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. ============================================================ Stephen B. Ringle, Registrar [log in to unmask] University of Maine Museum of Art 5712 Carnegie Hall, Room 109 vox: 207-581-3257 Orono, Maine 04469-5712 fax: 207-581-3083 ============================================================