The Framers Forum

This may sound like a strange question but, is there any reason why you couldn’t use a conservation backing board such as Larson’s (SSS008953)1650 mic backing board as a mount board? I assume conservation backing boards just don’t have a surface paper? But is that any reason to not use it? The reason I ask is because it’s such a nice white and matches my giclee paper perfectly and I, as yet, have not found a mount board that matches so well.

There may very well be an obvious reason why it shouldn’t be used as a mount board, but I just wondered

If it's a conservation backing board usually it's the facing paper that is conservation grade only, and not the back, so if you use it as a mountboard with the conservation paper facing outward, it will be the non-conservation side that is against the artwork.
You could have a normal mountboard in between the backing and the artwork but just cut the aperture slightly bigger so it can't be seen but it means there will be a small gap in between.
I have yet to fail to find a white mountboard that matches perfectly and I just use Centrado's own boards and you could try LJ or Daler boards too.
I would also struggle to cut something that thick on my manual mount cutter but I assume that is fine for you as you've suggested it. It will probably blunt your blades quicker than normal mountboard.

pramsay13 wrote: Sun 26 Apr, 2026 6:44 pm I have yet to fail to find a white mountboard that matches perfectly and I just use Centrado's own boards and you could try LJ or Daler boards too.

I have mount chevrons from them all but they’re always either too cream or too bright white. Even Centrado’s solid core Natural is much creamier. I generally use Minuet but it’s still creamier, which is fine until I use a white moulding

Here’s a link to clarify

https://larsonjuhl.co.uk/mountboard/bac ... -sss098953

They should really call these boards mounting boards or undermount boards, you wouldn’t really use them for a frame backing.

As far as I’m aware they’re the same as one range of LJ’s conservation boards without the facing papers, so would be fine for window mounts.
You may find more flecks than you would in the facing papers as they’re intended to be out of sight.

Personally I don’t like plain single mounts and I’d separate your paper and mount board colours by using a double mount with a darker inner, or a coloured core single mount.

I would class it as an undermount. I just referred to it as a backing board because Larson do on their website

I understand. I knew what you meant immediately and even recognised the reference no after retiring over 5 years ago!

THEY should call it mounting board/whatever.

There are suppliers who sell “conservation” backing boards, which will be the type of board Pramsay was thinking of.
They are non conservation boards lined with a (very dubious) conservation paper on one side. Very misleading.