Clothes iron as tacking iron?

**Ben Calwell** · 26-May-2020, 05:03

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** · 26-May-2020, 05:08

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** · 26-May-2020, 06:40

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** · 26-May-2020, 07:00

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** · 26-May-2020, 07:31

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** · 26-May-2020, 08:36

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!