How to Iron a Puzzle?

If you wanted to preserve a puzzle there are two main methods that you’re going to be able to use. The first is puzzle glue which would be able to settle into the cracks. The other is using an adhesive which you’ll be able to iron on.

How to iron a puzzle

All you need to do is apply adhesive tape to the back of the puzzle and iron over it, making sure not to use excess heat. Once it sets then you’ll have a completed puzzle that you’ll then be able to frame.

Step-by-step guide

Once you’ve completed a huge puzzle, you can either break it down and do it all again at a later date or you can preserve it and proudly show it off. If it’s the latter then it’s going to be fairly easy to do with the ironing technique.

All you’re going to need is two pieces of poster board large enough to cover the puzzle and adhesive tape which will be available from all fabric stores and can probably be found in larger stores such as Wallmart.

1. Set your puzzle on the poster board as this will allow you the ideal surface to frame and hang it if required. If you have a particularly big puzzle then you may not be able to find a puzzle board to match its size. In this instance, you can tape two or more pieces together.

2. You then need to get it so that the back of the puzzle is facing you. To do this it’s a good idea to get another puzzle board and press it over the top. This will then sandwich your puzzle between two pieces of board.

You can then flip it over, making sure the puzzle is pressed between the two pieces. If you have a particularly large puzzle then it may be best to get another pair of hands to help you with flipping it over.

3. Take the puzzle board off the top and you’ll now have the back of the completed puzzle facing you. You then need to cover it with the adhesive tape with the paper side facing you.

It’s best to let the adhesive tape overlap the puzzle a little bit as you can then cut this off later. You’re not going to get very wide adhesive paper and therefore you may need to put few strips over it to make sure it’s covered.

4. Once you have it covered then you can start ironing it using only medium heat to ensure the paper is sticking to the back. It will only need a few passes over the material until you get the results you want.

It doesn’t matter if it overlaps in a few places but these may need a little more ironing.

5. After it is set after a short amount of time, you’ll then be able to lift the puzzle and cut off any excess material. You’ll find that the puzzle is very stiff and you’ll be able to hold it with a high level of confidence.

You can then use the set puzzle and even hang it or pin it on the wall if you wanted, and it can also be framed.

How do you preserve a puzzle?

As we’ve looked at here, the ironing method is one of the most popular methods. It not only can preserve the puzzle as it was made but you also doing have to worry about making any mess.

Perhaps the most common method is to glue the puzzle. If you can let glue settle between the cracks then it’ll be able to form a strong bond between all of the pieces and end up being quite rigid.

The first step to doing this is placing something such as a plastic sheet or wax paper underneath the puzzle to prevent any mess.

Spray-on glue and power glue can both work but for the best results, you’ll want to use liquid glue. There are many craft glues available which have been specifically made for giving you a clear finish.

It’s important that you choose one which seals clear and in doing so, you’ll be able to clearly see your puzzle and it will have a nice lacquer on it.

To apply the glue you can simply use a piece of stiff card to give it an even covering, being careful not to use too much. The glue will then settle nicely into the cracks and form a solid puzzle board that you can then frame.

How do you roll a puzzle?

If you’ve half-completed a puzzle and want to finish it at a later date, then it’s possible to roll it up and preserve it. To do so, you’ll want to use a large piece of felt as this material is dense and stiff enough to not flex once rolled up but also has the flexibility to be rolled up.

You’ll want to have a wide cardboard tube and tightly roll the edge of the felt over the tube, making sure you keep it pressed into the felt as otherwise, the pieces will move around when stored. Without a cardboard tube, you won’t be able to roll it up tightly enough and also you’ll bend the puzzle pieces.

Do you glue the front or back of a puzzle?

The logical thing to think is that you’d want to glue the back of the puzzle to protect the front. In actual fact, you glue the front. This is because you’re going to be using a clear glue that won’t ruin the look of the puzzle while seeping through the cracks and coming into contact with whatever backing you have.

How do you flip a puzzle over?

Flipping a puzzle over requires pressure from both sides to keep it secure. This is commonly done by using two large pieces of card. If you are using quite a large puzzle then you may need two or more people to keep the puzzle pressed in and rigid.