Topic: Mounting Integral Polaroids

[seekingfocus]

Hi All-

I'm looking for a viable solution to mount a bunch of Polaroids - Type 600 and 779. They will be layered some on top of others to make some collage composite type images...

I had been thinking about dry mounting, but don't think they would stand the heat well. Also, there's the little bitty problem of not actually having access to a dry mount press...

So, that leaves me with liquid glue (Neutral PH Adhesive), or the nasty, messy sprays... I've also heard of Cold Mounting as well as a product called Scotch Positionable Mounting Adhesive which is supposedly archival for RC or plastics but not FB papers... I haven't been able to find too much information about either of these however. I'm trying to find something that will be nice and permanent and as archival as possible, while keeping the prints as flat as possible.  I know... a lot to ask.

ANYWAY, if anyone has had any experience mounting Polaroid integral films I'd love to know about it. I've got some rather large pieces to put together and can use any info I can get!!!

Thanks,
Jason

[Francois]

I've never mounted Polaroids but have an idea...
Have you tried Rubber cement?
Some companies make a PH neutral rubber glue. It's easy to apply, excess just rolls off with a finger. But don't think of un-gluing the prints!

[Skorj]

Maybe just trap behind glass? No glue?

[seekingfocus]

Thanks guys- I've tried rubber cement with limited success. It works fine when they are laid singly, flat on the mountboard. However the problem comes in when they are layered one over the other, they do not stick well in the corners.

Glass- same thing, there are about 35-40 Polaroids in each composition. To get them all lined up and smashed behind glass without moving would be impossible! I'll post some photos, perhaps it will make things clearer what I'm trying to do.

As of now, I have been using some PH Neutral adhesive that works fairly well, but take a while to dry and is a bit messy. It's a doable solution, but is taking forever and I thought there might be a better solution out there. I think I am going to order some of the Scotch Positionalbe Mounting Adhesive and give it a try in the future.

-Jason

[Francois]

There's always double sided tape...

[seekingfocus]

Here's what I'm trying to do...

As you can see, they need to be held well enough to stay flat over the various layers... for these two, I've been using the pH Neutral Adhesive, which has worked well- only it's messy and time consuming. But, it does the job- holds the Polaroids tight and flat. I've ordered some of the Scotch PMA (mentioned above), and will give that a try in the future...

-Jason

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[rdbkorn]

Double sided tape - is no friend of mine!

I did a composite similar to your first one (i.e. a grid pattern) as part of an art piece. Mounted all the individual prints on book board using double sided tape, but it just didn't hold well at all. Had to go back and use a neutral pH acrylic medium (Rhoplex) to re-do the composite. The pain of using that product is applying it to the pieces - it gunks up a brush in no time. But the nice thing about using Rhoplex is that you can reposition the pieces and once everything is in place, use pressure (I used my etching press) to "finalize" the bond. And once finalized, it holds perfectly.

My second run-in with double sided tape happened this summer when I was installing a large artwork in a gallery. The piece consisted of about 100 small cyanotype prints that I mounted on the gallery wall with double sided tape. It took about 4 hours to install the piece, and when I came back the next day about 20 of the cyanotypes were laying on the floor like fallen leaves. Had to re-install the piece using small brass tacks in the corners of each individual cyanotype....

[seekingfocus]

Thanks, rdbkorn. I've had some nasty run ins with double sided tape myself. It either doesn't stick, or if it does it ends up leaving some nasty residue.

Rhoplex sounds like an option I'll have to look into. Being able to reposition the pieces would be quite helpful. The stuff I'm using currently is quite permanent after a few minutes. I do have access to an etching press... I'd only be a bit concerned about the Polaroids going through under pressure... though I guess once the developer is spread and the emulsion is dry there's no worry really?

By the way... quick search on Google didn't turn up much for Rhoplex. Where'd you get it? Are there any other names it goes by or a generic product I can ask for in the art store?

Thanks again,
Jason

[rdbkorn]

Hey Jason,

The product you need is Rhoplex N-580. The Tamarind Institute in Albequerque uses it for all chine colle on the lithographs they produce.

I bought mine a few years ago from a place called "Conservator's Emporium" located in Reno.

http://www.museumservicescorporation.com/consemp/catalog/coating.html#q

Good luck!
Paul

[seekingfocus]

Thanks a lot, Paul. Sounds perfect. I should have thought of something used for chine colle.

-Jason