How To Glue A Puzzle Or No Glue Method

To glue or not to glue......One of the most common questions with jigsaw puzzles is, 'How to Glue A Jigsaw Puzzle?'

*** Important note - if you have never glued a puzzle, DO NOT let your most favourite puzzle image be your first try at gluing puzzles - please try a test run on a puzzle that is not your favourite. I have heard of some disastrous situations that have happened to puzzlers who have run into a bad situation during the gluing/drying process. I know, it may not happen to you and how difficult can it be…..believe me it can turn out bad. Remember that….

Here

' s one method to glue a jigsaw puzzle but if you are interested in trying a ' no-glue ' method go to this link: No Glue Method for Jigsaw Puzzles

The Glue Method

How to glue a jigsaw puzzle. (suggested) SUPPLIES

1. Puzzle Glue (craft glue such as ModPodge) 2. Parchment or wax paper 3. Paint brush or foam brush (if not included with glue) 4. Rolling pin (optional) 5. Back mounting board (for framing) 6. Frame (ensure puzzle will fit inside and has room for thickness of puzzle)

Steps to glue a jigsaw puzzle 1. Layout the parchment/wax paper with extra room around the edges. 2. Use the rolling pin on the puzzle front and back to flatten the pieces and be sure all the pieces are tight. 3. Follow the instructions on the bottle of Glue either using a paintbrush or foam brush. Ideally you want a nice clean coating over the puzzle being mindful of the cracks in between. (Search for videos that show how to spread the glue in a sweeping motion over the entire puzzle.) 4. Follow the 'drying ' time instructed on the bottle of glue before moving the puzzle (usually about 2 hours). Glue one side first, wait until it is entirely dry before gluing the other side. 5. Cut the back mounting cardboard to fit the puzzle size (if you are framing) and proceed to glue the puzzle to it. If too much glue is used the puzzle may curl when dry - a frame would correct that situation. 6. Wait at least 24 hours before installing the puzzle into your choice of

frame.

If you are interested in reading more about gluing your puzzle then go to this link: How to Glue Jigsaw Puzzles

BUT ..what if you do not want to do the traditional ' glued puzzle ' route because it is time consuming and could be messy.....both of which I do not like ;) take a look at what’ s next.

I will share my method and an alternative IDEA that you may like to use. I get great feedback on my method because it is very low cost and preserves your puzzle for many many years....It' s also quick, easy and FUN!.... read on..... A Jigsaw Puzzle Group member did this 'No Glue Method' on Video. Click here:

No Glue Method Video

So often many great puzzles do not make it to the wall because frames are costly or sizes are simply not available. I have bought second-hand frames from Thrift stores and painted them with colors that blend nicely with the puzzle colors. But I do not frame all my jigsaw puzzles. They look just as nice on the wall in a poster-board format too.

Here ' s what I have done with SEVERAL of my puzzles I keep:

Supplies

Instructions

1.

‘Sandwich’ the completed puzzle in between 2 foam boards, so the assembled puzzle is on the inside. The assembled puzzle is in between or ‘ sandwiched’ with a foam board on the bottom and a foam board on the top.

2. Next, secure with some type of clips, preferably the Westcott Black Fold Back Clips. Use at least 8 clips, as in 2 on each side of the 4 sides.

3. Then, carefully flip the foam boards over. Remove the clips and foam board that is resting on top. Voila! The back of the puzzle can then be taped with wide clear packing tape or glued if you choose to use the glued method on the back as well as the front. Some puzzlers do both sides.

Two Poster Boards(very low cost at Dollar Stores) Clear packing tape (very low cost at Dollar Stores) Any brand of clear heat-shrink plastic for windows Scotch tape Completed jigsaw puzzle (shaped or not) Scissors, cutting tools Hair blow dryer

4. I prefer to cover the entire back with wide packing tape but you may just want to be sure all the pieces are caught by the wide tape. (So if you choose to remove the tape on the puzzle in the future it will cause less disruption to the back of the puzzle pieces.) 5. Now that you have (a) completed the puzzle, (b) flipped it over, (c) put wide tape across the entire back - cut your poster board to the exact size of your puzzle. Your puzzle will be mounted to the puzzle-foam board for back support. 6. Next cut a sheet of clear window heat shrink wrap plastic that is 3 to 4 inches bigger than the puzzle/puzzle-foam-board all the way around. Place the cut plastic over the front face of the puzzle - then flip the puzzle and foam board over together. 7. Now scotch tape the plastic with small pieces of tape to the back of the foam board to keep the plastic in place and tuck/tack/tape down the corners nicely on the back. So now you have your puzzle lying on top of your puzzle foam board face down with both wrapped in heat-shrink wrap plastic that is taped on the back to hold it in place. 8. With the plastic wrap taut (not too tight) over the front of the puzzle and taped down with the scotch tape on the back, proceed to cover the entire back with the wide clear packing tape again for the 2nd time. 9. Next take your household hair-blow dryer and gently (high-hot) heat the front of the puzzle so all the (shrinking action) wrinkles are removed from the front of the puzzle leaving it shiny smooth. Run the blow dryer along the edges but do not touch the surface and then the back of the puzzle/foam board to seal it up good on the back as well. 10. At this point you may place a wall hanger of your choice to the back of the puzzle (without putting a frame on it) and hang it on your wall. These are not really heavy puzzles but be certain to have a good wall hanger. Also, IF the jigsaw puzzle should happen to fall down there will be little damage and it will last a lifetime on your wall.....I have a few that are over 30 years old....oops my age is showing ;)