Cockney Loc: London

Hi all, have just bought a Seal 500 press for mounting prints. So far I have successfully mounted prints to backing board which works great. When I got it I was given a roll of clear laminate. Not sure how to use it, so far all I have managed is to create a moon scape of air bubbles. Does anyone have any experience with the laminating process. I have tried the Webb which is very useful for mounting prints but not laminating. Thanks Steve

EE

you should also have a "tacking iron", to fasten an exact size plastic sheet to to the back of the photograph to be mounted.
i have a (new? seal press i bought in the 60s and never opened which ended up being put in storage, because of circumstances, i (doubt if i will ever use it! the presses are great and best of luck! bubbles are caused by the plastic/ or print not being perfectly flat.when inserted in the press.










a tacking iron is kind of like a cross between SOLDERING IRON AND A, small REGULAR IRON THAT IS TEFLON COATED, TO FASTEN THE PLASTIC TO back of the PHOTOGRAPH.) when i took a class at the N/.Y, institute of photography in the same time period, we were originally taught to use rubber cement, which has since been discouraged because of it's effects on archived prints?
(after heating let it cool on a large flat (surface)

Randolph Loc: Medway, UK

Bubbles, non-adhesion
Improper adhesive Inadequate time Low pressure Low/uneven pressure
Low/high temperature High moisture content Substrate quality
Check specifications
Reprocess longer
See Pressure Adjustment Procedure Check sponge pad
See Pressure Adjustment Procedure Check specifications
Pre-dry materials or reprocess longer Check specifications

Terpen

Regular Foamcore (backing Board) contains acid which in time will harm the photo. Buy acid free...it is a little more expensive but worth the cost.

Cockney Loc: London

Thanks - I''ll just have to experiment with combinations of the settings -just wondered if any one had already done this or had any tips.

wj cody Loc: springfield illinois

great reply. i've used the seals for years. and the first thing i learned was to practice with prints and document everything so i built a reference. this allowed me to mount correctly. am also glad folks mentioned the humble tacking iron. that is an indispensable part of the mounting process.

MCHUGH Loc: Jacksonville, Texas

If it is the same laminate that my wife used in her classroom for items she put up on the walls and cork board use a low to med temperature. She put the laminate on both sides a little bit of all round overlap sandwiching the item then trimmed as needed. If I remember correctly we left it in the press for about 45 sec to a minute. She got the laminate from a school supply that catered to teachers and they told her how to use it. I had the press which I used to mount photographs in my business. The tacking iron was not particularly necessary in this but helpful. If you don't have a tack iron the edge of a regular household iron will work but use carefully.