How to keep a cheap jigsaw puzzle together.?

Question

I bought a cheap jigsaw puzzle from China on ebay (for a few bucks including shipping), and I'm having trouble assembling it.

The card board is really thin and so I guess when the pieces were cut they were slightly bent. When I put several pieces together they start curving up from the table and wont stay together. I really like the image and want to put it together though.

Are there any products or solutions available for this? Like a sticky jigsaw mat??

I know that there is glue for keeping a completed puzzle together, but I need something while putting it together too (although I do intend to display it afterward).

Answer 1

In addition to double-sided sticky tape, there's also "carpet tape" which is sticky on both sides and wide (and has a backing paper). It comes on a roll at hardware/home improvement stores, etc.



You could also use something that's sticky on one side and adhere it somehow to a piece of cardboard, etc. (whole sheets of clear adhesive sheeting for printing "labels", Contact Paper for lining drawers, etc... even things like sheets of felt sometimes come with one side adhesive and a backing sheet).



There are also sprays and liquids that will "dry" so they're still tacky:

..."repositionable" clear sprays (hardware store, etc) ...also specifically for photos like "Photo Mount"

...a white glue that dries clear but sticky... Aleene's Tack it Over and Over, or just "sizing" glue

...most any permanent white glue (like Elmer's Glue All)... those can be painted onto a stiff background, and when dry will still probably be sticky enough to press things to a bit



You could also use some of that grippy, non-slip, rubbery drawer liner on a roll since it's supposed to keep things from moving around... like this:

http://housewares.hardwarestore.com/37-188-shelf-and-drawer-liners.aspx



For some of those possibilities, you might have to seal the finished puzzle from the *front* first after you're finished with it, if it can't easily be removed from it's sticky backing, and if you want to do that.

After the front dries, remove any of the temporary sticky material and seal the back too.



HTH,



Diane B.

Answer 2

if you can place a heavy book on them when you get a couple pieces together to see if that helps if not find two that fit and turn them over and lightly tap with hammer to flatten them out if you can put a puzzle together picture side down then you can place a large book over the puzzle and tap with a hammer or you can take a nail file (cheap one) and file down the edges some but not too much it will take time to do all of them but if you really like the picture it would be worth the effort i would try the file method first

Answer 3

I don't know how big a puzzle or how many pieces, but, you could try building it on heavier cardboard and using double sided tape. Put a book on to hold it straight.