Andrew Lenz Jr.
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Has a non-warping archival board been invented yet that can be cut on standard mat cutters?
Andrew
Andrew
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Archival non-warping board?
- Thread starter Andrew Lenz Jr.
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Kai Vanuffelen
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There is 12 ply board that is fairly rigid.
Any paperboard would warp if exposed to certain conditions, whether 4-ply, 8-ply, 12-ply, or more-ply, and quality of fibers has little to do with it. For example, exposure to moisture would cause disoriented fibers and unequal expansion/contraction and warping. The only prevention of that would be a non-hygroscopic board, not made of paper.
Perhaps the most common cause of warped mats in frames is restriction of normal expansion/contraction cycles. That is, boards cut too large, without an allowance for expansion; or too-tight fitting that prevents movement of the materials within the confines of the frame. Springs in aluminum sectional frames often have that unfortunate effect. The revention of that is to make sure that all materials in the frame are free to move within the expansion allowance of the frame. Generally, if the glass can not be rattled, the fitting is too tight.
If a large, heavy paper artwork were hinged to the top edge of a window mat's opening, the gravitational stress of its weight pulling the top downward might cause the side margins to become wavy. The prevention of that, of course, is to hinge not to the window mat, but to a solid backing board, reinforced from behind if necessary.
It is important to understand that paperboard fibers will not compress, but will cockle; and they will not stretch, but will shred.
Prevention of causes is the only way to prevent warping of mats.
Perhaps the most common cause of warped mats in frames is restriction of normal expansion/contraction cycles. That is, boards cut too large, without an allowance for expansion; or too-tight fitting that prevents movement of the materials within the confines of the frame. Springs in aluminum sectional frames often have that unfortunate effect. The revention of that is to make sure that all materials in the frame are free to move within the expansion allowance of the frame. Generally, if the glass can not be rattled, the fitting is too tight.
If a large, heavy paper artwork were hinged to the top edge of a window mat's opening, the gravitational stress of its weight pulling the top downward might cause the side margins to become wavy. The prevention of that, of course, is to hinge not to the window mat, but to a solid backing board, reinforced from behind if necessary.
It is important to understand that paperboard fibers will not compress, but will cockle; and they will not stretch, but will shred.
Prevention of causes is the only way to prevent warping of mats.
Andrew Lenz Jr.
Frequent Poster
I should have been more specific. I'm thinking more backing board, not matboard.
Is there an aluminum board that can be trimmed to size on a mat cutter, or are they all saw material?
Andrew
Is there an aluminum board that can be trimmed to size on a mat cutter, or are they all saw material?
Andrew
Kai Vanuffelen
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Do you mean wall mounted cutters. There are several brands of these on the market able to cut different materials. The Fletcher 3100 for example can cut mdf. But.... it only cuts boards no thicker than 3mm. The building industry or joiners have wall-mounted saws with rollers on which the operator can place 4x8 feet boards vertically. The blade can be changed to cut different materials. I wouldn't cut matboards to size with these machines, as they leave a ragged edge.
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Dibond can be cut on a Fletcher.
Aluminum composite material aka "ACM", (DiBond, ePanel, Alucobond, etc.) can be cut on the Fletcher Model 3100 and Model FSC cutters. The practical limit is 3 mm thickness. 4 mm ACM can be cut on these machines, but it is very difficult to pull the twin-disc cutter through such thick material. For most framing applications, 2 mm is plenty rigid enough.
Can these materials be cut on standard matcutters? No.
If you are looking for a board to reinforce 4-ply alpha cellulose used for mounting, I suggest you consider 4 mm fluted polypropylene, aka Coroplast. That plastic board is considered to be suitable for preservation framing, but its surfaces would not be suitable for direct contact with artwork.
Can these materials be cut on standard matcutters? No.
If you are looking for a board to reinforce 4-ply alpha cellulose used for mounting, I suggest you consider 4 mm fluted polypropylene, aka Coroplast. That plastic board is considered to be suitable for preservation framing, but its surfaces would not be suitable for direct contact with artwork.
