The Framers Forum

Has anyone got a method for sealing the mount and glass up so that in the future thunderbugs cannot wriggle in.
The only thing i have is some Frame sealing tape - Lineco - but I can get something else if needed.
Thanks.

The foil stuff? That's the best IMHO - expensive though.

I use P90 tape. Seems to work - at least no one has bought a frame back yet....

P90 definitely seems the best as it sticks to glass than pretty much better than anything else.

I use masking tape. Easier to use than P-90. With P-90 you have to run it exactly in the right place first go as once it touches glass you can't get it off easily. Masking tape you can just slap it on and run a knife around to trim it back to about 1/8" from the edge.

Ah, masking tape. Don't you worry about the glue drying out and it failing, allowing the little bu**ers to creep in?

Not noticed any thunder flies for the last 2 years.... where have they gone? a bit like white dog poo

So do you "overtape" onto the glass and then trim back so that it doesn't show under the rebate, or do you precision place in the first instance to avoid scoring any glass coating?

I precision place first, but sometime a little bit of trimming is required after the sandwich has gone into the frame, when things are not so 'precision'

With masking tape, you can place it roughly and trim it back. Then peel it off all round with one swift movement. Voilà!
After that I scrunch up the trim-off into a ball and chuck it on the floor for the cat to play with.

No, I don't worry about it drying out.

The last few years the weather has been dampish so not many little flies about. Years when it has been very dry they come out in droves. Usually they fly as soon as the harvest starts. They love burglar alarms. As soon as they start cutting the corn round here, the alarm at the co-op goes off. Every year without fail.

If you use Sellotape which is around the same as masking tape, you will not see it under the rebate, just trim after you frame, running a sharp blade around the sight edge

I beg to differ with you there Steve. Sellotape is on a different planet to masking tape.

Uranus?

What, it's better ?

I wouldn't have it in the house. nasty nasty nasty.

You don't wrap your Chrissie pressies up with masking tape, surely Prospero???

Certainly not. I never give any bugger anything.

How did I know that was coming??

I use the Linco foil tape, it sticks really well and is wide enough to slice down the middle to make two lengths after cutting it to size.

What have we got on these 'thunder bugs' anyway?

I've heard them called other things like 'corn flies' So I Googled and came up with this

Thrips, that's what they are!

I have never (touch wood) had one of my frames back with these bugs in, but I have had plenty framed elsewhere from homes where my frames also hang and the affected frames were not always older than mine - but they mostly are and are mostly backed with MDF (like 99.9%) and sealed with masking tape.

These 'thrips' are looking for food - maybe my default boards and tapes don't contain what they'd class as food and the other/older ones do, or maybe my frames haven't been around long enough?

I don't seal the glass in most of my frames.