Hello,

I have just found this site and scrolled trough all the messages, and am delighted to find information about strappo as I am just trying to practise this technique for the first time. I read the long explanation about strappo (I think of about two years ago), and I would like to ask an few things more about it. I am busy making a small fresco with the purpose of taking it off the wall by method of the strappo technique. How long do I have to wait, iow. how dry does the fresco need to be, and what would happen if I do not wait at all and add the cow bone glue and the canvas etc. to the still fresh (wet) intonaco?
And another question is, can I make the taking-off-the-fresco easier by adapting the intonaco layer (more sand perhaps or another kind of sand?)

thanks for offering the opportunity of asking questions.

Kind regards
Annet
The Netherlands

you need to wait untill it is completely dry (6 month is a good period) for small frescoes could be less, depending on how thick the plaster is.

"what would happen if I do not wait at all and add the cow bone glue and the canvas"

I would assume that glue will penetrate too far in adhering to sand in plaster and the whole thing will be ruined.

"And another question is, can I make the taking-off-the-fresco easier by adapting the intonaco layer (more sand perhaps or another kind of sand?)"

With strappo you are not removing sand, but a thin "crast-like" layer of "calcified pigment" wich later gets "glued" to the new support (old support was the oruginal plaster).

original - step-by-step topic here:

http://www.truefresco.com/dcforum/DCForumID1/72.html