Help Silk Mat + Fillet = how to join permanently?

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Pangolin

Pangolin

SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
Joined
Feb 1, 2008
Posts
1,187
Loc
Columbus, Ohio
I had an order a few months ago. This customer is SUPER PICKY. He drove all the way to Columbus for framing while he lives in West Virginia.

Now, after a few months, he sends the piece back in with his sister. He's going "nuts" (her words) because the silk wrapped mat and inner fillet are no longer as tightly connected as he'd like.

When I pur this together originally, it took three or four tries to get them to adhere at all, with several different types of glue. Now, they are just barely pulling apart (it is really hard to see!) and he wants it fixed - by this Friday.... unh.

So, anyone have any suggestions how to stick these together FOREVER?
This thing also has museum glass, and I'm already annoyed I have to take it apart once, I really don't want it to come back in another 6 months!

Oh, and this guy is super picky about "conservation" framing - he said that's why he came all the way up here - he doesn't "trust those framers in West Virginia to handle expensive artwork".
 
Maybe a bead of hot glue around the back of the outer perimeter of the fillet, then the filler strips. This would be isolated from the art by a slightly recessed barrier mat.
:cool: Rick

P.S. If he's 'super picky about "conservation"', I'm surprised he even wants a fillet in there anyway. :icon11:
 
Try This

I always build the filet using glue in the corner vise. Then I put ATG on the underside of the mat, as close to the opening as possible, ATG on the filet, as close to the opening as possible, carefully align and press together. Then build up the gap around the filet with archival fome core strips. Run frame sealing tape between back of filet and fome core. Then attach the mat that sits under the filet, again using ATG on both surfaces. Once this package is behind glass there should be no gapping, unless something's warped. Can you attach a photo of the project in question?

PS If he's really nutty about conservation, there shouldn't really be a wood filet inside the framing package, right?
 
Especially with larger mats, when a fillet is even slightly bowed, it can have enough "spring" to it that it overpowers the fillet tape and pulls away from its proper position, leaving a slight gap between the back of the fillet and the mat.

To eliminate this problem here is an easy fix:
  • Before adding the foamcore filler to the back of the mat run a reasonably generous bead of PVA along the back edge of the fillet
  • Position the foamcore filler firmly against the PVA adhesive
  • Wrap cling film around the fillet/mat/foam filler assembly to clamp the fillet in its correct position till the PVA dries.
Oh, and be sure to use high tack fillet tape not regular ATG when attaching the fillet to the mat.

IMG_1724mod.jpg
 
Wow, Andrew! I use the wrap stuff for many things but never thought of this use.

Thank you!!!

You so smart....

:beer:
 
Thanks for the suggestions. I know he shouldn't really have a fillet in there since he's so picky about preserving the etching, but he was adamant about having it.
This was a crazy piece anyway - after he drove up here to pick out the framing, he had to call his wife to ask her to measure the mat dimensions on his other pieces so they would all be the same... she had no idea which art she was supposed to measure, what she was measuring,... clearly it's HIS art. I figure anyone who drives all the way to Columbus, Oh from Huntington, Wv just for framing must be a little...well....yeah.

He had another piece that he had me order the frame ahead of time and then fit & finish when he came up to visit for the day. When I called him to tell him the frame was in, he answered his phone, talked to me, and then I heard him talking to someone else in the room he was in, it went something like "more anethesia please, hand me that scalpel..." then he said he'd be up to see me that Friday and hung up. I'm still a little disturbed that it sounded like he answered his cell phone while in the middle of conducting some sort of surgery!
 
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