Is it possible to heat mount fibre prints onto aluminium?

[DannyTreacy]

Give us a link to that press.

Here’s the item number 202266061424 hope that is enough info, thanks!

[Bob Salomon]

Here’s the item number 202266061424 hope that is enough info, thanks!

I am not familiar with that version, though I do think that it does have a temperature control knob visible in one picture. But it is not what would work well. Here is the one that will, the Ademco 2226:

http://www.photographictechniques.com/press

[DannyTreacy]

Hi Bob,

Thanks for the info that's great to know, saved me some serious £££, I'm also looking at this press, it's made by Wooler and appears to have a low and high temp switch, but no tacking iron, think it would be suitable?? Thanks!!

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=wo...kEUyPZ-GlsbrM:

[Bob Salomon]

Hi Bob,

Thanks for the info that's great to know, saved me some serious £££, I'm also looking at this press, it's made by Wooler and appears to have a low and high temp switch, but no tacking iron, think it would be suitable?? Thanks!!

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=wo...kEUyPZ-GlsbrM:

It looks like it might be but they are not sold on this side and I have never seen one.
Finding a tacking iron is easy so that is not a problem. Once you are experienced with mounting you would probably not use the tacking iron.

[DannyTreacy]

Thanks Bob, sent you a pm, really appreciate your feedback on this!!

[Bob Salomon]

Thanks Bob, sent you a pm, really appreciate your feedback on this!!

No problem. BTW, if you get a tacking iron look for ones that have a coated foot rather then just a metal foot. Also, some tacking irons have a pivoting foot, some don’t. I have used both and prefer the pivoting foot. Especially since it has a smaller hot area then the others. I always managed to hit my hand against the larger ones and it can hurt!

[DannyTreacy]

Ok, thanks again for the info.

[Drew Wiley]

Teflon-coated tacking irons are available from cabinet shop suppliers. They're used for shelf edging tape as well as drymounting.

[robshepherd]

Yes, I did multiple layers. Sometimes as many as six printings. I never had a print come off during wet processing. And I was never able to satisfactorily remove a finished print from the aluminum even when using the highest setting on the dry mount press. In fact, the aluminum would get too hot to even handle, but the fusion 4000 maintained a strong bond. It was a pretty bad experience.

[Drew Wiley]

Anodizing is cheap if you live in an industrial area where it is routine. But an adhesive is going to protect the surface from oxygen anyway, and generally atmospheric salts must be involved too, and at a level serious enough to threaten the print itself far more than the aluminum! Take it from someone who lives on the coast.