There usually is always more than one way to achieve a goal. These are a few things Naguals Press folks have learned about wheat pasting over the years that they would like to share. Figure out what works best for you.
• print, design reproduction specification
• making glue
print specifications
> 11″x17” typical snipe
Posters are available in PDF form. File is hi resolution (300 dpi rgb / 600 k only), 11″x17″ and prints 1/colour (k, black), no bleeds.
Best if prints to high-volume laser copy machine from file and cheapest bond paper, but if not available can print master and make copies.
page set up: 11″x17″
set up to print: 100%
Printers have different margins. Test at 100% to make sure no image or type gets cut off. If it does then switch to “shrink to fit.” If you have a full bleed, it will always have a 1/4” margin because laser copiers and printers cannot print to the edge. Only an inkjet plotter can print on a larger paper, then it must be trimmed.
quantity: is up to what you can post up!
> alternative larger poster
Fedex has a cheap 1/color plotter that can print oversized prints. Here are some specifications for three basic sizes and costs. If you want bigger they charge by square foot.
19″x29” or print file at 170%
Costs $2.75-$3.50 each. This size is slightly smaller on the typical municipal electrical box. Good if you are on a budget.
22″x34” or print file at 200%
Costs about $6.00 each. This size is a perfect fit for a typical municipal electrical box.
36”x56” or print file at 330%
Costs about $23.00. Make a statement on a high-profile wall…
> paper
best: 24lb bond (Fedex has)
For both oversized and 11″x17″: If paper is too thin it will disintegrate in glue or water. If paper is 28lb or thicker it will require more glue on 11″x17″. On larger prints it will be too heavy and paper will bubble and eventually slide off the substrate before it can dry.
glue making
You can get these supplies at a hardware store and grocery store for about $20.
items
• pitcher for hot water (just under boiling hot water)
• 2-5 gallon bucket (for mixing and/or application)
options
• stir stick from the paint department (light mixing)
• egg beater (workout mixing)
• drill with a paint mixing paddle (serio mixing)
• flour sifter or something similar
• cheap 59 cent paint brushes (wooden handled)
consumables
• bottle of Elmer’s White Glue (not required)
One gallon if you plan to do a lot. This is the most expensive thing on the list and you can use a little or a lot depending on how long you want to keep up the print.
• 5 lb bag of flour (will use 1/3 to 1/2 depending on mix)
making effective glue
1) Bring water to a boil and let cool enough to pour into plastic bucket w/o melting. Pour about half of the amount you want to make into bucket.
2) Sift flour into bucket and stir. Repeat until you have the desired amount of glue. If it gets clumpy, use egg beater to break apart.
3) Start with 3:2 ratio of water gal. : flour lb. or higher… keep adding flour or water until you have the right consistency. Glue should be lightly viscous. After adding Elmer’s becomes thicker, but not slimy.
If it is too watery when it dries it will crack and peel off. If it is too thick you will run out of glue too soon and it is much harder to clean up.
Two gallons of glue will work for about 250-300 11″x17″ snipes. Cut portions in half for smaller print runs. Start preparing the glue several hours before you go out with time to cool down.
4) Optional: Add Elmer’s at the very end of the process to the bucket and mix well. Elmer’s acts as a sealer and more glue gives it a harder coat when it dries. Too much Elmer’s will not allow it to be applied easily and makes your brushes chunky. And, it’s expensive…
5) Application
a) Until you are comfortable with mounting, take a poster without glue and position where you want to glue it first. Use the edge of the box or wood to align it straight, then briefly memorize its position.
b) 11″x17” lay face down on a clean surface (usually the street) and use brush to slather glue all over the back. Pay particular attention to the corners. Do NOT put pressure on the brush. Just push the glue around. If it’s too wet pushing too hard can tear the paper.
c) When you have sufficient glue on the back, gently pick up from corners and position on the final surface.
d) After positioning corners where you memorized earlier, using your brush starting from the edges you put down first AND/OR from the center (without pressure) push the glue to the edges removing air bubbles. And again, make sure you have enough glue on the corners.
e) 19″x29” or larger. The larger you get the more help you may need. The steps are essentially the same, except you can also add glue to the surface before positioning poster. We start with the poster rolled up and as we unroll we apply glue. Bubbles and corners become extra important on the larger sizes, because it can be compromised; when it dries someone can come along and start peeling up from the edge.
d) 36″x56” or larger needs at least three people.
note. If you do not finish the glue in one night you can put in refrigerator. It can last up to a week or two, but if left unused for too long or unrefrigerated it will get moldy.
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