Stacking Artwork and Paintings - ideas?

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CAGallery

MGF, Master Grumble Framer
Joined
Jun 14, 1999
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Loc
Brooklyn, NY
We are in the process of renovating the shop/gallery. Space is at a premium so we have always stacked extra artwork on a platform we had built with sides (sort of a custom-made bin). We put foamcore in between the pieces to protect them from getting scratched from the back of the artwork standing in front of it. Foamcore gets ratty looking very quickly and it doesn't make sense for us to be putting money into upgrading our "look" and have the foamcore ruin it. We are hesitant though to stack artwork without something in between. Any ideas of what we can use?
 
Coroplast (polyflute) is much more durable, and less expensive than foamcore when purchased in bulk. 4mm thickness available from plastics suppliers (Farco, GE polyforms) in 48x96 sheets.

It's usually the hanging hardware that causes the damage....switch to Wallbuddies and use cardboard corner protectors, and no hardware is exposed.
 
I would vote for the cardboard corner protectors also, they are cheap and with one on each corner of each framed piece, you have ample protection for both pieces. If you use D-rings instead of WB's, try stapling strips of matboard across the D-rings vertically. Use shallow staples so they can be removed easily and the strips will cover the D-rings or even screw eyes so they don't dig into the frame behind them.
 
wpfay said:
Coroplast (polyflute) is much more durable, and less expensive than foamcore when purchased in bulk. 4mm thickness available from plastics suppliers (Farco, GE polyforms) in 48x96 sheets.

It's usually the hanging hardware that causes the damage....switch to Wallbuddies and use cardboard corner protectors, and no hardware is exposed.
Click to expand...

Actually we find that even the edge of the canvas or stretchers can scratch the painting in back of it.

I like the idea of black Coroplast. Is it stiff enough though?
 
CAGallery said:
I like the idea of black Coroplast. Is it stiff enough though?
Click to expand...

4 mm Coroplast is about as stiff as foam center board, but parallel to the flutes, it could be creased pretty easily. If you get a piece creased, stand it with the flutes vertical. We use it between our finished frames in vertical storage racks -- no problem.
 
Here's a bullet proof solution that works great but may not be the best thing for in-shop use.

As a semi-gypsy artist I carry large frames around in a pickup. For protection I use $3-on-sale, 60 x 72" moving blankets bought from Harbor Freight. Even lacquered frames survive bouncing down country roads. In the stack you can alternate wrapped and not-wrapped frames, and if careful can even carry two frames back to back in a single blanket.

When I transport frames in cold weather I sometimes preheat the blankets in the dryer before taking a framed picture for delivery, that way it doesn't get cold enough during short transports to develop moisture when taken back inside, ever run into that one? Warm cozy artwork, that's what we like, methinks Thomas K* requires this kind of handling.

Oh, the cheapo blankets will melt a bit in a really hot dryer, keep the temp gauge set to "Synthetics."
 
We really like the idea of black coroplast but are worried about the sharp edges scratching the painting behind it. We considered taping the edges with black tape but that can also be a problem if it lifts and can stick to the painting. Ideas?

Also, does anyone know of a supplier of Coroplast (we will need quite a bit) in the New York Tri State Area?
 
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