7 ms·

Gluing and framing a 9000-piece jigsaw

72 points by busymom0 1y ago

x______________ 1y ago
While I've done this in the past and it was a fun activity and a nice decoration on our wall, the sheer size of this article's puzzle compared to the author is not what you'd expect!
- JKCalhoun 1y ago
  So the author is smaller than you were expecting?
  - RheingoldRiver 1y ago
    Author here; almost certainly this is true
pandemic_region 1y ago
Did a 5000 piece once. The mini dopamine hit when you click a piece into place is what kept me going. Several strategies used to complete it, in the end it was just trial and error because everything looked the same. Make sure to have good lighting (no glare) or you'll ruin your eye sight. What people may not realize also is that at this "scale", it can happen that a piece perfectly fits in more than one location. And I don't mean a couple of cm apart, complete opposite sides of the puzzle. Fun times figuring this out. This is the one https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81C6LLOhsgL._AC_SL1500_.jpg https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81C6LLOhsgL._AC_SL1500_....
dyauspitr 1y ago
I love building things but puzzles and Lego feel like such a waste of time with no gravitas. I believe it’s because it’s such a guided activity.
- stuaxo 1y ago
  As a kid it was more about building your own stuff with Lego. I know that they had to save the company with licensing etc, but it seems way more about building a particular thing, then never breaking it apart now.
  - georgefrowny 1y ago
    Lego has had sets to build for ages as well as freeform packs which you can still get, both normal blocks and Technics. They even had branded sets way back in the 50s (VW and Esso, for example). Of course the really cost-effective way to get it remains buying it second-hand by the kilogram. Adults getting in on the game and dropping hundreds on nostalgia-provoking kits is a relatively newer thing, but it's not preventing access to freeform building supplies.
  - shaftway 1y ago
    FWIW, I think this is an adult vs. kid thing. I used to be the kind who would build my own stuff, and my kids definitely prefer to design and build their own things. But at some point I transitioned, and it's more about having a built model, not about the creating process. And I think I'm starting to see the same changes in my older kid, where things tend to stay built for longer. For me I think the change came when I was able to build more real things. I learned how to solder, and then I learned woodworking, and all of a sudden I could make something that's the exact shape I wanted. Once you have those abilities it's a lot harder to go back.
- freetime2 1y ago
  It's not something I do often, but I've done a number of puzzles with my family. It's nice to collaborate toward a common goal, and it's fun to watch the picture come together. I find that working on a puzzle puts me in a flow state, and slotting pieces into the correct place is very satisfying. It also really gets me focused on small details of the image like nothing else - small color gradations in the sky, for example - which can bring new perspective and appreciation to a painting or photograph. We always glue and frame our puzzles when we are finished (using standard off-the-shelf framing kits from Amazon - nothing like the scale of this article) and display them proudly in a common area of the house for a while after we finish. But I can see why it's not for everybody, which is totally fine. More open-ended projects are also great.
merpkz 1y ago
I am currently 2/6 done with [1] this 13,2k piece Disney puzzle and this guide will be much helpful once I need to hang it as that has been bothering me a bit since the sheer proportions of the puzzle are starting to appear. That might not be soon though, as I didn't account for lack of sunlight during winter, turns out doing puzzle with artificial lightning is not easy, puzzle reflects some of it and it's strain on the eyes. 1 - https://en.clementoni.com/collections/adult-puzzle/products/disney-orchestra-13200-pieces https://en.clementoni.com/collections/adult-puzzle/products/...
- pandemic_region 1y ago
  Having correct light is crucial, be wary of the eye strain. I found that I could only productively puzzle during certain times of the day with good sunlight. Those long sessions during the night were really bad for my eye sight.
- foobarian 1y ago
  I found that a ceiling light fixture is really bad for painting as well, since wet paint reflects a lot of light. I got some powerful LED lamps [1] pointing up as an experiment and they have worked out well; I was afraid of the 6000K temperature looking too blue but I think when they are powerful enough they look really nice. The trick was to put them somewhere aside so there is no direct reflection path. [1] https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0962X573M https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0962X573M
ragebol 1y ago
Only when I scrolled all the way down did I grasp how big this puzzle really is, huge!
- JKCalhoun 1y ago
  I was surprised too. Some soon-to-be-laid-off-engineers and I worked for days on a 5000 piece puzzle and I thought that was huge. And I found out that 50,000 piece puzzles exist. (In fact I didn't get laid off — wrote about it here: https://engineersneedart.com/blog/puzzle/puzzle.html https://engineersneedart.com/blog/puzzle/puzzle.html)
  - adornKey 1y ago
    For some time there has been a race going on between Educa and Ravensburger for the worlds biggest puzzle. Some years ago Ravensburger hired a new designer and I somehow can't stand their style any-more. But Educa is still going strong. Sadly I'm now out of wall space... Another topic would be how to safely attach a puzzle onto a ceiling... This would add more options.. Putting it on the floor could also work, but adds entirely new requirements for protection... Maybe that path would end up in building a glass floor...
mkl 1y ago
The author did a lot of experiments and research, so I'm probably missing something, but why not do it on then glue it to a big sheet of plywood? My dad does lots of jigsaws (mostly 500-1500 pieces), always on a big flat board so they can be moved around. Apparently Mod Podge is a brand of craft products and adhesives: https://mod-podge.com/ https://mod-podge.com/
- xxs 1y ago
  I was thinking the same, the only issue would be cutting the sheet to the exact size which requires a table saw that, I suppose, she had no access to (I guess, a circular saw with another large plywood for a guide would do as well). Perhaps, it could be ordered, too?
  - JonChesterfield 1y ago
    Or use a jigsaw. The cutting tool, not the cardboard pieces. Or sheet of hardboard and a stanley knife, which is probably the most sensible option in context.
    - xxs 1y ago
      Jigsaws make rather poor cuts (can use router afterwards but that's significantly more involved than a circular saw). Personally, I'd not use the jigsaw for pieces I'd hang on the wall, esp. not use jigsaw free hand. On hardboard - no direct experience with, yet I'd expect it doesn't like moisture, so it has to be properly sealed.
    - foobarian 1y ago
      Jigsaw cuts look like garbage IME. The boxcutter knife would work, I've done that to trim plywood before and while it takes a while the cut is sharp and precise.
      - mauvehaus 1y ago
        Better blades go a long way towards not splintering your workpiece. The Bosch ones are excellent if you get the "clean cuts in clean wood" ones. Note that there are two incompatible shank styles: T and U. Get the ones that work with your saw.
xxs 1y ago
The hanging picture with the atrocious wall plugs just ruins the entire article. As a side note - use a laser when hanging anything. They are super cheap nowadays (like 30-40 euro). The only downside is seeing how not straight your walls are (or door frames). The solving part is fun but the later handling can use some work to be optimized.
adornKey 1y ago
People in jigsaw forums usually recommend using transparent latex binder for glue. This is easy to use on top (use transparent binder!) and works great. I glued Educas Borras Life with it (24.000 pieces). Applying the glue on top is best. Anything on the backside is too much work. As a warning I'd recommend to stay away from most commercial puzzle glues. Some of them are water based - and this doesn't go well with cardboard. Anything bigger than 1000 pieces will start to warp a lot.
- drw85 1y ago
  It's doable with commercial puzzle glue, but you have to apply from both sides to prevent warping.
maybewhenthesun 1y ago
Ha! In my puzzle loving family gluing a puzzle would have been considered a heresy of the highest order :-P Nicely done, though :-)
MisterTea 1y ago
When I was a kid we had what I think was a Ben and Jerry's puzzle we got from the gift shop after the factory tour. It wasn't a lot of pieces, something just under 200, but my brother and I would speed run putting it together until we could do it in under a minute together. We had a few others but not as fun or colorful as that one. We got a 1000 piece but can't remember what happened to that one or if we even finished it, some nature scenery I think (Might have gotten too big for our little table.) What blew me away with this 9000 piece is the freakin size of it. I had this impression it was maybe 1 meter along its longest edge until the last picture of the author standing in front of it. That is huge and the assembly must require a dedicated space. Then I see people here talking of 13200 and 24000 piece puzzles... Madness! Kinda want to put together a puzzle now...
RandomBacon 1y ago
In case it helps anyone: I had a 12,000 piece puzzle mounted and framed by a framing store. I forgot the details, but they used something called "Gator Board" (they could get it 10-foot sheets, along with a 10-foot long piece of plexiglass) and they used a machine the heat up the adhesive in sections. They used two separate sections of Z-channel which is apparently what museums use to hang frames. And they advised that I use washers to line up the Z-channel since most walls are not straight. My original plan was to glue it to a single 10x6 piece of plywood that I could get custom ordered for $300, but even though the mounting and framing cost me $2300, it was well worth it (I got a really nice gilded frame).
sevenseacat 1y ago
Now I'm curious how much it cost to frame - I'm guessing well over a thousand dollars?

72 points by busymom0 1y ago

While I've done this in the past and it was a fun activity and a nice decoration on our wall, the sheer size of this article's puzzle compared to the author is not what you'd expect!

JKCalhoun 1y ago
So the author is smaller than you were expecting?
- RheingoldRiver 1y ago
  Author here; almost certainly this is true

pandemic_region 1y ago

Did a 5000 piece once. The mini dopamine hit when you click a piece into place is what kept me going. Several strategies used to complete it, in the end it was just trial and error because everything looked the same. Make sure to have good lighting (no glare) or you'll ruin your eye sight. What people may not realize also is that at this "scale", it can happen that a piece perfectly fits in more than one location. And I don't mean a couple of cm apart, complete opposite sides of the puzzle. Fun times figuring this out. This is the one https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81C6LLOhsgL._AC_SL1500_.jpg https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81C6LLOhsgL._AC_SL1500_....

dyauspitr 1y ago

I love building things but puzzles and Lego feel like such a waste of time with no gravitas. I believe it’s because it’s such a guided activity.

stuaxo 1y ago
As a kid it was more about building your own stuff with Lego. I know that they had to save the company with licensing etc, but it seems way more about building a particular thing, then never breaking it apart now.
- georgefrowny 1y ago
  Lego has had sets to build for ages as well as freeform packs which you can still get, both normal blocks and Technics. They even had branded sets way back in the 50s (VW and Esso, for example). Of course the really cost-effective way to get it remains buying it second-hand by the kilogram. Adults getting in on the game and dropping hundreds on nostalgia-provoking kits is a relatively newer thing, but it's not preventing access to freeform building supplies.
- shaftway 1y ago
  FWIW, I think this is an adult vs. kid thing. I used to be the kind who would build my own stuff, and my kids definitely prefer to design and build their own things. But at some point I transitioned, and it's more about having a built model, not about the creating process. And I think I'm starting to see the same changes in my older kid, where things tend to stay built for longer. For me I think the change came when I was able to build more real things. I learned how to solder, and then I learned woodworking, and all of a sudden I could make something that's the exact shape I wanted. Once you have those abilities it's a lot harder to go back.
freetime2 1y ago
It's not something I do often, but I've done a number of puzzles with my family. It's nice to collaborate toward a common goal, and it's fun to watch the picture come together. I find that working on a puzzle puts me in a flow state, and slotting pieces into the correct place is very satisfying. It also really gets me focused on small details of the image like nothing else - small color gradations in the sky, for example - which can bring new perspective and appreciation to a painting or photograph. We always glue and frame our puzzles when we are finished (using standard off-the-shelf framing kits from Amazon - nothing like the scale of this article) and display them proudly in a common area of the house for a while after we finish. But I can see why it's not for everybody, which is totally fine. More open-ended projects are also great.

merpkz 1y ago

I am currently 2/6 done with [1] this 13,2k piece Disney puzzle and this guide will be much helpful once I need to hang it as that has been bothering me a bit since the sheer proportions of the puzzle are starting to appear. That might not be soon though, as I didn't account for lack of sunlight during winter, turns out doing puzzle with artificial lightning is not easy, puzzle reflects some of it and it's strain on the eyes. 1 - https://en.clementoni.com/collections/adult-puzzle/products/disney-orchestra-13200-pieces https://en.clementoni.com/collections/adult-puzzle/products/...

pandemic_region 1y ago
Having correct light is crucial, be wary of the eye strain. I found that I could only productively puzzle during certain times of the day with good sunlight. Those long sessions during the night were really bad for my eye sight.
foobarian 1y ago
I found that a ceiling light fixture is really bad for painting as well, since wet paint reflects a lot of light. I got some powerful LED lamps [1] pointing up as an experiment and they have worked out well; I was afraid of the 6000K temperature looking too blue but I think when they are powerful enough they look really nice. The trick was to put them somewhere aside so there is no direct reflection path. [1] https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0962X573M https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0962X573M

ragebol 1y ago

Only when I scrolled all the way down did I grasp how big this puzzle really is, huge!

JKCalhoun 1y ago
I was surprised too. Some soon-to-be-laid-off-engineers and I worked for days on a 5000 piece puzzle and I thought that was huge. And I found out that 50,000 piece puzzles exist. (In fact I didn't get laid off — wrote about it here: https://engineersneedart.com/blog/puzzle/puzzle.html https://engineersneedart.com/blog/puzzle/puzzle.html)
- adornKey 1y ago
  For some time there has been a race going on between Educa and Ravensburger for the worlds biggest puzzle. Some years ago Ravensburger hired a new designer and I somehow can't stand their style any-more. But Educa is still going strong. Sadly I'm now out of wall space... Another topic would be how to safely attach a puzzle onto a ceiling... This would add more options.. Putting it on the floor could also work, but adds entirely new requirements for protection... Maybe that path would end up in building a glass floor...

mkl 1y ago

The author did a lot of experiments and research, so I'm probably missing something, but why not do it on then glue it to a big sheet of plywood? My dad does lots of jigsaws (mostly 500-1500 pieces), always on a big flat board so they can be moved around. Apparently Mod Podge is a brand of craft products and adhesives: https://mod-podge.com/ https://mod-podge.com/

xxs 1y ago
I was thinking the same, the only issue would be cutting the sheet to the exact size which requires a table saw that, I suppose, she had no access to (I guess, a circular saw with another large plywood for a guide would do as well). Perhaps, it could be ordered, too?
- JonChesterfield 1y ago
  Or use a jigsaw. The cutting tool, not the cardboard pieces. Or sheet of hardboard and a stanley knife, which is probably the most sensible option in context.
  - xxs 1y ago
    Jigsaws make rather poor cuts (can use router afterwards but that's significantly more involved than a circular saw). Personally, I'd not use the jigsaw for pieces I'd hang on the wall, esp. not use jigsaw free hand. On hardboard - no direct experience with, yet I'd expect it doesn't like moisture, so it has to be properly sealed.
  - foobarian 1y ago
    Jigsaw cuts look like garbage IME. The boxcutter knife would work, I've done that to trim plywood before and while it takes a while the cut is sharp and precise.
    - mauvehaus 1y ago
      Better blades go a long way towards not splintering your workpiece. The Bosch ones are excellent if you get the "clean cuts in clean wood" ones. Note that there are two incompatible shank styles: T and U. Get the ones that work with your saw.

xxs 1y ago

The hanging picture with the atrocious wall plugs just ruins the entire article. As a side note - use a laser when hanging anything. They are super cheap nowadays (like 30-40 euro). The only downside is seeing how not straight your walls are (or door frames). The solving part is fun but the later handling can use some work to be optimized.

adornKey 1y ago

People in jigsaw forums usually recommend using transparent latex binder for glue. This is easy to use on top (use transparent binder!) and works great. I glued Educas Borras Life with it (24.000 pieces). Applying the glue on top is best. Anything on the backside is too much work. As a warning I'd recommend to stay away from most commercial puzzle glues. Some of them are water based - and this doesn't go well with cardboard. Anything bigger than 1000 pieces will start to warp a lot.

drw85 1y ago
It's doable with commercial puzzle glue, but you have to apply from both sides to prevent warping.

maybewhenthesun 1y ago

Ha! In my puzzle loving family gluing a puzzle would have been considered a heresy of the highest order :-P Nicely done, though :-)

MisterTea 1y ago

When I was a kid we had what I think was a Ben and Jerry's puzzle we got from the gift shop after the factory tour. It wasn't a lot of pieces, something just under 200, but my brother and I would speed run putting it together until we could do it in under a minute together. We had a few others but not as fun or colorful as that one. We got a 1000 piece but can't remember what happened to that one or if we even finished it, some nature scenery I think (Might have gotten too big for our little table.) What blew me away with this 9000 piece is the freakin size of it. I had this impression it was maybe 1 meter along its longest edge until the last picture of the author standing in front of it. That is huge and the assembly must require a dedicated space. Then I see people here talking of 13200 and 24000 piece puzzles... Madness! Kinda want to put together a puzzle now...

RandomBacon 1y ago

In case it helps anyone: I had a 12,000 piece puzzle mounted and framed by a framing store. I forgot the details, but they used something called "Gator Board" (they could get it 10-foot sheets, along with a 10-foot long piece of plexiglass) and they used a machine the heat up the adhesive in sections. They used two separate sections of Z-channel which is apparently what museums use to hang frames. And they advised that I use washers to line up the Z-channel since most walls are not straight. My original plan was to glue it to a single 10x6 piece of plywood that I could get custom ordered for $300, but even though the mounting and framing cost me $2300, it was well worth it (I got a really nice gilded frame).

sevenseacat 1y ago

Now I'm curious how much it cost to frame - I'm guessing well over a thousand dollars?