RE: OZ clips

["Ashley McGrew" <amcgrew@getty.edu>]

Jeffrey,
I agree with Bryan. Great drawing! 
Thanks a lot.
He is also on the money about then need to secure the hardware. I've seen nuts loose inside the travel frame more than once.
Another good practice commonly found is to lock the fixed bolts that you have inserted into the back of the travel frame in place with Tee nuts placed inside so they can't go anywhere either.

My favorite pointer about travel frames though is to take extra care in actually tightening down the painting itself.
Specifically when laying the painting down (providing it is small enough to safely do so) before tightening, pay close attention to whether all of the oz clips are making contact with the back of the travel frame. 
With many antique frames and some contemporary frames one or more of the oz clips will be floating off of the frame, some times by over an inch. 
The tendency is to just go cranking down on the nut and ... yup usually it will flatten right out. 
Bad.
What is much better is to build up shims (some folks just use washers) and secure them in place around or next to the bolt. This way when you tighten down the painting you are not causing additional stress to the frame and therefore the plane of the paint surface. 
When you lay a painting down gravity is already exerting pressure to flatten it out more than it would be when it is in a vertical orientation. 
We don't want to take that nifty travel frame with the highly desirable characteristic of actually stabilizing a painting in transit and turn it in to an Art-Torture devise! 
With inattentive use you could actually distort the frame stretcher and canvas which, with enough repetition, could be more harmful than shipping with no travel frame at all.
As they say it's all in the details! 
Someone needs to send in some pictures showing how to slice open the poly wrapping, pull out the handles and reseal. That would be a good one. Any takers out there? 
If a bunch of us chipped in with the finer points we could put together a nice little instructional addition to the website!
How about it - Mark, Geoffrey, Scott any other generous contributors out there who have bothered to read this far....how about a pointer or a picture for the cause?

My five year old calls. Gotta go.
Regards,

Ashley McGrew


>>> "bryan cooke" <bryan@cookescrating.com> 04/24/07 11:12 AM >>>
Hi Jeffery, Thanks for sending the travel frame cut diagram. It is a very
good illustration and I am wondering if you would be willing to permit PACIN
to include it on our website and perhaps in a future publication? We would
give you credit in all cases. 
 Some additional notes about bolting paintings into travel frames using Oz
clips:  
1. Make certain the top two Oz clips are mounted counter to the bottom two
Oz clips so the painting will not settle to the bottom of the travel frame.
2. Use lock washers or wing nuts with plastic inserts to attach the Oz clips
to the bolts. Otherwise they may work themselves loose in transit.  Best
regards, Bryan Cooke

-----Original Message-----
From: pacinlist-bounces@pacin.org [mailto:pacinlist-bounces@pacin.org] On
Behalf Of Jeffrey Wright-Sedam
Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2007 10:41 AM
To: PACIN ListServ
Subject: RE: OZ clips

Dear Betsy,

I came upon your note rater late, but I have something that may work.
The attachment is a cut diagram for producing travel frames. The frame of
the painting is fitted with oz clips; they are simple device so your crew
will work it out. A bolt is located through the travel frame meeting up with
the located oz clip simple tighten the bolt and the piece is ready for
shipping. I also like to use chor-o-plast(sp?) as the crates "skin". Triple
ply cardboard can also be used or simply attach plastic sheeting.

Hope it all goes your way.

Best

Jeffrey Wright-Sedam
Preparator
University Art Museum
Fine Arts Bldg. Rm. 101
1400 Washington Avenue
Albany, New York 12222
t. 518-437-3762
f. 518-442-5075
e. upny@albany.edu 


-----Original Message-----
From: pacinlist-bounces@pacin.org [mailto:pacinlist-bounces@pacin.org]
On Behalf Of Betsy Bruemmer
Sent: Monday, April 23, 2007 12:19 PM
To: pacinlist@pacin.org
Subject: RE: OZ clips

Can anyone provide me with instructions or a source for instructions to
craft a painting frame using oz clips. This will be used primarily for
storage of a very large mural but will help us in the event we need to move
it. Our exhibits staff is not familiar with making traveling painting frames
or oz clips but they are willing to do it if I can provide them with
instructions. Thanks.

Betsy Bruemmer
Collections Manager
Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI)
2700 24th Avenue East
Seattle, WA   98112
(P) 206-324-1126 x22
(F) 206-324-1346
www.seattlehistory.org