Artist has two items to float frame. One is a 6" cast resin 'tile', with a bas relief sculptural element on the front. The other, a 10 x 20 photo printed on metal. Wants to mount a metallic finish mat substrate to hardboard (or something similar), then attach float items and frame without glazing. (More to them, but that's the salient information.) These are prototype designs that he would then keep making on his own. (Or have the cruise lines frame them?) They need to be sturdy enough to survive temp/humidity changes in shipping, and travel to different climates.
I told him that, even if mounted to a sturdy substrate, a mat without glazing is vulnerable to humidity and surface damages, but he loves the look. He plans to float off the mat with wooden strainers that he'll attach, and I said he needs to make sure his adhesives can withstand temperature extremes. I also told him that plastic can contract/expand. (I don't know if cast resin does the same?) I also said he needs to use materials that can stand temps from freezing to over 120 degrees. I suggested that, rather than just attach the items to the mat surface, it might be good to screw through the board backing the mat substrate and into the strainer. I can imagine doing all this, but the main question I have is about what adhesive to use. He plans to glue his resin tile to the wooden block/strainer with something like Gorilla clue. (I suppose VHB tape would also work). He thought something fierce from HD would be fine for the mat, but I said that we have to use something that's not going to harm it. For fairly light projects, I tend to mount mat substrates to Canvas Mount Core and call it good. But we need something that wouldn't warp with humidity. What glue/adhesive would you use for attaching the mat?
I told him that, even if mounted to a sturdy substrate, a mat without glazing is vulnerable to humidity and surface damages, but he loves the look. He plans to float off the mat with wooden strainers that he'll attach, and I said he needs to make sure his adhesives can withstand temperature extremes. I also told him that plastic can contract/expand. (I don't know if cast resin does the same?) I also said he needs to use materials that can stand temps from freezing to over 120 degrees. I suggested that, rather than just attach the items to the mat surface, it might be good to screw through the board backing the mat substrate and into the strainer. I can imagine doing all this, but the main question I have is about what adhesive to use. He plans to glue his resin tile to the wooden block/strainer with something like Gorilla clue. (I suppose VHB tape would also work). He thought something fierce from HD would be fine for the mat, but I said that we have to use something that's not going to harm it. For fairly light projects, I tend to mount mat substrates to Canvas Mount Core and call it good. But we need something that wouldn't warp with humidity. What glue/adhesive would you use for attaching the mat?