The Framers Forum

Just been looking at your frames gesso... very nice work

gesso wrote

" I guess your an half inch kind of guy....figures."

No way, I'm a KISS (keep it simple) guy , same mount borders all round, unless the customer ask for different

I do use excel to work out some things, I have one that works out much moulding I will need if I have loads of frame in the same moulding but all different sizes, just enter the moulding width , then input all the sizes, quantities and it give me the total amount to do the job, I then add on a % to cover for short/ damaged lengths, I have no problem using 'Tools' to help if it's going to save time

Welcome back by the way

Thanks David. I've just gone back to working self employed after 6 yrs of working for the good, bad and...very ugly. As soon as my laptop gets fixed I'll have my website live.

www.thegildersstudio.co.uk

Steve

I've been working on a truly bespoke framing excel that covers purely hand finishing from a simple waxing
Through gessoing, oil and water gilding, and all manner of miscellanious.
It's a beast of a sheet and so far has taken me three years to complete. Like you I find writing these invaluable...... And free! But it does mean that you have greater controls of stock ordering and accuracy over pricing and time management.

I totally agree, especially with what you are doing, and as you say, the best part is it's free but also a great feeling of accomplishment
I've been working on one in FileMaker, and that's a beast as well, still working on it now, don't think it will ever be finished

Steve N wrote:don't think it will ever be finished

Another good feature is just by altering your key factor you can alter all the results, say for example you need to add a price increase done!
This enables me to price for gilding a thin profile frame up to a chest of drawers just by inputting dimentions and you know it's spot on the money

I'll sleep when I'm dead!

gesso wrote

"I'll sleep when I'm dead!"

this is a chart I've been working on for nearly three years( spare time) which handles bespoke frames .....real bespoke not what passes as bespoke now a days. I can only show a section of it as my iPad screen
won't show it all in one . Covers just about any hand finish going and if not you can add more as you create a new finish. it's all based on a shop labour rate of £45 ph and has all the timing built in. my source moulding supplier is rose and hollis . all their plain wood mouldings have been measured and I putted into the chart. ..... how effin sad am I? you don't know the half of it!

I have been told many times that there is life outside of framing

Looks very good, the best bit is it's tailored for you, in your situation , doing what you do, you do need a bespoke pricing