Iron slab

[simoonez]

I had a chap come in the other day asking if I had an iron slab. He said most other framers he'd been to had iron slabs because they're perfectly flat. I don't have one, and I didn't know it was or is a thing for framers to have them.
Anyone know why I'd want a perfectly flat slab? Or have I been doing things wrong all this time..

[Whitewater Gallery]

That would be to hit your head on when it all goes wrong - it is important that is perfectly flat so it will not leave a mark!

[prospero]

I have known a few framers in my time and not one of them had an iron slab. Sounds like the guy has his wires crossed somewhere. A engineer might have such a thing.

[Roboframer]

Well Lion do this https://www.lionpic.co.uk/product/Lion- ... 861,0.aspx

[Whitewater Gallery]

It would have to be quite an accurate head butt to use that plate as it is only 4" square!

[Graysalchemy]

Never needed an iron slab though I do have a few blocks of steel and lead for weights.

But an iron slab The fabrication company next door have steel benches for welding, but as yet I haven't had ghe need to weld a wooden frame .

[Not your average framer]

How old is this guy?

There was a time when some framers, conservators, restorers and bookbinders used to use them, but that was a very long time ago like the 1930's, or perhaps earlier. I can't image that anyone uses them anymore.

He's right about them being really flat. They often were used in conjunction with a thin polished zinc sheet, when wet mounting large items dead flat. That sort of thing is all history now!

[Jamesnkr]

A letterpress printer will have one for locking up type.