The Framers Forum

Hi all

What's people general view on whether to use either acrylic or glass for a couple of frames of the following sizes:-

Frame 1 - Glass/Acrylic size 1187mm x 843mm. Its going in L1546 lion Vermont Oak
Frame 2 - Glass/Acrylic Size 1100mm x 700mm. Its going in arqadia 332167000

Would you consider glass as to heavy or too risky for frames that size? I regularly do frames at 900mm x 700mm for example and always use glass, but just wondering if I should use acrylic for these larger frames. No issues over safety where they are going to hang to be honest.

If acrylic 3mm or 4mm to prevent flexing?

Thanks all

I would generally use glass upto the size of a full sheet as long as the frame is not something inappropriately flimsy but then I wouldn't have allowed that frame to be chosen. If the work is a box frame or float mounted then at about 900 x 700 I would advise acrylic, and tend to use 4mm to avoid bending, 3mm is ok if it is mounted or image straight into frame .If it is big ie 1800 x 1200 plus then 5mm acrylic.

Cheers Grays for the response and benefit of your experience. I assume you were referring to the Vermont Oak frame, would you not have allowed that frame to be chosen based on size of the frame, ie not strong enough to support a sheet of glass, or do you think the moulding is not up to a good enough standard? The customer has had framing using that previously hence why that got chosen, but interested in why you wouldn't have allowed that, might be something I have to think about when chatting with customers.

Sorry It didn't register with me what moulding you were using. For that size I would want something at least 4mm wide and probably the same deep, or wider and not as deep. If you using thin narrow mouldings they tend to bow out and you end up relying on the staples and tape to hold the moulding tight to the backing board which is never a good thing.

The other thing to do with narrow and deep mouldings is to make a sub frame which can be attached afer the glass artwork and backing have been attached. But you would need a reasonaby deep frame so that it is hidden.