The Framers Forum

Hi, The temperature depends on the dry mount tissue - it should have a note on the packaging at the optimum temperature - around 85 - 90 degrees seems about right for most. Buy a cheap kitchen minute timer and set it for two minutes everytime you use the press - stops you leaving a picture under the...

"2 Morsos" predates "2 jags" as this Monty Python sketch from 1970ish shows

One of my framers today found a legitimate use for masking tape in our workshop. He had an open packet of biscuits, so he used some old tape to seal the end of the pack to keep the biscuits crisp over the weekend. I am pleased to say that the tape worked well without causing any damage to the biscui...

I haven't framed any cigarette cards for years. We used to cut the windows square (without any bevel) with the window a mm or so larger than the card, then place the cards carefully in the mount with glass front and back, so the pressure of the glass on both sides kept the cards in place - no tape o...

Our rateable value and consequently the UBR payable dropped this year - not by much, but for the first time in over 20 years I have not been faced with a major increase in rates payable. I am also waiting the outcome of a rates appeal which is being heard later this month, so hopefully there will be...

This is more approapriate today!

A couple of years ago the BBC started showing Don't Get Done, Get Dom on morning TV. We started getting a number of people asking for discounts who otherwise would not have done, usually finishing the sentence off with "Dom tells us to ask for discounts". I emailed the programme and asked ...

We always ask for payment in full or a deposit and cannot understand why some customers look surprised when we ask. The usual response is - "Well you have my photo/picture/needlework etc so I am going to come back." We feel like saying - "What if you walk under a bus or get taken ill ...

I have had a quick search on you tube (I am interested too, and a bit bored waiting for the World Cup squad announcement) and all I found were videos of planes and tractors! They don't look that complicated!

I presume that the press is a vacuum press? This i sno problem on a hard bed press, you just laminate it in bite size pieces. Check your local competition, another framer may be abel to help.

RobinC

I bought some "no nails ultra" the other week to stick a strip to the top of some laminate flooring by the main entrance door and it has worked perfectly despite being kicked and scuffed many times a day by customers who can't pick their feet up when they walk! - standard no nails doesn't ...

I had a mount come in yesterday that had been cut with one of these!
What a belting tool

RobinC

It does take a knack to get a good finish - one of my framers just cannot get the hang of it at all - and he has worked for me for 20 years! The only problem I have found is that we do get through the hot air guns quite regularly - it is easy to knock them off the bench onto the floor which causes t...

We use the Magik Wand system from Lion http://www.lionpic.co.uk/ type Magik into the search box. Use some of Lions card corners to protect the corners of the frame and shrinkwrap - if you are moving your frames around a lot, buy the thinker shrinkwrap film. For mounts you may be better off using cle...

I have been a member of both Round Table and Rotary clubs. If any of these organisations give you financial support it is totally without strings attached - they may ask you to go along to one of their meetings and ask you to tell the club about what you do, but you will probably get a free meal for...

I am here, as I always am. The town centre has been very quiet this afternoon - everyone is either gardening, sitting in the sun or watching the National. We had an artist visit today, and despite the shopping centre being very quiet, we did have a few sales and have actually had quite a good days b...

We don't have many problems with our current supplier, infact the 2mm float has been consistantly good and we get good service. We have had problems with other suppliers in the past but if they deliver carp glass then we start to look for a replacement supplier.

I have just ordered a batch through my supplier - Solidglass of Goole. The price has risen sharply due in part to the ex factory price rising for the reasons given above and partly due to the increase in carriage charges from China. For the next few months they are not publishing prices with a view ...

I suppose it also depends on the effect your are after. We had a photo come in today for framing with a sticker saying it was a Baryta print. A word I have not come across before. A quick google came up with The newest buzz word in inkjet printing paper is Baryta. While it may be new to the 21st Cen...

We have had framers open and close reguarly over the 20 odd years we have been trading. Most last 6 - 9 months, most open with banners advertising cheap framing, most close when the bills catch up with them. The framers that were open when we opened and have since closed have been due to retirement,...