Clothes iron as tacking iron?

[Ben Calwell]

Been mounting prints with archival linen tape, but I’m just not satisfied with the lack of flatness. I’ve fired up my ancient dry mount press, but I don’t have a tacking iron. Would an old clothes iron do any harm? During this pandemic, I’ve been spending more time in the darkroom making prints (I call them “fine prints,” but that’s open for debate) that I plan to give away to unsuspecting friends and acquaintances. Of course, they’ll have to lie and say they like them and then feel obligated to display them. But I digress.

[Greg]

When I was a student in the 1970s used a clothes iron as a tacking iron out of necessity. If I remember correctly, I had to use it very gingerly and lightly as it did not have a non-stick surface like a tacking iron did.

[Jim Jones]

I used a clothes iron for many years as a tacking iron. Be careful in setting the temperature. Protect the front of the photo with a sheet of ordinary paper.

[Alan9940]

I don't see why a clothes iron wouldn't work, but my concern would be moving the print when tacking it to the matt board. With my tacking iron, I need to raise a corner only about 1/2".

[Willie]

A clothes iron will work, just don't drop it on the print or use the steam setting with water in it while tacking your prints.

[MrFujicaman]

Go to a hobby store that carries supplies for model airplanes. They have a little gadget that's pretty much the same thing as the tacking irons the camera stores sell for big bucks. I paid $14 for mine years ago-a tacking iron from a camera store was $80!

[Andrew Tymon]

https://www.amazon.com/hangar-9-sealing-iron-han101/dp/b0006n6y0q/ref=mp_s_a_1_3dchild=1keywords=rc+covering+ironqid=1590512672sr=8-3
This would probably work.

[Bleachedfan]

Lemme test mine. I got two with a press. You're welcome to one for the cost of shipping.

I'm in the states.

[Drew Wiley]

Good tacking irons are teflon coated with relatively rounded edges, and are small. So they have several advantages over ordinary clothing irons. But those will work if you're careful and keep the heat moderate. The identical tacking irons photographers use are sold to cabinet shops and woodworkers for attaching heat-activated edge-banding tape, generally at a lower price than you find at a photo or framing supplier. With that Amazon thing, you'd need to be careful not to allow the sharp front point create a dent in your work; likewise with an ordinary iron.

[Paul Ron]

when i was a kid, i used a clothes iron to dry mount my prints. with some practice, i got pretty good at it.

sure a clothes iron would work just fine but as others have said, the hobby shop tack irons are the same as the expensive photo store irons with minor differences that arent really important to anyone with a bit of skill.

[gnd2]

https://www.amazon.com/hangar-9-sealing-iron-han101/dp/b0006n6y0q/ref=mp_s_a_1_3dchild=1keywords=rc+covering+ironqid=1590512672sr=8-3
This would probably work.

That's what I use. Had it left over from the RC glider I built years ago. Works fine.

[Ben Calwell]

Lemme test mine. I got two with a press. You're welcome to one for the cost of shipping.

I'm in the states.

Bleachedfan -- thanks! Just saw this. But I've already ordered that iron from Amazon. Appreciate the offer, though.

[Nigel Smith]

I use a teaspoon... heated on the gas hotplates. I don't even have a special one, just grab one from the drawer... don't tell my wife! haha! I've done 8x10s using the clothes iron, works fine. Was making a toasted cheese sanger a while back and thought the sandwich press would work for up to 8x10's. Never got around to trying it though.

[Drew Wiley]

Just get a full-sized 500T Seal press and you'll be able to make thin-crust pizza faster than the pizza joints. Just be sure to use silicone release paper so the melted cheese doesn't stick to the platen.