FRAMING TILES
FRAMING TILES – MOUNTING: There are two sections in framing tiles; first mounting and second framing.
*1) METHOD OF MOUNTING TILES ON WOOD:*A picture is made up of separate tiles, they must be supported from behind, with wood which should be the size of the picture plus 1 cm, this leaves ½ centimetre of wood all the way round. In the drawing you can see that the wood is bigger than the tiles; this allows it to be framed without overlapping and cutting into the design
Método de trabajo
Method of working
a) Cut the wood to the size needed. Cut pieces of newspaper the right size to cover the wood, it does not matter if they over lap. Then cover one side with carpenter’s glue and stick the newspaper on it, flattening it out as much as possible, then leave it to dry.
b) Lay the wood on a table, showing the side with newspaper on and put the tiles on top, placing them correctly, this allows ½ centimetre of wood protruding all the way round. Weigh the tiles down with a heavy object, so they do not move.
c) Lift up a corner tile and cover its back and where it is going to be placed with carpenter’s glue, then put it back. Do this with all the tiles until the whole design is glued down.
d) Wipe and clean off all the glue from its face, lay it on a flat surface, cover it with a page of newspaper, weigh it down and leave it to dry.
Remember:
1) The carpenter’s glue is very strong and if you want to dismount it, you must leave it soaking in water for a long time
2) The ½ centimetre left is for professional framing, if working and using the following methods a larger space has to be added.
2) MAKING A FRAME
The follow description explains an easy and cheap way to frame tiles. The two photos show tiles framed in the same way, the first only with one tile, the other with six with the tiles separated by a bar of wood. The wood that supports the tile from behind is prepared as explained in the previous section, only the size of the wood it is mounted on is bigger, to allow for the width of the frame.
If you want these simple frame for yor tiles you need a “frame cutter”. It is a tool that cuts wood at 45º in both directions; left and a right at the same time.
METHOD OF FRAMING:
a) Cut the wood that supports the tiles from behind, it must have the width of allthe tiles plus the bars of wood and the rame. b) Cut the wood for the frame, which is 1in wide, at 45º at each end. c) Put the wood, prepared with paper, on a flat surface and lay the tiles on top. d) Lay the frame round the edges to check that they all fit together correctly. Remove the tiles.
e) Apply strong, quick-drying glue to the back of the wood cut for the framing. Put it into its place, hold it until it is firmly stuck, then continue with the other sides placing them correctly. f) In the same way add the wood that separates the tiles, as shown in the second photo. When finished very fine nails can be hammered through the back into the frames.
g) Paint or varnish the frame, then attach. the tiles as explained before.
3) MOUNTING TILES WITH WOOD PREPARED FOR FRAMING
There are two methods to avoid that the frame overlaps the tiles and cuts the design. The wood that supports the tile must be cut bigger, taking into account the width of the part of the frame that will overlap it. Glue on the tiles leaving the correct margin.
a) The frame is then attached so the bottom of the frame is level with the top of the tiles, this allows that the design is not covered and cut and it looks exactly the same as a framed painting.
b) The frame can overlap and rest on the wood supporting the tiles
4) HANGING PICTURES SMALL PICTURES: These can be hung like a normal picture with hooks at the back of the wood.
HANGING LARGE PICTURE: If the picture has a lot of tiles it will be very heavy and great care should be taken. Putting simple hooks atn the back is not enough. The following method is correct.
- LARGE PICTURES:*
a)*Cut and prepare the wood with paper as explained. *b) Calculate how many flat-hooks are needed to safely hang the picture. c) Mark exactly how many and where you want the flat-hook on the side with the paper. d) For each flat-hook you need two flat-ended screws and nuts. The length of the screws is the width of the wood plus the flat-hook and nut. e) Drill right through the wood at these points, making the holes the correct width for the screws being used. f) On the side with the paper, file down the sides of the holes to 45º, deep enough so the head of the screw is lower than the wood. g) Put in the screws, add the flat-hooks at the back, screw on the nuts and tighten them very firmly. h) Glue the tiles to the wood on the side with the paper. i) Frame the tiles. The edge of the frame that overlaps the wood at the back should be wider than the protruding part of the flat-hook, so the frame lays flat against the wall. j) With pliers bend the top of the flat-hooks outwards *k) *Insert strong hooks into the wall, where the picture is going to hang.
- l)* The picture is lifted up and slipped over the hooks, when lowered the frame will fall flat against the wall.
DISPLAYING TILES This method is the best way to diplay tiles. This suport makes it easy to put in and take out the tiles as shown in A & B. Leave enough space under the bar at the top, so it can be lifted up and out over the bottom one. This space must be small enough so the the tile can not fall out when standing straight.
