The Framers Forum

Have been given a collection of beer mats to frame - thought I'd float mount them - does that sound appropriate? Can anyone suggest a way which won't damage the mats themselves?
Thanks in anticipation
Calico

I would have thought that by float mounting you are going to have to stick something to the back and run the risk of damage, even using gummed tape might cause beer mats to tear if they ever need to be removed.
Have you considered a multi-aperture mount with a sub-mount with holes the size of each beer mat to hold them in place?

Just a thought.

Thanks for the reply. My concern is exactly that I could take the paper off the back of the mats if I use tape to float mount. I've yet to attempt 3d/object framing so have no idea what kind of techniques might be applicable from that. But I remember reading about starch paste and japanese paper - would that be gentle enough to use to float mount I wonder?

what about encapsulating them in mylar/melinex

that way noting is stuck to them

I'd go with Alan's suggestion of a sub mount the depth of the mats with an over mount with the apertures slightly smaller than the mats. No adhesive on the mats and fully reversable

I'd go with Alan's suggestion of a sub mount the depth of the mats with an over mount with the apertures slightly smaller than the mats. No adhesive on the mats and fully reversable


Good choice

Are they round or square?

Some are ovals, some square with rounded corners. Dont fancy my chances cutting precise apertures in a submount to hold them in place. would it be possible to do it by hand? With a computerised mountcutter?

CalicoFraming wrote: Some are ovals, some square with rounded corners. Dont fancy my chances cutting precise apertures in a submount to hold them in place. would it be possible to do it by hand? With a computerised mountcutter? ( sorry don't have a quote button )

You don't need to cut apertures in the submount, start with a piece of mountcard, lay your beermats on it, then just use strips of mountcard to touch the edges of the beermats, stick these strips down, they will then hold the beermats in place until you attach the top mount, you don't even need to stick the top mount down, just lay your cleaned glass on top and tape upround the edges.

Or

Pop into one of the forum members near you who have a computerised mountcutter

Without bringing down the wrath of others, what sort of standard of job does the customer want and have you priced all the additional work that window mounting would entail? After all, these are beer mats, throw away promotional items which are printed on rough card more noted for its absorbancy than its conservation qualities!

They would never have been printed with light fast inks, so if you have concerns over damage will you be glazing with a UV blocking glass?

Last few like this that I have done for local pubs have been done as cheaply as possible, atg the mats to a float mount and replace the contents a few years down the line!

In this case, the beer mats are family heirlooms (the client's family owned the brewery) so have sentimental value, if not financial.

I'm slightly perplexed by the assumption we're all making that attaching a hinge to the back risks damaging the mats. I'm quite new to this, but was under the impression that some of the tapes available, and paper+starch as supposed to be removable without causing damage. What am I missing here

I think float mounting the beer mats with a foamboard pedestal will look really good and will be easier than cutting all those oval and round cornered square apertures in your window mount, unless you have access to a CMC. Also, it means you can show the whole beer mat and not cover the edges.

But you will need to attach tape to the back of the mats. This is no problem from an archival point of view until you need to remove the tape. But even if you need to remove the tape in say 10 to 20 years time, if the mats are of sentimental value and not monetary value, and not going to be sold to collectors, then a small amount of damage to the back of the mats should not be a problem.

Using starch paste and tissue should be easier to remove than gummed tape and cause the least amount of damage if any.

I should probably get down the boozer and snatch a few mats to experiment on. I might have to have a little drink to avoid suspicion. Strictly in the name of science, you understand!

Seriously, thanks for the advice. Think I'll try to persuade the customer to let me put tape on the back.