mounting fibre prints to aluminum

[Bob Carnie]

I was wondering if anyone could explain their technique of mounting fibre base prints to aluminum.
Do you use a hot press?
What kind of adhesive?
Supply of proper aluminum.?
Is there a pre - cleaning solvent required for the surface of the aluminum??

 

[Jim Chinn]

Most any local sheet metal fabricator will carry aluminum up .063 (1/16th of an inch) in sheets. You can also get variety of thicknesses from Shapiro Metal Supply, Online Metals, ASAP, and The Metals Depot. they all ship small quantities to rsidential addresses and will cut pieces to size for a minimal charge.

I don't know what kind of adhesive but the metal would need to be spotlessly clean. First use an automotive grade wax remover on the metal and then some metal prep cleaner, both sold at body shop suppliers. The cleaner is designed to not leave any deposits on the metal that you might get with soap and water, alcohol, lighter fluid etc. It is what I use before powder coating camera parts.

 

[fingel]

Hi Bob,
I have never heard of anyone doing that. That sounds interesting. What are the benefits of mounting a fiber print to aluminum vs. archival mount board? Is this a special project or are you planning on mounting all of your fiber prints to aluminum?

 

[matt miller]

This is something that interests me very much. I am a sheet metal worker by trade. I am currently working on a project, fabricating & photographing sheet metal fittings. I would like to mount these photographs onto aluminum. I’ve done a little research (keyword being “little”) into this. Here is a quote from another photo forum on this subject.

“I mount many on Stainless Steel & it works well. The cooling phase is the most critical, at least that is my experience. If you scuff the surface before mounting that will help a lot in the dry mount material adhering without air bubbles. I use a fine sanding disk or a curcular wire brush to rough the surface while still keeping it smooth(if that makes sense). If you use Seal colormount, which bonds as it heats rather than as it cools, you will get more consistent results. Follow up with a really good, heavy, flat weight for about 20-30 minutes to allow the mounting to cool with pressure to help with preventing future air bubbles from areas that didn't get enough pressure when mounting. I use double sheets of the Seal Colormount to allow enough thickness to make a good mounting surface for adhesion to both the print & metal.”

I plan to start with .063 aluminum & Colormount & go from there.

Good Luck,
Matt

 

[Aggie]

two quick tricks for metal.
1. When cleaning use fantasitc cleaner. it is available in the super markets. it leaves no residue and stips things nicely. that is why they use it on stove tops.

2. Mask off the area you want to have your picture mounted on with masking tape. Use 400 grit sand paper and lightly sand the surface. it will give you the tooth they talked about in the other forum. this also with the masking keeps the areas you have of the aluminum not covered by the picture from showing the scratch marks of the sand paper. Afterwards clean using the fantasic. Once you have mounted the picture if there are any small areas of the sandpaper scratches left on the surface near the pciture, take 3000 grit sand paper and lightly sand that area. You cn thin take a bit of car polich and use a qtip to get the surface shiny again. If it is a very small area get a popsicle stick and glue the 3000 grit paper on one side of it. you can then use it more acurately in very thin swipes. Use a tooth pick instead of the q-tipo to polish with. If you have a dremel or flexible shaft, you will have the tips to do this more effectively.

Good luck

 

[Bob Carnie]

Hi Bob,
I have never heard of anyone doing that. That sounds interesting. What are the benefits of mounting a fiber print to aluminum vs. archival mount board? Is this a special project or are you planning on mounting all of your fiber prints to aluminum?

Hi Scott

My interest in this process is one of being able to mount a very large project I have been working on where I solarize crushed metal objects. My print sizes will be 28" x 42". the prints will be trimmed to rebate and floated on the aluminum and framed with welded steel. Kinda like keeping everything in the metalic look.
As well I have contiually heard that mounting to aluminum is the ultimate in smoothness, and stability, its archival aspects I'm not sure of and I will research before I proceed.
Normally with all our work for prints over 16x20 we use rag board as a mounting subsrate
Bob

 

[Jim Chinn]

Richard Avedon did a series of portraits, I believe they were platinum and were mounted on aluminum backing.

 

[Ole]

My main local source of all things photographic, Fotoimport.no, has this to say about aluminium mounting:

Roughly translated and abbreviated: "1.5mm aluminium plates are sized with a mixture of 30% glue and water. The glue, Lascaux Akrylkleber 498HV, is used for artist's collages. Allow to dry, then apply a layer of glue. The wet or rewet print is then wiped of all surface water, smoothed onto the plate, and the whole allowed to dry overnight. As soon as the surface is dry some heat treatment will increase the strenght of the bond.

The print will be bonded permanently to the sheet, and cannot be removed without very strong solvents. It can be washed, bleached toned, redeveloped or whatever without coming off."

That answer the question?

 

[Ole]

Addendum: the procedure is shown (in Norwegian, but with pictures) on http://fotoimport.no/pg09/PG09-2-3.HTM .

 

[lee]

all that Avedon book "In the American West" is mounted on aluminium also.


lee\c