The Framers Forum

Anyone have experience of cutting plastazote? Is a thermocutter the way to go? There are many thermocutters out there from £25-£150 with all sorts of different cutting attachements, so any pointers would be appreciated! I realise that a long bladed knife might be the logical/simple option, but I don't want to miss an opportunity to upskill.

I'd just use a long blade reach on a snap-off knife and heat it a bit over a blow lamp.
You can extend to about 6cm on a 20mm knife blade.
When are ever going to need a thermocutter again?

theframer wrote: Wed 25 Feb, 2026 11:35 am Please take some photos of the process and finished product very interesting,
Good luck

Well I experimented with plastazote, but it wasn't possible to create anything strong enough to hold the 3kg piece in place and retain the look of it being an object. Consulting with the museum, it was decided that since it had many existing fixing holes, we would fix it with screws. It is reversible, but obviously it is a compromise. Its been mounted with a black cotton mount, matching spacers and AR99 glass.
I would have liked to experiment with formed rods, but sadly the deadline for the exhibition was too short for the time required to master a new skill like that.
As far as the frame goes, they decided to go with something neutral. The concern being that as there was no actual record of its date, adding a period frame would "add a layer of interpretation" that may not actually be accurate.

Thanks for the update,

Looks great i understand why you had to use a frame like that but i think it would look a lot nicer with a period frame on there

Lovely job there, Justin.
You've retained the integrity of the piece by showing it as a displayed object.
The finish on the frame looks good and that is a nice neutral colour.

Thanks all.
Out of interest I weighed it after completion. As mentioned before the piece was 3kgs, the weight of the finished piece was 6.9kgs, a lot more than I was expecting for a 440x550 piece.

Maybe attach some wheels as well.

I Googled an anti-gravity hanging system, but looks like it hasn't been invented yet...

You'd think that Lion's would have come up with something by now