The Framers Forum

Hi, My own shop is a less desireable location, limited footfall, a small rural Devon town, originally three well established competitors, yellow lines and being at the wrong end of the town, but I am still worked off my feet! My only advertising is in the parish magazine. I don't have a modern shop ...

Nice one Dermot,

Their website info looks good, I'll give them a call and see what they can do for me.
Thanks,
Mark

Hi Roboframer,

I hadn't thought about like that - Too hasty in jumping to conclusions, I think.
Cheers,
Mark

Hi, There is some degree of risk in trying to re-cut an acid burnt mount, depending on the degree of acid burn. It may no longer have sufficient structural strength to cut cleanly. Also a new mount underneath is unlikely to look right with an old one. I do have one possible long-shot you might like ...

Hi, I've recently bought an old C & H mountcutter, just in case I want to cut the odd mount at home in my spare time. A bit sad, but I'm a bit like that and it was going cheap, so...... The only problems is that it uses the old style safety backed blades which I can get from Lion, made by Person...

Hi, Enrique Lopez another spainish molding company also have a rep who covers the U.K. The company I originally worked for while being trained used to buy from them on a regular basis. I understand that the prices from dealing direct can be very good too! There was a minimum order value, but I never...

Hi Jeremy, Perhaps the best advice I can offer, is to fully understand pricing. Before I started I had been working in a busy framing workshop, but I had no experience of pricing. A friend let me copy his price chart, to get me started. I soon found I was not making a living and needed to know why. ...

Hi, I've been having one of those days! A local retired couple came in today. They've been in before, it's always memorable and this time was no exception. The lady, who is very blunt and not at all tackful, ashed me how much to frame a new, but nicely beaten up photo. She immediately told me what s...

Hi,

I got the job, but the customer is putting in the flies himself and it's now a cabinet with two doors. Did I miss something somewhere?
Cheers,
Mark

Hi, I agree with Markw, I would say that hands-on training is vital to success. Reading about how to do it just doesn't work, some things you need be shown and learn to do for yourself. I was fortunate to have six months working in a busy framing workshop, plus a few days of training on specific are...

Hi, I am suprised to hear that Mylar is no longer produced, but in many industries is usage has been replaced my more cost effective materials. Mylar was a popular insulating material in the electronics business, but has lost ground to Kevlar which is stronger and withstands higher temperatures. A c...

Hi, Whoever you ask you are likely not to get the same three books suggested. Also, a lot of very good books would now be considered out of date as knowledge and techniques have advanced. However here's three worth checking out: Guild Commended Framer - Study Guide Fine Art Trade Guild Conservation ...

Hi, I used to be a bookbinder some years ago, so I can give you a bookbinders perspective on this. In general books are rounded and backed so that the weight of the pages or sets (pages are sewn in as folded sets) is properly supported when the closed book is standing on a shelf. When open this supp...

Hi, I am yet to pursuade any customers to pay the extra for 3mm acrylic. The last one I did was with 4mm glass from a local hardware shop, but it had several scratches in spite of rejecting the first piece I was supplied with. Local glass companies and framing suppliers seem to charge an incredible ...

Hi, I often get asked to frame large maps for hotels and pubs, etc. The first thing I ask is how close the public will get to it? Can anyone lean against the glass, etc.? Part of my concern is I have never seen any published guidelines about this and also getting thicker glass at a sensible price is...

Thanks John,

I've had a look at photobucket and learnt a lot.
Cheers,
Mark

Hi Roboframer, We were both preparing our postings at the same time! Unfortunately, I don't currently have the means to up-load pics to the web, but assuming I get the job I should be able to email you one instead. My current internet account does not have web space with it and I would need to find ...

Hi, Well, it's a funny old world! (To quote Dixon of Dock Green). Oh, dear - Am I really getting that old? Today an old workmate who I haven't seen or heard of for something like twenty to thirty years walks into my framing shop. We're both looking at each other trying to figure out if we know each ...

Hi, I've been working out some rough measurements and how to do things and putting 160 flies in one frame is looking a bit crazy. The customer is happy to have them in several frames, so I will split them between probably four frames. I'm still thinking of individual CMC cut mount apertures for each...

Hi John, No, he does have the names, but he wants each fly in a separate mount window with it's name in a title box below. He's offered to print them out on labels for me. The problem is that I've no idea what's involved in framing them, so I'm wondering how much to quote. I like the idea of doing i...