[Dave]

OK, I have some 18" x 12" prints that need mounting, ready to enter another competition this Thursday. Having never done anything with mounts before, can anyone advise best tools for the job & process they follow please ?

Ideally I need to be able to purchase tools from mainstream shop, or a web service that delivers next day.

[Steve]

This all depends on how many shots you are likely to mount in the long term as the costs for setting up vs mounting just a few shots will be the factor putting you off.

I personally cut and mount all my own shots. I have a large cutting matt that I use for a base, A long flat aluminium ruler and a very sharp craft knife (to cut the photos to size) and then another special aluminium ruler which is shaped to have a running channel in one side, this is where the mount cutting tool sits and its this that allows me to cut the bevelled mount. The problem is that this ruler and tool were quite expensive, you can get cheaper ones but my experience with them is that they do not glide well and the bevel does not come out even and straight as a result.

Obviously doing them yourself gives you total freedom, you can do multiple mounts in any colours and sizes and you can have them as quickly as you can make them. The downsides is that making a mount can be quite time consuming, you'll have to find a supplier of mount board, buy the required tools at the start (can be an expensive outlay) and you will need some sort of adhesive to bring everything together at the end.

If you don’t fancy the challenge or only have a few pictures to mount, then getting them done in a shop will be quicker/easier and probably cheaper but if you intend to make it in to a business and sell many, in the long term being able to make and mount your own will not only give you bigger choice, but will also be much more cost effective and therefore mean more profit.

[dabhand16]

I second that. Proper mounting kit is expensive, but will last a lifetime. Another alternative is to find someone local to where you are that also wants to mount pictures, and share the costs.

Is there a local art collage or evening class that you might be able to mump some time with their kit?

[Whipspeed]

Dave
I've got a Longridge mount cutter, the cost for the basic model is approx £90.00 and has been brilliant for mounts, I did try the ruler & knife sets, but it was very tricky for the bevelled edge.
There is a phone number on the longridge site & if you phone them, they would probably be able to send next day. If not Warehouse express sell them & if you order before 2pm they send next day. If you order direct, they will set up the cutter for left hand use if you need it.

[qxy63]

Amongst the other ways to skin a cat;

You can simply mount the photos on card without a frame (was good enough for my LRPS submission). Buy the cardboard from a local framers/art shop. Also buy a can of spray mount and a Stanley knife. Mark up the cardboard (a set square is handy for keeping the corners 90 degrees) allowing and extra 2 inches on the top/sides and 3 inches on the bottom and cut with the knife and something to keep the knife straight (long aluminium ruler). Next place the photo on a mount and get an idea of it's position, perhaps even place a pencil mark under where the corners will go. Now, spray the glue on the back of the photo and attach the photo to the mount. Smooth out any airpockets with a cloth. Probably best to do a trial run first. Hope this helps.

[Dave]

Thanks for all the advice.

Tried a local firm which wanted £5 per mount & 2 week turnaround .

Those pro devices do look the business, although I would need the £125 model to cut the size mounts I want.

Off to look at crafts shop in a minute to see what they have.

qxy63, you're probably right , that for a comp I may be over complicating things

[Dave]

Well that was a wasted trip to the crafts shop. Mounting card looked reasonanle at £1.99 for A1 size, but veery sheet was either warped or had the ink from the back of the sheet rub off on the front of the card below it No devices for cutting mounts either. Then the spray mount....£11 Might find my prittstick

I only paid £1 for eacj print...this is getting out of hand

[lolyton]

What i have always done, and what i did when i hung images on the wall of the AOP gallery (although they were also behind glass).

--Buy a stanley knife (a metal one that you can change the blades in when they dull) any hardware store.
--Spray mount (probably the most expensive item, preferably 3m spray mount [better than photo mount, but can contaminate the paper after a long time though if it's thick paper probably not].)
--Long steel ruler (long enough to cut the longest side of your prints in one, and steel because plastic and aluminium will be cut by the knife making it wonky, also if you can get one with a rubber strip on the base for grip).
--Material to mount on, i would suggest 5mm foam board (is very rigid and flat, not too expensive and gives a good finish)
--I wouldn't bother with a cutting mat if you have a flattish chunk of wood (cutting boards are expensive and wood is cheap although it doesn't last as long, but how many times will you use it?)
--Spray back of photo, (do this in a well ventilated area [preferably outside] spray mount never dries so if you breathe it in it will carry on collecting dust in your lungs till your last breath so be careful) maybe lay image on newspapers, and lay fresh newspapers for each image else next photo will stick to newspaper. (if using mount board then dry mounting is a better technique)
--Lay tacky photo onto foamboard (leave it for ten seconds so as glue is tacky before laying on board).
--Cut to size (use a technique that suits you, people try to do it in one pass which is best if you can do it (sharp blade is the key), but if you can keep the ruler still and the blade at the same angle (which is important with foamboard as it is deep it shows the angle of the blade) then there is no reason why 2 gentler passes should not be the way.

Anyway, goodluck!

will probably cost about £30 for all of above and A2 board.

[Dave]

Thanks Lolyton.

Well as usual I have left everything to last minute, so have used Cotswold Frame service as recommended by Dave Canon. Popped down there & they will turn my 6 prints around by Thursday

Still need to look at a permanent solution moving forward.

[fionaB]

i like the way u do this Loly.......... have u a pic of the finished result????? lol ust so we can see how it lokks once its done?

Fi

[lolyton]

I could have, but not right now Fi, i have moved in the last couple of months and am doing my house up a little, so everything is still in the boxes as it's way to dusty to get anything out at the moment.