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Flattening a Print Stored in a Tube
Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2020 5:56 pm
by Elevationframing
Does anyone have any advice for flattening a print that was stored in a tube? I have several rare pieces that refuse to flatten out entirely and I would like to get them framed soon.
Re: Flattening a Print Stored in a Tube
Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2020 6:45 pm
by jjttdw
If you aren't going to frame them then a few years should do the trick. I have something that still curls at the end after 18 months after being stored in a tube for 8 years.
Re: Flattening a Print Stored in a Tube
Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2020 7:08 pm
by kansasbbq
jjttdw wrote: ↑Mon Aug 03, 2020 6:45 pm
after being stored in a tube for 8 years.
What was the rush?
Re: Flattening a Print Stored in a Tube
Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2020 7:15 pm
by bubbie
eBay buy, probably. There is tons of listings that have photos of 10 year old (10 as an example) prints that look like they are lifting the books or other fairly heavy weights used to hold them “flat” for those photos. Would never buy one of those unless I thought it was an extremely good deal. Also, I always get a kick out of the photos of curled up prints hold in place by weights and sellers claiming they have been stored flat since arrival.
Re: Flattening a Print Stored in a Tube
Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2020 8:50 pm
by Codeblue
Rub your peen gently along the entire thing for a year.
Re: Flattening a Print Stored in a Tube
Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2020 9:04 pm
by turnJBup
Yup.
Re: Flattening a Print Stored in a Tube
Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2020 9:05 pm
by turnJBup
There’s no quick fix.
Just time.
Re: Flattening a Print Stored in a Tube
Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2020 9:46 pm
by Elevationframing
Codeblue wrote: ↑Mon Aug 03, 2020 8:50 pm
Rub your peen gently along the entire thing for a year.
Sweet man thanks, I'll give that a try!
Re: Flattening a Print Stored in a Tube
Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2020 9:47 pm
by Elevationframing
jjttdw wrote: ↑Mon Aug 03, 2020 6:45 pm
If you aren't going to frame them then a few years should do the trick. I have something that still curls at the end after 18 months after being stored in a tube for 8 years.
Yeah I have a few that have been curling for a while. No matter what I do, I can't get them flat. It's a pain.
Re: Flattening a Print Stored in a Tube
Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2020 9:48 pm
by Elevationframing
bubbie wrote: ↑Mon Aug 03, 2020 7:15 pm
eBay buy, probably. There is tons of listings that have photos of 10 year old (10 as an example) prints that look like they are lifting the books or other fairly heavy weights used to hold them “flat” for those photos. Would never buy one of those unless I thought it was an extremely good deal. Also, I always get a kick out of the photos of curled up prints hold in place by weights and sellers claiming they have been stored flat since arrival.
Hahaha, I totally agree with you. Stored flat for the 3 minutes it takes to get these photos. I believe I've had roughly $20 ebay returns from misrepresented pieces.
Re: Flattening a Print Stored in a Tube
Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2020 9:49 pm
by Elevationframing
turnJBup wrote: ↑Mon Aug 03, 2020 9:05 pm
There’s no quick fix.
Just time.
That was my fear. Thanks!
Re: Flattening a Print Stored in a Tube
Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2020 9:58 pm
by jjttdw
A conservator could flatten them. The cost isn't worth it unless you intend on framing
Re: Flattening a Print Stored in a Tube
Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2020 10:22 pm
by trarex
jjttdw wrote: ↑Mon Aug 03, 2020 9:58 pm
A conservator could flatten them. The cost isn't worth it unless you intend on framing
Micheals has a vacuum table , don't know if its something they offer but Ive got them to do it for me twice . Worked great and made a slight crease disappear
Re: Flattening a Print Stored in a Tube
Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2020 10:31 pm
by jjttdw
^that is useful info
Re: Flattening a Print Stored in a Tube
Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2020 11:18 pm
by fallstaff
bubbie wrote: ↑Mon Aug 03, 2020 7:15 pm
eBay buy, probably. There is tons of listings that have photos of 10 year old (10 as an example) prints that look like they are lifting the books or other fairly heavy weights used to hold them “flat” for those photos. Would never buy one of those unless I thought it was an extremely good deal. Also, I always get a kick out of the photos of curled up prints hold in place by weights and sellers claiming they have been stored flat since arrival.
I ended up one time with an eBay purchased tube-stored print. It must have been years. After one year of flattening, it stilled immediately curled up into a six inch diameter. I got obsessed with flattening it cause I wasn’t gonna let it beat me. In the end I reversed rolled it and let it sit for a year and that more or less did the trick.
