How to Fix the Curled Edges of an Oil Painting
When you see curled edges on an oil painting, it may seem like it is time to throw it in the trash, but with a little homemade adhesive, you can flatten the curls and save the painting. Curled edges are usually a result of moisture damage or old age. Moisture creates a mold-friendly environment and when mold grows the damp surface, it lifts the oil paint from the canvas. Old age can also cause the ground of the canvas to lift off the actual fabric, but the curled edges can be flattened and reattached to the painting.
Things You'll Need
- 1 cup of damar resin
- Heat-resistant cup
- Microwave
- 1 cup beeswax
- Wooden craft stick
- 1 tablespoon turpentine
- White copy paper
- Brush
- Hot iron
Instructions
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1
Pour 1 cup of damar resin in a heat-resistant cup and heat it in the microwave, using medium heat. Heat the resin for 1 minute. Remove the resin and check if it is fully dissolved in liquid form. Continue to heat and check in 30-second intervals until the resin is fully dissolved.
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2
Pour 1 cup of beeswax in a heat-resistant cup and heat it in the microwave, using low heat. Remove the beeswax after 1 minute. Check if it is fully melted in liquid form. Continue to heat and check in 30 second intervals until the beeswax is fully melted.
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3
Mix the melted beeswax into the melted damar resin. Stir the mixture well, using a wooden craft stick. Use a thermometer to check the temperature of the mixture; it should be approximately 170 degrees Fahrenheit. Reheat the mixture if necessary and stir it again.
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4
Add 1 tablespoon of turpentine to the mixture and stir well. Do not reheat the mixture after adding turpentine.
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5
Place new, white copy paper on a level surface, creating a work area larger than the painting. Overlap the paper to ensure that more area is covered than the size of the painting.
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6
Brush the mixture on the back side of the painting where the edges are curled. Let the mixture soak through the back onto the front surface of the painting for 5 minutes. Iron the area with a hot iron to heat the mixture. The mixture bonds with the back of the painting ground and canvas, flattening the curled edges back onto the canvas. Let the mixture cool for 10 minutes.
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7
Flip the painting over to see if the curled edges are flattened. The process can be repeated at anytime without damaging the painting.
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Tips & Warnings
Practice on a few inexpensive paintings before trying on higher value paintings.
If the oil painting has a high market value or sentimental value to the family, have a professional fix the curled edges.
