The Framers Forum

Hello has anyone got advice for me to frame a 3000 piece jigsaw,is ther some sort of glue to hold the pieces together.
thanks
Dewi

Assuming the customer is aware that it is going to be stuck down permanently, the I have used self adhesive mountboard or fomecor successfully for this

yes customer wants it to be permanent.thanks for the quick reply.

In the past I have used Drymount Film onto Foamcore then about 10 mins in the Hotpress. Not too sure how big it is but 3000 pieces sounds like a whopper Before I had the Hotpress I had tried using PVA onto Foamcore with a rubber roller but the Hotpress with Film really does the trick.

Gesso&Bole wrote:Assuming the customer is aware that it is going to be stuck down permanently, the I have used self adhesive mountboard or fomecor successfully for this

I am afraid this reply from Gesso is a little "simplistic"...

1 - cover the jigsaw with cling film - to stop the pieces moving
2 - slide stiff a board under the jigsaw - marking the base of the board "bottom"
3 - cover the jigsaw with another board - marking the top of this as "top" & cling film the whole assembly
4 - transport to framing workshop & rest on a table with "your bottom up" & un cling the outer assembly
5 - this step depends on your facilities...

do you have...

hot mounting facilities
cold mounting facilities
only manual mounting facilities

dependant on your resources I will advise the correct next steps...

Also of importance - is it a card / wood / plastic jigsaw - at 3000 pieces I am guessing a die cut card jigsaw...

Let us know & we can proceed.

die cut card jigsaw and ive only got manual mount board facility.thanks

bespokeframer wrote:die cut card jigsaw and ive only got manual mount board facility.thanks

When pressing a die cut jigsaw it is important to remember that the centre of each piece is raised a little at the back - compared to the edge of the piece. With this in mind I would not try to hand apply to self adhesive mountboard - but use self adhesive foamboard instead.

6 - With the jigsaw face down on the top board - remove the bottom board (see last post).

7 - Make sure your piece of foamboard is bigger than the jigsaw - min 25mm all round.

8 - Remove the self adhesive liner & offer it to the back of the jigsaw - but do not press hard at this stage.

9 - Flip the assembly over & remove the top board.

10 - With the cling film still in place on the face of the jigsaw run a hand roller over the entire surface - working from the centre out.

11 - Now remove the cling film & repeat the process a few times. The idea is to push the piece slightly into the foamboard - so the centre of each piece meets the adhesive.

12 - Top tip - the warmer the foamboard is - the stickier the adhesive on it will become.

I have to sress that machine mounting as Bagpuss suggests above would be much firmer - but if you don't have the kit then this is the way to go.

Steve, it’s a shame your not 3 inches tall as I’d love to keep you in my top pen pocket and bring you out when ever I’ve got a mounting issue. Fantastically answered and the reason I view this forum on a daily basis.

Thanks for the advise.will have a go later on in the week.

pinkybanks wrote:Steve, it’s a shame your not 3 inches tall as I’d love to keep you in my top pen pocket and bring you out when ever I’ve got a mounting issue. Fantastically answered and the reason I view this forum on a daily basis.

Aw - Thanks Pinky - I do my best - always a pleasure - never a chore!!!

Thanks for all the advice.
Got it done just before christmas.
Looked really good and the clean film did the trick.

I love it when cling film saves the day!!!



Well done!!!

Steve's method is a great method if you happen to be clumsy or accident prone or just very conscious that the jigsaw might fly to pieces.

I've done hundreds of jigsaws in the past 25+ years and I have kept my process very simple without ever using clingfilm.
1. I place a sheet of foamboard on top of the jigsaw (which is sitting on top of a piece of foamboard or other sheet material.
2. Small jigsaws I place on hand on top, one hand under the middle of the jigsaw and turn it over so the bottom is facing upward.
3. Remove the sheet that is on top, then whack a piece of self adhesive foamboard (with the release paper removed) on top of the jigsaw.
4. Press down all over.
5. Vacuum press it then cut off the excess self adhesive foamboard backing which is now firmly attached.

For larger jigsaws (up to 4ft x 8ft), I use the same method, but get a friend to help me turn it over.

Not one piece of jigsaw has ever fallen off!

Ormond, I'm glad it's not just me that can't see what all the fuss is about!

I've not used the cling film trick before, but I have done a similar sized jigsaw before. It consisted of four separate jigsaw which located together made one image. At the customers request it was block mounted unto 4 equal size bits of MDF and varnished with matt acrylic varnish. The finished size of all four boards together was 9ft x 6ft and it was not a fun job to do.

If there is a next time, think I'll be trying the cling film. Thanks for the tip, Steve. It's only the first day of a new year and someone has already taught me something new. Nice one!

...as someone said - I don't know what all the fuss is about....

But we have to remember - the forum is for folk who are looking to learn - so if on day one of 2011 - you have picked up a very small tip - then the forum is working - for some - if not all - HOORAY for that!!!

Happy 2011 - to EVERYONE - remember - a tip shared is a tip for free - long live the forum!!!!

USE SELF ADESIVE MOUNTCARD OR SPRAY ADESIVE YOURS MIKE

Mike,
I disagree with you about spray adhesive. It's untrustworthy to say the least. Some parts stick very well others don't. It's absurdly expensive, the fumes won't do you any good at all and they take adhesive all over the place unless you have a spray booth.

Nigel we design and manufacture jigsaws and many have come back to us for framing, and have never had any problem when either spray or self adesive board was used. We have even used pva glue this just needs a little longer The cost for spray adesive for a 20x16inch jigsaw would be 15p YOURS MIKE

Mike,
I have seen many prints that have not bonded well with spray adhesive. It seems to me that jigsaw pieces are not as flat as a print, so should be even more prone to bonding problems when using spray adhesive. Maybe you just haven't inspected many jigsaws 'stuck' down with it, yet!

Last time I saw a price list that included spray adhesive, it was more than $12 a can. Spray adhesive in your country may be less expensive than it is here, but from my experience in seeing the results of defective bonding with it, nothing could persuade me to use spray adhesive for anything.

I don't have any issue with self adhesive boards or PVA glue.