second hand frames

[Gillthepainter]

whilst I think there is no value in a used frame, do you do anything with your damaged or second hand stock.
I have some white wooden frames that have scuffs after the years (or not many years). It doesn't take much to ding the surface.

I was going to sand the white off, and reuse the wood. Do you ever get involved in that, or is it not worth the time for you all. Time = money sort of thing.

Some are beyond help, and I either give them to other artists, or take them to the tip.
Just curious.

[NTG999]

I give mine away to a place called Scrapstore which is a local arts and craft charity shop

[Justintime]

Most frames that a customer brings in are no longer fit for purpose and even a simple cutting down and rejoin comes with it's own hazards. One unseen pin or nail could cost you a new set of Morso blades.
As for refinishing frames it's rarely if ever worth it for framers where labour is a significant part of the cost. I know plenty of artists who wouldn't hesitate, but theirs is a very different pricing model with fewer overheads to cover.

[StevenG]

We just set them near the front of the shop - people are able to take them, mostly students or people who think something free is always worth having. Sometimes we're able to sell a mount to help fit their 'artwork'

[Gillthepainter]

Oh yes, I go into a framers at Cirencester, and they have boxes of mounts for 50p. Or frames reduced.
And I wondered if it was the norm.

Mine are usually in such a bad state, I'm not really doing anyone any favours by passing them on.

[prospero]

I am fortunate in having a huge shed (ex-chicken hut) where I dump any frames that I think may "come in useful" later.
Sometimes they do.
But I rarely use them in their original state. I usually re-purpose them by chopping them down and refinishing them.

I get people now and then asking for "secondhand frames" thinking they are going to get a cheap job, but they don't
realise that it's far easier to make a new one than try to resurrect an old one. It's like going to the chip shop and asking
if they have a "piece of batter to fit this fish".

[Gillthepainter]

That's so true.
I know how much time I spend repurposing a frame. It's easier to chop another one.
I have just put a picture into a local exhibition, and the hanging committee dropped another picture onto my frame. Huge gouge out from the fall - but rather impressively, my frame corners did not pop open.

Whilst they were embarrassed and had been wondering how to fill, sand, paint it etc. I chopped another frame and took it in. They were so relieved that it didn't prove a nightmare all round.

[Miss Eclipse]

We have a Children’s/Youth Group in my small town that recently posted that they wanted materials for crafting. So I took down a whole load of mdf board offcuts plus smaller mount offcuts (I tend to hoard a ridiculous amount just in case....!) and they were thrilled. Then I asked if they would think about doing a crafting project repurposing old frames which are just sitting there. Again they are delighted to take them. So I have found a great place to take my rubbish.... It’s just a shame they can’t take the glass too!

[Gillthepainter]

That's a wonderful way to pass on your pieces.
I have more use for the acetate "glass" than glass. I can use it for printing surfaces, and paint palettes.
But real glass just gathers dust. I periodically cut mine into 5inch x 5inch pieces, and make 5 x 5 frames for my cards. As they are original art cards and a standard size.
Sometimes family and friends want to frame them up.

Otherwise, I can only take the glass to the tip to be recycled.

[prospero]

Waaaay back, a rep told me a story of a framer who would buy large quantities of bargain moulding (about 1p a foot back then) and chop it into simple rims. He then put them in a tatty box outside with "Seconds. £1" on the box. Apparently the proceeds paid for a luxury holiday every year. The frames were not seconds as such but people cannot resist what they think is bargain.

[Gillthepainter]

Hahaha.
There's a canny framer. & I cannot resist a framing bargain myself, if it's outside in a box to rummage through.