The Framers Forum

In conservation framing, is it acceptable to attach a piece of artwork to conservation mountboard using acid-free tape and then use Colourmount's conservation barrier card between the artwork and the hardboard? In other words, is it always necessary to use a piece of backing mountboard behind the artwork rather than barrier card?

Secondly, has anyone else had bad experiences using Archival paper hinging tape losing its stick and causing the artwork to detach from the mountboard???

Welcome to the forum Mary

You're in the wrong part of the forum, but that's OK - one extra lash at the initiation ceremony won't hurt - well, not after the obligatory 25

Barrier card is thin stuff and I'd say why add something (like hardboard)to a conservation package that artwork needs protection from.

Prevention is better than cure.

What type of archival tape are you using? Self adhesive is not (IMHO - and in many other's HO) preservation/conservation quality/archival.

Hayaku tape, which is water activated, is better; japanese hingeing tissue and starch paste is best - more reversible with a better bond.

Thanks for prompt reply. I have now put my question in the correct place! Yes...I was referring to water activated hinging tape...perhaps I've been unlucky.

Mary Lever wrote:Yes...I was referring to water activated hinging tape....

Which brand? Maybe it was too weak so not an adhesive issue.

It is Lineco's archival gum paper tape bought from Lions. If barrier card is not considered suitable as backing, what is its purpose do you know? Also as a matter of interest, if you don't use hardboard/MDF as a backing board, what do you use? Finally, I'm really thrilled to have discovered this forum. To date, my experience has been that framers are very coy about revealing how they do things and protective of their businesses and perceived competition so it's great to discover somewhere where people share ideas.

Generally I use Art-Bak as a backing board but there'd be a sheet of mountboard between that and the artwork. There's a little diagram here:


http://www.welshframing.com/framing/anatomy.html

The only times I've used barrier card is when a customer wants a window mount that isn't available in conservation quality - Colourmount's black core, for example.

Mike, fwiw, Arqadia's LJ Artique range has a black board with a white core that's rated Conservation grade. It's a really good black, too.

Mary Lever wrote:It is Lineco's archival gum paper tape bought from Lions.

If you're having a problem with adhesion, it could be you are over or under-wetting it. I dab it carefully on my tape-wetter, taking care not to use a wiping action, as that would remove the adhesive. You could use a damp (nearly wet) cloth kept in a container, just dab the tape gently onto it.

Helps with wet hingeing to blot and weight the hinge, too.

Moglet wrote:Mike, fwiw, Arqadia's LJ Artique range has a black board with a white core that's rated Conservation grade. It's a really good black, too.

Thanks, I'll take a look at that. I'm gradually replacing my Colourmount stock with ArtCare.

Thanks everyone for your advice....greatly appreciated.