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HOW TO MAKE EDGE STRIPS

Making edge strips is another method used by museum preparators to mount photographs and art on paper to backing boards. The edge strips are made from archival paper and no adhesive touches the art ensuring the long term safety of the art.

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step by step instructions

Step 1

Assemble your tools and supplies. They are: paper edge strips, mat that has been attached to a backing board, straight edge, mat knife or razor blade, pencil, burnishing bone, ruler, weights, archival paper tape, water, and a sponge.

STEP 1 MAKING EDGE STRIPS

Step 2

Determine the size of conservation paper you need to make edge strips for your artwork. The strips should be 1 1/2 – 2″ longer than your artwork on both sides. To cut the strips you will need a straight edge, ruler, and mat knife or razor blade.

Note: The paper we used was permalife which is a 20 lb. white paper which is 25% rag and 75% pure cellulose. It is acid and lignin free and buffered. It has a pH of 8.5. It is available from many online sources.

STEP 2 MAKING EDGE STRIPS

Step 3

Cut the strips of paper the width you want. The bottom strip should be wider in the back than the other edge strips because it carries the weight of the artwork. On this project we cut the bottom strip 2″ and the top and side strips 1 1/2″.

STEP 3 MAKING EDGE STRIPS

Step 4

Make a fold in the strips. The technique we use is to take a burnishing bone and run it along the straight edge. On this project we made the fold width 1/2″. It can be made larger on heavier artwork with wide borders or smaller on light weight artwork with narrow borders.

STEP 4 MAKING EDGE STRIPS

Step 5

Use your hands to make sure the crease lies flat against the back of the paper.

STEP 5 MAKING EDGE STRIPS

Step 6

Now take your artwork and place it on the backing board that has been attached to the mat.

STEP 6 MAKING EDGE STRIPS

Step 7

Take the bottom edge strip and place it on the artwork. Centering it so there is equal space on each side of the artwork.

STEP 7 MAKING EDGE STRIPS

Step 8

Next take the top edge strip and place it on the artwork centering it as you did the bottom strip. Now put a barrier paper on the artwork and weight the top and bottom strips down.

STEP 8 MAKING EDGE STRIPS

Step 9

Place the side strips along the side of the art. Then take a pencil and mark where they intersect with the top and bottom strips.

STEP 9 MAKING EDGE STRIPS

Step 10

Take a razor blade or mat knife and make a cut in the fold where you have made the marks with your pencil.

STEO 10 MAKING EDGE STRIPS

Step 11

Now take the side edge strip and place the top edge strip through the cut you made in the fold. Repeat the process placing the bottom edge strip through the slit on the bottom of the side edge strip. Once top and bottom edge strips are inserted in the slots on the side edge strip slide it over until it is covering the side of the artwork.

STEP 11 MAKING EDGE STRIPS

Step 12

Repeat the process on the other side. This is what it will look like after all 4 strips are on the artwork.

STEP 12 MAKING EDGE STRIPS

Step 13

Remove the barrier paper and weights from the artwork.

STEP 1 MAKING EDGE STRIPS

Step 14

Center the artwork underneath the mat.

STEP 14 MAKING EDGE STRIPS

Step 15

Once the artwork is centered, place a barrier paper on the artwork and weight it down.

STEP 15 MAKING EDGE STRIPS

Step 16

Raise the mat up and make sure all of the edge strips are covering the edges of the artwork.

STEP 16 MAKING EDGE STRIPS

Step 17

Take archival paper tape and tape down the ends of all four edge strips to the backing board.

STEP 17 MAKING EDGE STRIPS

COMPETED EDGE STRIPS.

The edge strips will look like this when finished

COMPLETED EDGE STRIPS VARIATIONS MAKING EDGE STRIPS

VARIATIONS

This is a technique that can be used for heavier pieces that need more support. Cut out a section and or sections in the edge strips.

VARIATIONS MAKING EDGE STRIPS

Then use the archival tape to adhere it down to the backing board.

VARIATIONS MAKING EDGE STRIPS