The Framers Forum

Hi all

Had a customer in yesterday who wants me to frame a lovely picture of her farmhouse and 2 of their prized cows, trouble is it sits on a foil cake board and it's made of icing. She doesn't expect it to last forever but anyone got any ideas how to make it last as long as possible? Has anyone ever framed an iced picture before? Should I just eat it then move?

Any help/advice/sympathy would be most appreciated

Amanda

I know nothing about the preservation of iced pictures, but I would recommend you take some good photos of it before you eat it!
Maybe some silica gel sachets could be used in some way?

I did one once. Drilled the corners and put linen thread though to hold it. Lasted about 3 years before it became a heap of sugar in the bottom of the frame.

The only way I can think of to make it permanent is resin encapsulation. That may not totally work.

First scientific bit: There are some sovents which will displace water and not disolve sugar. I've been trying to remember which solvents these are, but you may need to do some checking about this. I think that Naphtha and white spirit are likely to be worth checking out as possiblities. I would also do some tests with household rock sugar, just to be sure.

First practical bit Any solvent which will displace water and not disolve sugar can be used to displace any existing water in the sugar by suspending the icing in a container of the solvent and allowing the water, (which is heavier than the solvent) to sink to the bottom of the container.

After all the solvent has been allowed to evaporate from the icing you are ready to seal the icing.

Second scientific bit: Sugar is soluble in acetone, but is not soluble in iso propanol and wax is usually soluble in iso propanol.

Second practical bit: Therefore why not make a solution of wax in iso propanol to seal and bind the surface of the sugar using wax. The wax will set solid as the solvent evaporates. To make certain I recommend more than one coat of wax to ensure no missed and therefore un-sealed areas.

Disclaimer: This is my own un-proven idea. I have never needed to do this, but the theory should be good.

I would try this first on a test piece which does not matter, if it goes wrong! Better safe, than sorry!

I have been here before. Look at this post http://www.theframersforum.com/viewtopi ... =32&t=7890 which was about an iced tile.

Eventually I box framed it and sink mounted it to keep the tile away from the mount and held it in with silicone. He hasn't come back yet which is a good sign

David McCormack wrote:Maybe some silica gel sachets could be used in some way?

Check out the comments by 'preservator' here.

misterdiy wrote:Look at this post http://www.theframersforum.com/viewtopi ... =32&t=7890 which was about an iced tile.

I must be losing my marbles, I posted several times on that thread and could not remember any of it until reading it again! I'm obviously getting past it!

Smashing, thanks for all your replies chaps, it's such a big help. I'm going to sit down this afternoon (after a lively morning at toddler group) and read/try all the science'y bits - can't wait to see what my kitchen might look like afterwards!! After that, it's framing West Wing and Jimmy Johnstone autographs and prints, before the iced cows get it!!

Amanda