The Framers Forum

Customer brought in a large 4ft x 4ft jigsaw and asked us if we could frame it.

Never done one before and not sure how to go about doing it. We have a jetmounter but only the JM26 which is too small anyway!

Any help appreciated.

Builders PVA on a sturdy board, which you could bond some conservation mount board to first if that would help your conscience.

I built a surround for the actual jigsaw out of foamboard, then placed a thin non-reflective acrylic sheet over both (to keep the bits in place) put a mountboard over that, finished with paperwhite glass. It's been hanging in my living room for a number of years now! I fixed the back with turnscrews, so that it could be taken out and 'done' again (the jigsaw), when my grandkids want a go - should I ever be lucky enough to have any!

Being located in a area with a lot of nursing homes we used to frame these things by the dozen and almost up to mural size.

We found the simplest way was to give the customer two pieces of hardboard and ask them to sandwich the puzzle between the two and bring it in to us face down, we them removed to top board and then completely covered the back with acid free masking tape. We then had a puzzle that was solid but flexible. No problems in handling it and no problems in losing that one last piece

You can then handle it just as you would a print.

Did a 5' x 3' jigsaw last week. Used a flat bed press and DMT to mount it onto foamboard. This did an great job. I would suggest that you try and find somebody nearby with a press that knows how to mount it in bites.

I've done a few using dri-mount film. Pre-mount the film on a dark coloured board leaving the release paper on the upside. The film needs to be slightly smaller than the puzzle. Then its fairly easy to slide the puzzle onto the tacky film surface and jiggle it so no film is showing round the edges. Back in the press for just a quick squeeze. Trim the board down to equalise the exposed border and frame with spacers.