have with this is the medals or the glass (or coating) may show signs of minute movement of the medals over time.

This is especially why we don't recommend glazing to hold down plates as well - I have seen the gold lip getting scratched off!

 

[Patricia Kotnour]

Do these still have the ribbon attached? What I've done with that kind of medal is make a separate double mat window for the medal, and have the ribbon extend past the upper border of the mat window for space efficiency. I can fix the ribbon in place with some sewing or attach-ez. QUOTE]

If your using Attach-EZ the mirco fasteners work best to attach the ribbons and then all you have to do is put one fastener right at the base of the ribbon. You can color match the fasteners so they won't show. There is also something you can buy in most office supply stores called "glue dots" for holding the medals down if you don't want them to move at all. They won't damage the medal and if you ever need to remove them they just peal right off.

 

[PaulSF]

Thanks Pat -- since finally taking the time to watch your DVD, I'm learning to appreciate the many uses of the micro fasteners!