So far, I have watched 4 videos on BEVA, one was as you say, made it look so easy who would not want to use it... and three of them were more realistic, telling of tips and pitfalls. These films have been used for photography for decades. Using them is quite nearly impossible unless you have a "Hotpress" for mounting them. with a hotpress, you can warm the surfaces for the film, THEN place the film into the press, and heat that onto the surface, THEN mount the photo using the same method with no delay... no air bubble form because the the entire surface is heated evenly and the film evenly spreads with even pressure everywhere. Now you might think "all I need is a hot press!" Bad news, there is no press big enough, and second they are expensive. Vacuum tables are the best, but a heated vacuum table... well, unless you make it yourself, couple thousand minimum. Personally, I have never had an issue with PVA. I use a roller and coat both the panel and the canvas at the same time, press the panel onto the linen, and that is that! I would like to see how this has evolved, and what you have done in terms of mounting things.
I actually love the Beva 371 film, but I only use it on smaller wood panels that have been prepared. The largest panels are usually 14x11 inch. And, yes, I do the iron method over my heat press machine. Good video, I could sense (and see) the frustration. Thanks for it.
Thank you for the video, I was tempted to try the Beva adhesive after I saw the popular video you mentioned.Glad I didn't!!. After hours using the iron, hope your electric bill doesn't go to the roof!
You see Chelsea, there's a friend I met via Facebook who is a huge art nerd like you and me. He told me he had attempted this and what a pain it was. He tells me one has to use something called BEVA Gel (not the film), dilute it in xylene (warning: toxic fumes!), apply a coat to the panel, and then you go with the iron. He told me that the BEVA film is intended to attach fabric to fabric, not fabric to panel. I have no way to check whether what he says is true because I haven't actually tried any of this myself; I decided I would just prime the surfaces of my wood or ACM panels, plus here in Chile there's only one art restoration store that carries BEVA stuff, and they are expensive. Either that or buy a regular cotton canvas with stretchers from our local provider, for the stuff I do not intend to sell.
I am glad I'm not the only one! Everywhere I looked made this seem so simple. I know the BEVA film is recommended for linen to ACM adhesion, but it makes sense that maybe it was really intended for fabric-on-fabric binding. I think I'll stick to Lineco glue for the future since it's like 1000% simpler than this. :) That or just order some pre-made panels!
Xylene is one of THE WORST chemical solvents there are. It will absorb directly thru the skin, and regular latex gloves, and non-latex gloves, you need the heavy duty chemical resistant gloves... no touchy touchy that stuff! It is also at the top of the "Causes Cancer" list in terms of things that are certain to cause cancer.
Omg!!!! I bought BEVA last year but have not tried it. The only video I watched was from a woman who uses it on couched wooden substrate. She uses an iron and makes it look so simple. Guess not. She did not mention ACM, which is actually what I woukd prefer.
I'm sorry that this method didn't work out for you. It struck me that the least "archival" part of your support sandwich is the linen. Yes they found 3000 yr old linen in a tomb, but aluminum would have been in better shape. I would scuff up the metal, and paint on an alkyd oil primer with some marble dust in that to give it tooth - and your ready to go. "Linen" is becoming a brand name that is over sold to the public. I enjoy your work and videos.
Try the opposite, stick the film on the linen first then adhere the linen to the board. Don't know if it works, but I saw Baumgartner use a similar adhesive film to adhere new linen lining (where old linen lining is either lost or provides insufficient support) on a painting
I think what you need is a vacuum table to make this work. Baumgartner Restoration (UA-cam Content Creator) uses film for interleaf lining of canvasses. While he has a heater built into his vacuum table, I wonder if you could just make vacuum table and then apply the heat from on top. This may allow you to combine the steps into one simple operation. If you had a larger vac table, you could probably do multiple panels at the same time.
I'm an art conservator and though Beva 371 is a commonly used material for strenghtening a painting with new linen layer, we rarely choose the form of film. It's too expensive and not that efficient 🤷 Also, without the vacuum table the film doesn't fill the empty spaces between the threads. And actually the truth is that natural glues last longer while paintings in which Beva was used, especially bigger sizes, tend to unstick. So trust the traditional materials, it's worth it! ☺️
@@deborahwinbun510 no specific brand, I buy it per kg in local art shops in Poland. Its either rabbit/fish glue or gelatin, traditionally used by old masters.
@MissKoletta Thank you for this comment. I am looking for a way to glue a linen canvas on an aluminium dibond panel. I was thinking of using beva 371 (either film or glue) but your comment makes me think twice. Do you know if rabbit glue works will adhere to aluminium dibond?
@@dalescher I'm not sure, but my instinct says "no". My first thought is that natural glues work on porous materials and aluminium isn't one. I know that for example gelatin is used for gilding on glass (another non-porous material), but gold leaf is very light material and sticks to the glass with it's entire surface, which compensates the losses of adhesion caused by pores. I've seen a video in which a lady was sticking linen to aluminium with wood glue and still it was very hard to do. If you want to paintnon aluminium, better put your gesso straight on the panel. The best gesso for metal surfaces is made with oil.
I don’t know why but I find it works better if I use the iron nose first not sideways. Also, I put a layer on my panel and a layer on my paper/canvas then I put iron them together. Takes longer but it’s much more sturdy and sticks.
Yes, this is what I do. After the initial ironing I prick the bubbles in the film with a pin (or a razor blade) and then reheat that area with an iron. It is tedious but I've gotten the process to a manageable level even for large (60 x 36) MDF (coated with medium to prevent discoloration) panels.
Hmmm. I use BEVA 371 for all my linen panels at home on wood, with an iron and a single sheet. I don't weight it down with books... It's perfect every single time.
I have a quick question for you and want to send it off of youtube. Is there an easy way for me to send you a note? Maybe IG or something so you don't have to share your email or anything here.
Poor you..all this work and not a satisfactory result. well now you know. It all adds up to experience. I will be looking in on your Patreon? don't even know what that means, to see what I can use. Can you put up the link? You said it was below but I do not see it. Have a great month of June. In which state are you by the way.
Thank you, Demetra! I'm glad I at least got a good video and a good learning experience out of it. 😂 I hope it saves others some time and money too though. I'm going to look at the description now, but here is the link to my Patreon just for you. :) patreon.com/chelsealang and if you'd like to see the post about the course, it's here at this URL: www.patreon.com/posts/37618817 If that second link doesn't work let me know -- it's oddly hard to link to posts on Patreon for some reason!
frustrating watching and listening to this vid. You have cut the redundant stuff. Now I HATE ironing and I lost interest in this. Too much information. why on earth... I m beyond annoyed now, I m out:-(((
So far, I have watched 4 videos on BEVA, one was as you say, made it look so easy who would not want to use it... and three of them were more realistic, telling of tips and pitfalls. These films have been used for photography for decades. Using them is quite nearly impossible unless you have a "Hotpress" for mounting them. with a hotpress, you can warm the surfaces for the film, THEN place the film into the press, and heat that onto the surface, THEN mount the photo using the same method with no delay... no air bubble form because the the entire surface is heated evenly and the film evenly spreads with even pressure everywhere. Now you might think "all I need is a hot press!"
Bad news, there is no press big enough, and second they are expensive. Vacuum tables are the best, but a heated vacuum table... well, unless you make it yourself, couple thousand minimum.
Personally, I have never had an issue with PVA. I use a roller and coat both the panel and the canvas at the same time, press the panel onto the linen, and that is that!
I would like to see how this has evolved, and what you have done in terms of mounting things.
I actually love the Beva 371 film, but I only use it on smaller wood panels that have been prepared. The largest panels are usually 14x11 inch. And, yes, I do the iron method over my heat press machine. Good video, I could sense (and see) the frustration. Thanks for it.
Thank you for the video, I was tempted to try the Beva adhesive after I saw the popular video you mentioned.Glad I didn't!!. After hours using the iron, hope your electric bill doesn't go to the roof!
OMG I hadn't even thought of that. That made me laugh out loud though - after all the calamity of trying this method... 😂
Because film is EXPENSIVE. Thank you for this video. What a trooper
You see Chelsea, there's a friend I met via Facebook who is a huge art nerd like you and me. He told me he had attempted this and what a pain it was. He tells me one has to use something called BEVA Gel (not the film), dilute it in xylene (warning: toxic fumes!), apply a coat to the panel, and then you go with the iron. He told me that the BEVA film is intended to attach fabric to fabric, not fabric to panel. I have no way to check whether what he says is true because I haven't actually tried any of this myself; I decided I would just prime the surfaces of my wood or ACM panels, plus here in Chile there's only one art restoration store that carries BEVA stuff, and they are expensive. Either that or buy a regular cotton canvas with stretchers from our local provider, for the stuff I do not intend to sell.
I am glad I'm not the only one! Everywhere I looked made this seem so simple. I know the BEVA film is recommended for linen to ACM adhesion, but it makes sense that maybe it was really intended for fabric-on-fabric binding. I think I'll stick to Lineco glue for the future since it's like 1000% simpler than this. :) That or just order some pre-made panels!
@@ChelseaLang Still, thanks for making this video! We should all appreciate the value of a failed experiment. :)
Thank you! You all made it well worth it. :)
Xylene is one of THE WORST chemical solvents there are. It will absorb directly thru the skin, and regular latex gloves, and non-latex gloves, you need the heavy duty chemical resistant gloves... no touchy touchy that stuff! It is also at the top of the "Causes Cancer" list in terms of things that are certain to cause cancer.
Omg!!!! I bought BEVA last year but have not tried it. The only video I watched was from a woman who uses it on couched wooden substrate. She uses an iron and makes it look so simple. Guess not. She did not mention ACM, which is actually what I woukd prefer.
I'm sorry that this method didn't work out for you. It struck me that the least "archival" part of your support sandwich is the linen. Yes they found 3000 yr old linen in a tomb, but aluminum would have been in better shape. I would scuff up the metal, and paint on an alkyd oil primer with some marble dust in that to give it tooth - and your ready to go. "Linen" is becoming a brand name that is over sold to the public. I enjoy your work and videos.
Try the opposite, stick the film on the linen first then adhere the linen to the board. Don't know if it works, but I saw Baumgartner use a similar adhesive film to adhere new linen lining (where old linen lining is either lost or provides insufficient support) on a painting
I think what you need is a vacuum table to make this work. Baumgartner Restoration (UA-cam Content Creator) uses film for interleaf lining of canvasses. While he has a heater built into his vacuum table, I wonder if you could just make vacuum table and then apply the heat from on top. This may allow you to combine the steps into one simple operation. If you had a larger vac table, you could probably do multiple panels at the same time.
You should try the BEVA 371 paste/gel in the can vs the film activation temps are around 140F to 150 F I never used the film
I'm an art conservator and though Beva 371 is a commonly used material for strenghtening a painting with new linen layer, we rarely choose the form of film. It's too expensive and not that efficient 🤷 Also, without the vacuum table the film doesn't fill the empty spaces between the threads.
And actually the truth is that natural glues last longer while paintings in which Beva was used, especially bigger sizes, tend to unstick. So trust the traditional materials, it's worth it! ☺️
Could you suggest a glue? Please list brand.
@@deborahwinbun510 no specific brand, I buy it per kg in local art shops in Poland. Its either rabbit/fish glue or gelatin, traditionally used by old masters.
@MissKoletta Thank you for this comment. I am looking for a way to glue a linen canvas on an aluminium dibond panel. I was thinking of using beva 371 (either film or glue) but your comment makes me think twice. Do you know if rabbit glue works will adhere to aluminium dibond?
@@dalescher I'm not sure, but my instinct says "no". My first thought is that natural glues work on porous materials and aluminium isn't one. I know that for example gelatin is used for gilding on glass (another non-porous material), but gold leaf is very light material and sticks to the glass with it's entire surface, which compensates the losses of adhesion caused by pores. I've seen a video in which a lady was sticking linen to aluminium with wood glue and still it was very hard to do. If you want to paintnon aluminium, better put your gesso straight on the panel. The best gesso for metal surfaces is made with oil.
@@MissKoletta thank you for sharing your thought! I have seen some people using PVA glue with dibond. I will give it a try and hopefully it will work
I don’t know why but I find it works better if I use the iron nose first not sideways. Also, I put a layer on my panel and a layer on my paper/canvas then I put iron them together. Takes longer but it’s much more sturdy and sticks.
I think you can heat press it. I know that’s another machine. But it adds pressure plus a more controlled heat so it doesn’t melt the adhesive.
Thank you so much for doing this.
Too much work. This video has saved me a lot of money and headache in trying Beva. Thanks.
I am so glad! I really was shocked at how much of a pain it was. 🙃
Hahaha amen! Likewise. I thought, I KNOW theres gotta be an easier way. Thanks!
Or maybe a Cricut Easy Press. It’s like a square iron that you can set the temperature so you don’t over heat any thing. It’s about $120
I use a heat press and turn off the heat and let it cool.
I guess I’m going to build a heated vacuum table, this process by hand sucks! Thanks for saving me a miserable time
Is it possible to use needle pin on the bubble and reapply ironing the air out?
Yes, this is what I do. After the initial ironing I prick the bubbles in the film with a pin (or a razor blade) and then reheat that area with an iron. It is tedious but I've gotten the process to a manageable level even for large (60 x 36) MDF (coated with medium to prevent discoloration) panels.
Hmmm. I use BEVA 371 for all my linen panels at home on wood, with an iron and a single sheet. I don't weight it down with books... It's perfect every single time.
I would have given up long, long before you did.
😂I'll be honest -- the only reason I stuck it out was for the video.
I'd rather be painting, LOL! Thanks for going through that ordeal with such tenacity, though! :-)
You and me both! 😂But thank you -- you guys make it all worth it.
I have a quick question for you and want to send it off of youtube. Is there an easy way for me to send you a note? Maybe IG or something so you don't have to share your email or anything here.
@@ChelseaLang Could've sworn I replied earlier, but it's UA-cam... You can DM me at IG @smkelleyphoto. I sent you a DM with my email.
What about using a wood panel?
Yikes! I can admire your tenacity but I think I'll stick to the pre made centurion oil primed linen panels.
I have a heat press , but I never tried this lol
Melissa Weinmann made the video I watched.
Beeva
Because works best on canvas.
Poor you..all this work and not a satisfactory result. well now you know. It all adds up to experience. I will be looking in on your Patreon? don't even know what that means, to see what I can use. Can you put up the link? You said it was below but I do not see it. Have a great month of June. In which state are you by the way.
Thank you, Demetra! I'm glad I at least got a good video and a good learning experience out of it. 😂 I hope it saves others some time and money too though.
I'm going to look at the description now, but here is the link to my Patreon just for you. :) patreon.com/chelsealang and if you'd like to see the post about the course, it's here at this URL: www.patreon.com/posts/37618817 If that second link doesn't work let me know -- it's oddly hard to link to posts on Patreon for some reason!
I've seen enough.
I think I will stick with the glue method. LOL. This is too much work!
Agreed! 😂
frustrating watching and listening to this vid. You have cut the redundant stuff. Now I HATE ironing and I lost interest in this. Too much information. why on earth... I m beyond annoyed now, I m out:-(((