WrapUp - Love/Hate Foam Tape topic

The Foam core Tape thread ran here some time ago, I know, and I am
finally getting around to a wrap-up of the suggestions and findings.
Many people participated, and I thank you all for your clever ideas.  I
know that there are lots of folks who benefit from these public
discussions.

The subject was affixing exhibit labels to painted gallery walls, and
ways to minimize the cleanup involved afterward.  The kind of labels we
are talking about are text mounted to mat board, probably bevel cut, and
then put up on the wall near the object.

These are some of the methods respondents use to mount these labels:

  * Use small brass nails (Escutcheon Pins), through holes punched in
    the labels.  Sometimes the label is covered with a standard size
    piece of thin acrylic with the holes pre-drilled.  Good for more
    permanent installations and to prevent "editing" of your labels.

  * Some folks use hot glue, or the newer very clear low temp hot glue
    that is as rubbery as silicone.  But Mark Erik Nielsen
    <[log in to unmask]> writes:
       Hot glue is cheap, fast and HOT!  I only use it to put foam in
       crates.  The burns aren't worth it.  I also hate those little
       invisible strings of glue that end up everywhere.  Also, there is
       potential danger to works of art because of the usual method of
       hanging labels after the show is on the wall.  The proximity of
       hot dripping glue to paintings is a bit scarey to me.

  * Attach the double sided tape to the back of the label and then put
    heavy duty masking tape over the foam tape and use the masking tape
    to attach the label to the wall.  (From Cathy Ricciardelli at the
    Minneapoliscenter of the Arts   <[log in to unmask]> )

  * Mount laser-printed labels on foam-core and then take short cutoff
    pieces for a backing.  The backing is then screwed to the drywall
    and two short pieces of black foam tape are put on it.  The label
    sticks right to the backing and, because there's only one screw in
    the center, it is easily leveled.  When it needs to be removed, we
    pull it off the wall (it helps to put clear packing tape on the back
    of the label if you plan to re-use that label), remove the screw,
    toss the used scrap backing piece, and patch the hole with drywall
    mud and paint.  The patching works better on the rougher stucco
    walls than the on smooth ones, but the holes are easily covered.
    (From Thomas Dyer <[log in to unmask]> Exhibits Director Nevada State
    Museum & Historical Society )

  * Staple small pieces of plain paper where we intend to put the
    didactic labels, and affix the tape to the paper.  Afterwards, the
    staples are removed.  This does leave tiny holes which are barely
    noticable (depending on wall texture), but they can be quickly and
    easily filled and ready for re-painting, if necessary.  If your wall
    surface isn't too hard, you can use a regular stapler.  Hard
    surfaces require a staple gun, but use the smallest staples.
    (From Robb Hyde, Canton Museum of Art <[log in to unmask]> )


But this final item is just the thing I was looking for:
    +--------------------------------------------------------------+
    |                                                              |
    |    3M WALL MOUNTING TABS - "Secure yet Removable"            |
    |    3M #7220 - Pkg of 48    or     3M #7225 - Pkg of 480      |
    |                                                              |
    +--------------------------------------------------------------+

    It's a foam tape with a less agressive adhesive, a little stickier
    than a Post-It-Note.  The tape comes in pre-cut strips 1/2 x 3/4"
    and has a tab with no adhesive at all.  In this way, the user can
    simply pick-up the non-adhesive corner of the tape and lift the
    entire piece off of the wall.  This tape is used most often by
    school teachers to post the student's latest efforts at art,
    posters, etc.  I got a sample, tried the stuff, and think it's
    great.  I use two tabs cut in half (1/4 x 3/4"), which is plenty.

    Many thanks to Bob Hutchinson for suggesting and researching this
    solution.  You may order the stuff from a school supply catalogue,
    or from him at:
         Robert Hutchinson (Chief Cook and Bottle Washer)
         Jersey Business Supply Co., Inc.        PH: 609-783-9800
         10 N. White Horse Pike
         P.O. Box 99                            FAX: 609-435-0242
         Somerdale, NJ  08083-0099

Next topic: Mounting of the text to matboard, marking, and cutting.

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   University of Maine Museum of Art
   5712 Carnegie Hall, Room 109              vox: 207-581-3257
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