Drymount tacking question

[tim k]

I tried my first drymount today.

I don't have a tacking iron, so I just stuck a steel rule in the press to warm up some. Thought I could use it in place of an iron. Well.... it sort of worked, but the steel rule stuck very nicely as well.

Question is; whats up with a tacking iron, that it wont stick to the tissue? Do I need to break down and get a tacking iron? Or is there some other method, that you guys use?

Thanks

 

[Jon Shiu]

I use a household iron set on low heat. I think there is some type of teflon surface.

Jon

 

[tim k]

Thanks Jon,
That would be simple enough.

 

[Konical]

Good Evening, Tim,

Perhaps some tacking irons have a non-stick surface, but the ones I've used don't.

The solution is simple: Use a non-stick material between the iron and the tissue. The Seal Release Paper is what's normally used, but I've also used a small piece of the backing from a used sheet of address labels. I suspect that the backing material from our current self-sticking postage stamps would work also, although I haven't tried it. The tacking iron should be kept adhesive-free, just as it's a good idea to keep any adhesive from contaminating the press platen.

Konical

 

[Anscojohn]

I use a household iron. I think there is some type of teflon surface.

Jon

******
Be careful with the household iron. If not careful, it can give you a sharp ding. The old standby is the back of a heated iced-tea spoon.

 

[tim k]

So many obvious simple solutions. I'm starting to feel a little slow.
Thanks guys

 

[bobwysiwyg]

Has anyone ever tried parchment paper as an overlay while dry mounting with heat? I noticed my wife using it to line cookie sheets while baking them. It obviously handles a good deal of heat and sticks to neither the cookie sheet or the backed goods.

 

[Anscojohn]

Has anyone ever tried parchment paper as an overlay while dry mounting with heat? I noticed my wife using it to line cookie sheets while baking them. It obviously handles a good deal of heat and sticks to neither the cookie sheet or the backed goods.

******
I used to use a layer of kraft paper.

 

[msage]

Of course you could just buy a tacking iron, I got mine for $5. There are many out there.
Michael

 

[tim k]

Michael,

I wish I'd thought of that. The obvious usually escapes me.

Seriously, thats one thing I've never seen in my scrounging travels. If I ever run across one, I'd pick it up in a heartbeat. (Especially for 5.00)

Tim

 

[eclarke]

My tacking iron is Teflon coated..Evan Clarke

 

[George Collier]

I think they started coating them with Teflon maybe in the 70's, or by the 80's for sure. Mine is coated, and I got it in the early 80's, but remember using naked ones in college, early 70's, but then, we were all hippies.

 

[Shadow Images]

The best way is to use release paper. If you ever come to Phoenix let me know and I'll hook you up with some.

 

[tim k]

Thx for the additional info guys.
SI thanks for the offer. We do get up from time to time, but were usually pulling the 5th wheel and hate to get off the big roads.

 

[J D Clark]

Go to a hobby store specializing in model airplanes, and get an iron used to iron covering on the wings. It'll be teflon coated, and cost less than a dedicated "photo" iron.

John Clark
www.johndclark.com

 

[tim k]

John,
I just did a quick google, and came up with a couple of things for about 20 bucks more or less. I'll look into that. Great idea.
Thanks