The Framers Forum

Artists are a real PITA. The best thing is to suggest they they start stretching the paper before they use it. It's easy and it doesn't take long -- just spray with water and tape it down all round to a board. Leave it to try and leave it taped to the board while painting. I frame for one artist who...

Personally I always use Filmoplast P90 tape - normally as T-hinges. Unlike using paste, there's no chance of getting the artwork damp and, I've always imagined it was easily removeable - though I've never tried removing it after any appreciable length of time. What do others think -- is P90 a good c...

Mine were like that from new. They still are but the effect has diminished over the six months or so I've been using them. Doesn't seem to affect the mitres at all though.

About time I got a new pair and sent these off for sharpening.

I've just noticed this:

http://www.lakelandlimited.co.uk/produc ... clean!8953

I wonder if it would be any good for removing dust before glazing. If it builds up static then it could be more effective than a normal dusting brush that really just shifts the dust around.

I've fixed a roll of kraft paper to the side of my bench. It's useful for picture backs and wrapping but I also use it to cover the bench. Whenever I'm cleaning glass I pull some kraft paper over the bench and I then know that I've got a perfectly clean surface. In fact I normally keep part of the b...

Roboframer wrote:Bloody suicide!

A 100% markup is the minimum you should be doing for simply selling things on.

Adding up the cost then adding twice that is a 200% markup -- i.e. a standard frame sells for 3 times the materials cost.

I find that the labour involved in a small frame is nearly the same as a large one That's indeed true but whereas customers don't mind paying for a large frame they don't seem to want to pay much for a small one. They can get cheap ready-made small frames or go to some of the local amateur hobyist ...

I started trading a year ago and have only just started to keep proper books. I bought a copy of MYOB Accounts and spent 2 weeks setting it up and entering all the transactions for the past 12 months (plus searching out all the invoices for capital equipment bought before that date). Anyway, to the ...

Thanks Dermot. I'm off to try the PPFA for a year. Got to be worth $50.

Rosie Sumners said it was both unethical and ILLEGAL to do this She could be right. I had to sign the Official Secrets Act once. It then became illegal -- immediately and forever -- for me to tell anyone about the work I was doing or that I had signed the Official Secrets Act (oops!). Maybe FATG ha...

a UK branch of the PPFA? That might not be a bad idea. Once upon a time I was a member of ACM (the American Association of Computing Machinery) and they had a UK branch. Their publications were far better than the British equivalent and membership procured discounted prices. Interestingly, at that ...

Well, I'm mostly a lurker here. I started trading as a full-time framer in November last year -- a bit more experience and I'll maybe have something to contribute. I did consider joining the FATG but it seemed rather like paying for something and getting nothing in return. I have all the work I can ...

Thanks for those helpful instructions, Merlin. The nearest Woolies is quite a way from here so I bought a mini roller kit from Screwfix. Being extravigant, I bought the more expensive version (£2.99) and some extra foam rollers.

WelshFramer wrote:I can't laminate canvas but I want Epson Water Resistant Canvas ....

Did I say that? Of course I meant 'I use Epson...'

I use PVA all the time with canvas onto foam board. PVA it is, then. How do you spread it? With a brush? My printer always laminates his photographic canvas, so again no problem with bleeding. I can't laminate canvas but I want Epson Water Resistant Canvas which is quite dense and has a water resis...

Not your average framer wrote:I used PVA all the time,

Looks as if PVA is the way to go. Many thanks to all.

Prints on canvas (fabric) should be stretched as any oil painting, on stretcher or strainer bars. As alternative to what you want to do, I would apply a coating of PVA adhesive (white glue - fabric adhesive) I stretch when required but block mounting with a floater frame is more popular with some c...

Recently I've been printing photographs to canvas, bonding them to 5mm Fomecor and fitting them into Lion's ash floater frame moulding (L1387). I started by spraying the canvas with spray glue (something like 3M sparymount) but it was difficult to get a good enough coating on the canvas to ensure a ...

Merlin Framers wrote:One way round that we have found, is to use the white (small square) frame bumpers; again from LIONS; if they get glue on them they just peel off easily and you replace with another set. Cheaper as well.

A good idea. I've got some of those and will try using them tomorrow.

evanstheframe wrote:Yes. Thanks for that Mike. Will order one today and see how I get on. Its cheaper than a CS88 LOL

Do let us know how you get on with it.

Mike