Gluing a jigsaw puzzle archived

I have a couple of jigsaw puzzles that I'd like to glue (well, one is not completed yet, but when I finish tearing my hair out over it, it must be glued for posterity). Years ago, I remember using puzzle glue, but the notion that some particular glue is good just for puzzles seems silly, and these glues tend to be overpriced, with mixed reviews online.

Some people recommend using Mod Podge, which I'd like to pick up at Michael's this week using one of their coupons. The question is, which one? It comes in gloss, satin, and matte. Anyone ever use Mod Podge to glue a puzzle? Any recommendations on which finish to use?

Thanks.

You could google it like I just did. Tons of info. Then there's the video with a fabulous soundtrack.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQd8NdPHsS8

Do your next puzzle, design side down, on a board a bit larger than the finished dimensions. When done just use that glue on the back of the puzzle AND on the surface of whatever mounting board you want to use. Allow the surfaces to 'dry' to tack. That is till both parts are very tacky, but not fully dry. Press board onto the back of the puzzle- carefully! They will bond on contact- very much like 2 tacky sides of scotch tape.
Voila!!! no flipping or flopping like a politician.
Isn't that easier and faster?
Am I good or what?

Apollo_T said:

Do your next puzzle, design side down...

I don't know about you, but I have enough trouble doing them design side UP!

Thanks, fabulous. I actually watched that video along with several others, and read reviews on various puzzle glues, but somehow didn't come away with a clear sense of which product I wanted to use. I see that in that video, they're using the matte Mod Podge. I just wonder if it will make the puzzle look dull. On the other hand, I read somewhere that using a gloss finish could produce too much glare. And who the heck knows what satin looks like?

I think I have a small bottle of Mod Podge - probably matte - somewhere among my art supplies, so maybe I'll do a small test with it and see how it dries on the puzzle.

Also, I could swear that when I glued my puzzles in the past, I applied the glue on the back, not the front. I'll try to see if I can tell on some of my old puzzles that I did years ago.

As for doing the puzzles upside down, I'm with sac. The puzzle I'm currently working on is this one. It could make a sane person distinctly less so.

This is the other one we completed - much easier, and quite fun. I just love the image.

Why would anyone do a puzzle image side down? That was a joke, right?

I've always used regular puzzle glue and just brushed it over the image after I slide the puzzle onto some newspaper.
I'd definitely stick with a matte finish whatever product you use.

You can do the puzzle image side up. Take two sheets of cardboard or similar, each somewhat larger than the completed puzzle. Slip one sheet under the puzzle, being careful to keep the completed puzzle intact. Place the other sheet on top of the puzzle. Invert.

If this is too difficult, sepatate the puzzle, one section at a time into manageable size wedges. Slip something firm under each wedge (spatula, cardboard, etc.). Invert. Reconnect. Repeat, until puizzle is reassembled image side down.

Final update on this. I ended up buying the glossy Mod Podge at Michael's using a 40% off coupon, so an 8 oz. bottle only cost me about $5.75. I used a sponge brush to minimize brush strokes, but still, after gluing the "Midnight Snack" puzzle on the front (and then on the back for stability), I felt that you could still see the strokes and texture of the glue, and I was wishing I'd only glued it on the back.

For the Earth puzzle, I flipped the puzzle over (actually, if you just lift the puzzle slowly from one end and flip it over laying it down from one edge and allowing it to roll back down, it stays intact) and glued it only on the back. The only problem was that in a couple of spots, some of the glue went through and stuck to the newspaper underneath. Luckily I was able to moisten it just a little and get the glue and paper off without damaging the puzzle image. Gluing only one side is not as stable as gluing both sides, but it keeps the finish on the front of the puzzle unmarred and I prefer it that way.

that's why we suggested a matte finish. I think the texture of the puzzle would have stayed in tact and you wouldn't see the brush strokes as easily.

My wife and I have been really into puzzles lately. We've finished about 5 since thanksgiving (including a 2000 piece one which was brutal). Though i would never glue one, i do feel guilty when we break them down after finishing them.

FYI: Apparently they have two sided puzzle which sound like pure torture to me.

I had a 2 sided puzzle of 101 dalmatians. It was just black and white and covered in those damn dalmatians. I still have nightmares about it.

I find that working jigsaw puzzles really helps to clear my mind, especially if I'm worried about something. I once put together a puzzle of Mad King Ludwig's famous castle, with snow no less. It drove me bats but in a relaxing way. BTW, the castle was the inspiration for Disney's Magic Kingdom.

sharon said:

Why would anyone do a puzzle image side down? That was a joke, right?

YES

Have you guys thought to have a puzzle bee?
My image is of something like a quilting bee.
Or a gang puzzle day? or a multipuzzle meet?

sharon said:

that's why we suggested a matte finish. I think the texture of the puzzle would have stayed in tact and you wouldn't see the brush strokes as easily.

Perhaps the matte finish would have been better, but I think I'm happiest with leaving the face of the puzzle in its original form, and the gluing on the back works well enough.

skadave said:

My wife and I have been really into puzzles lately. We've finished about 5 since thanksgiving (including a 2000 piece one which was brutal). Though i would never glue one, i do feel guilty when we break them down after finishing them.

FYI: Apparently they have two sided puzzle which sound like pure torture to me.

A two-sided puzzle would send me directly to the loony bin. The Earth puzzle was bad enough, though I found it maddening and addicting all at once, and miss it now that it's done, but I wouldn't want to do it again. I'm going to have to start another puzzle soon.

I've glued most of the puzzles I've done over the years. The only ones I took apart were mystery puzzles where the completed puzzle picture provides the answer to the mystery, and this one, which I got at Kokoro and was so much fun to do that I thought I might like to do it again one day: