What Do You Think of "Framers Tape?"

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FramerKat

FramerKat

CGF II, Certified Grumble Framer Level 2
Joined
Jun 26, 2007
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460
Loc
Sunny South Florida
I have wondered about this for years and never had a forum in which to pose this question. The shop where I am has used this item from United which is called "Framers Tape" for a long time. The catalog states that it is "acid free" which I know is a dubious term without much validity. I equate this tape to duct tape and would not use it for purposes other than what I would use said duct tape for (ie: never in framing!). By acid free...maybe just "buffered" like paper mats?...that's all I can figure. Then the adhesive becomes a nasty mess after a few years and then I have to clean it up later on...yuk! I just was curious what other experienced framers think of this tape.
 
This probably should not be placed in the same category with duct tape. Or masking tape, or ordinary Scotch tape.

I have not seen any deterioration of the tape or adhesive in the few projects that I have had opportunity to get into after a period of time. Long term, who knows?

In any case, no pressure sensitive tape is acceptable in direct contact with an item "preservation" framed. The problem is not related to quality of the tape, but to the intrinsic nature of pressure sensitive adhesives. No matter how good they are, they all migrate into the fibers of things and might never come out.

When preservation is an issue, use one of the many, many alternatives for non-adhesive, non-invasive, easily reversible mounting.
 
The previous owner used it all the time. Used it for hinging and for attaching the top matt to the backing board. Preferred the "bulk pack" one as you got more tape for the buck!

I liked it as it was very strong. Too strong for a lot of works but a good tape nonetheless. I don't order from United anymore, and since my primary distributor doesn't carry it I no longer use it. If I were to place an order to United however you can bet that I would put at least 5 rolls of it on the order!

It's not duct tape, nor is it Gorilla Tape. It has a purpose in a frame shop. (I used the last of my last roll to wrap around a paper towel to make a shop bandage! The adhesive, umm, "holds up well" to moisture.)
 
Paul, Jim hasn't noted any deterioration of the adhesive in this tape, but I have. Might be a climatic thing.
I would avoid it's use in any "preservation" frame package as it does eventually fail and the adhesives go through a very "gummy" stage. You're much better off with the water activated vegetable starch on linen tape for the hinge.
 
I once came very close to murder when I was working on repairing a torn antique map. My boss, who will remain nameless, saw me with the Filmoplast P I was using, pushed me aside, and started taping the mat with framers tape. Said he "It's acid free and the customer will never know". Said I, " It's too heavy for the paper, the repair tape should be lighter than the paper. The adhesive on that tape is too gummy and will seep thorugh the map." He told me to shut up, I told him to get bent, he told me I had no right to tell him what to do, I told him to pay me, I quit.
 
I use it now and then to cover the fletcher points when they won't go in flat enough, and threaten to poke through the dust cover. Have used it as a hinge to attach a mat to the backing, as Bob noted.
 
We use this tape in the shop. I don't see any harm in the product when used for it's intended purpose. Certainly it doesn't belong in a preservation package, but it does have varied uses without harm. I , like Jim, have never seen the deterioration of the product, and it has stayed stable so far as I can see. I think Wally may have a point when he said climate may play a part.

Lori
 
I use it like Val to cover brads so they won't puncture the dust cover on run of the mill jobs. It also is good for taping together the scraps of fom-cor I trim and sometimes use to fill a frame package.

Since it's handy I often use it to wrap packages .---$$$ Oh well ...easy come easy go.
 
Question to the question?

I have seen the term "Framers tape" used interchangably with "White Flat Back tape" and even "Artist Tape". I also used a tape that looked a lot like both of thees and was proported to be by it's distriputor "Serendipity Designs" out of Richmond Va. to be both "ACID FREE"and Water Reversable. I once took some of this tape to the Lab at the Refinery where I worked and had them run a Ph test on pieces of it along with rag mat and paper mat pieces . All of the Ph values came back as they were advertised to be and the Chemist seem annoyed that the tape became a gooy mess when put in a water suspension which might seem to indicate that the adhesive was in deed water soluable since the adhesive seemed to disolve when just palced in a water suspension.

My question to the Question is Serendipity's tape and the Framers tape and white flat tape and Artist tape all the same and can anyone show me where I can find documentation of that or any contradictions?

Still another intersting propety I personally witnessed with this Serendipity tape is it had a very low tack to it's adhesive and if not held in place right after application it might release on it's own . It also was very easy to remove , after time even with out the addition of water and hardly ever left any residue on even fabric.

The owner of Serendipity once told me he obtained it from an Italian Medical supply house and that is why he knew it was acid free and had a non-migratory adhesive.But then he was a good salesperson and knew what I wanted to hear. LOL

BUDDY

I ask because while some tapes LOOK an awful lot alike they may have slightly different properties and it would be a shame to lump them all together, without throughly and proeprly TESTING all there claims.
 
I use "framers tape" / artist tape/ white tape for a # of things. Never in contact with art or in a preservation package.

  • We wrap finished jobs in kraft. We use this tape with a little pc folded back on itself to close package. The little folded tab makes getting into package easy and it resticks good enough for that use, if you don't burnish it down to begin with.
  • We tape joints of foamboard or bevel accents when we pinwheel them.
  • Like others sometimes to cover points
  • General use / not in framing / in place of masking tape / like it's thickness better and doesn't seem to dryout
 
I agree- it's definitely not for hinging art, but can be useful for more utilitarian jobs (like connecting mat to backing, or in pinwheeling as just mentioned, or taping v-grooves) where you still want a quality backing and adhesive. It's better than "artist's tape" which often is basically flatback white masking tape. It also offers strength without thickness.
One thing I have noticed is that in trying to peel it off, the adhesive frequently leaves the tape carrier and remains on the board to which it was taped. That's a GOOD reason not to use it to hinge the art.
:kaffeetrinker_2: Rick

P.S.: Seth, it sounds like your idiot boss was upset because you were throwing a monkeywrench into his well-laid plan to have that one roll of Flimoplast P last for his entire framing career.
 
Are you guys referring specifically to "Framer's Tape II" by Specialty Tapes, in this thread?
 
Pressure-sensitive tapes have two problems to consider, their chemistry and
their physics. Regradless of their pH, they pose chemical problems of pollution
by plasticizers, tackifiers, and components that are trade secrets. Physically,
over time they can loose their hold through cold flow or as their adhesive
becomes stiff, through oxidation. These physical problems make them poor candidates for spining window mats to back mats or other jobs, which will require a long-term bond.


Hugh
 
I ran this question by my conservator and her reply was that any framer who used Flat Back, Framers tape or any similar product anywhere near artwork should be shot, and she wouldn't even wait until dawn to do it.

I use Lineco gummed paper or their lighter hinging tissue according to the thickness and weight of the item to be hinged. For small photos I will use Neschen P90.

Looking at the economics of it, rolls of decent mounting tape aren't that expensive and last for a few months so why risk ruining the artwork to save a few lousy cents?:shrug:
 
So, I'm not too far off base here. I also believe that it should certainly never come into contact with artwork. I have been in shops where they did hinge artwork with this tape which made me cringe. It may well be a climate thing here in Florida because I also have seen this tape release over time. When it does it leaves a goey residue similar to that of duct tape (thus my original analogy).

I do use white artist's tape (white flat back tape) a good bit with better results. I like the fact that the adhesive is not very aggressive for holding things in position temporarily or marking borders for floats, etc. I have also used it in the past to seal seams on the backs of mats. But I have also had occasion for this tape to "let go" which I'm sure is true as stated above about just about any self adhesive tapes...especially here in hot 'n humid South Florida!

Thanx all for your input and clearing up some of my issues! Who needs therapy when you have this?
 
I still am not sure about some things but

I have had experience with the Serendipity tape and Neschen P90 as well as the Lineco mending tape and the Neschen Lien tape. I still would like to know if all the tapes that LOOK like "Framing tape " are in deed the same exact product down to their adhesives?

However I am by no means trying to say that any pressure sensative tape is C/P suitable for the reasons Hugh has posted.

However I think it would be safe to say that even if Framer's/artist/ flat back, and Serendipities special are all the same in all ways , I think I remeber reading that even P90 fails to meet the C/P requiremants despite their advertisments and instructions due to their not being really reversable as I think are no PRESSURE senative tapes.

I think their is even a TFG Archive comment by Rebecca and maybe Hugh about how even some Hinges applied with cooked paste don't always reverse with just water with out causeing some damage to the artwork.

However IMO if this isn't sold as C/P in any way maybe some of these products could be better than others, and that is why I asked what I did.

BUDDY
 
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