The Framers Forum

Hi

Looking for advice on type of backing board to use.

Tried using both MDF and Artbak today for first time and MDF seems to leave bits behind where as Artbak is easier to work with. I know Artbak is better quality and more expensive but is there anything wrong with using Artbak as my standard backing apart from cost?

Are there different depths.qualities within Artbak I should also be looking at.

Would there be any reason I should use MDF? I believe in quality which is why I am setting my standards from day one, even though I am new to the Framing world.

Thanks

Steve

Hi Steve,
Artbak is a much better choice for backing than MDF, with MDF there are health and safety issues due to dust caused through cutting. Artbak is much easier to cut.

As you are new to the framing world I would sugest you obtain a copy of the Lion trade catalogue, you can order one through their website, as they are based in Birmingham it may be worth our while making a visit to their warhouse. The catalogue will give you all the information you require about artbak.

Regards,
Arthur

Hi Steve,

I use ArtBak Conservation as my standard board - it cuts cleaner than ordinary Artbak, which can get a bit fluffy at the edges, and with none of the dangerous dust of MDF (you don't want to be breathing that stuff in!). The big bonus of the lack of dust is fewer flumbs getting between glass & mount when you assemble.

In summary: It's better for your health, better for the artwork and it's easier to work with! Well worth the extra.

Here in the US - most framers use foam centered boards - some use coroplast - others use mount boards - and others use corrugated kraft board(old fashion and very acidic).

I have an order for 50 sheets of Coroplast® - 4mm x 48 x 96 - fluted plastic sheet - to be picked up at a local plastic distributor about 3 miles away - my cost will be $8.00US per sheet - that is less than foam center board!

My standard backing is Bainbridge Archival foam core 5mm.
It's Acid free, inert, coated front & back in their alphamount conservation paper.
I can hinge directly on to it, saving the time, expense & depth of another layer in the mount sandwich.
Plus you can compress and bevel the edges when the rebate depth is a little shallow ( as is too often the case with mouldings )
http://www.nielsen-bainbridge.com/Bainb ... board.html

All the best

Frame Faery wrote:My standard backing is Bainbridge Archival foam core 5mm.

I worry a bit that it might not have much physical strength to protect the artwork against, say, a nail sticking out from the wall - though I sometimes do the same thing myself with Artcare Restore.

Have you had any customers damage the foam core?

I agree with welshframer - whilst I would use the artcare foamboard as a part of the mount I wouldnt want it then to be the backing board as well. I always like to know that there's something between the back of the mount and the ham fisted framer who might just have to replace the glass. That thin piece of backing board - whatever it is, can take a lot of abuse - the media and its mount staying relatively unharmed.

Excellent! we have a discussion going on the merits of backing boards.

I take your comments on board, gladly I can report that, so far, in all the years I have been using Archival foam core, I have had no incidences of damage that puts the artwork at risk. I use Artcare foam board sucessfuly for small to medium size jobs, anything large or needing extra support gets 3mm Bison board as back up. However beware other foam cored products may be a lot softer than Bainbridges product. Artback that I have seen recently, would be as easily penetrated by nail (for example) as the thicker foam core might be. All framed pictures when handled with the care & respect deserved, there should be a little risk of penetrating damage from nails etc, logically the glass on the front is more of a threat to framed art, we don't worry as much about that as we should perhaps.

I firmly believe that AFC (archival foamcore) is far superior to MDF as a backing due to it being acid free, light weigh, moisture resistant core, plus easily & cleanly cut.
Highly acidic, heavy, dusty MDF should, as far as I'm concerned be used sparingly.

The time taken in cutting and hinging is reduced therefore making the Archival foam core sandwich a cost effective solution to all the above problems that MDF presents.

Comments eagerly awaited . . . .

if for no other reason, MDF 's propensity to grow mould is a good reason for making it low down on your list of ideal backing boards, although it does have its place if sealed.
mostly we likewiseuse Art-Bak and occasionally foam-centre boards.

Artcare foamcore has been my default backing/combined undermount for a long time.

Tape a piece on a wall, with a piece of artbak next to it and throw darts at them.

Once the frames are hung the threat is from the front - so let's all switch to acrylic/styrene/perspex PDQ eh?

My thoughts exactly Robo

Just think of your least favourite customer when throwing those darts, you know the one, makes you duck behind your bench and pretend your not there.
(I'm sure we have all done it at some point, thinking "OMG not now, groan, please just go away" or worse . . . . . )

When using Artcare foam as a backing board I tried finishing off the job with white lick-n-stick tape as I think it looks much neater than brown tape over the white board.

So far the only white tape I've found is rather thin and the tabs show through. Two layers of the tape hide the tabs but that's more work.

Does anyone know a source of suitable white tape?