The Framers Forum

Good morning framers!

Could anyone recommend a way of cleaning the inside glass prior to sealing the frame? No matter how many times I wipe it clean I always end up with specs of dust on the inside.

Very frustrating

Any help much appreciated as always.

Have a good day.

The Wall Pimper

How do you assemble? Do you put the frame face-down, clean the glass and then load the rest in? If so, that's the hard way.

Well I tend to sandwich up all my glass, mount, art, backing board using brown self adhesive, it takes longer but it does tend to minimize those little critters appearing at the last minute But sometimes they appear anyway, even after careful sandwiching, you've gotta laugh haven't you ???

Suck them out with a vacuum cleaner.

We keep one we use just for this purpose with a small brush head that never goes near anything else.

I've recently started using a dedicated vacuum as well.

I brush out the rebate of the frame and then vacuum that, I wipe the outer edges of the mounts and backing with a dry cloth and then a quick vacuum. Lay the backing down,then the art work, then the mounts. The glass gets cleaned back, front and finish on the back and then back face gets a quick vacuum before being put down onto the mounts and then the frame gets put onto the lot. Make sure no bits have appeared, as if by magic, then shot the points in. A quick vacuum around the back of the frame, check no bits have appeared and then seal the back.

If it's a big frame I might leave sealing the back for a day just to make sure nothing appears.

I used to and sometimes still do seal the backing, art work, mounts and glass using Scotch / 3M 810

It takes time but no where near as long as having to strip down a "finished" job.

Paul

We have a dedicated vacuum cleaner.

David.

I use compressed air to blow the dust off the glass and off the mats!

They are called 'Flumbs' - http://theframersforum.com/pmwiki/pmwiki.php?n=Main.F

And they are put there by the flumb pervert - a guy from another dimension that moves at amazing speed and with the ability to 'cloak'.

He carries bags of assorted flumbs to tackle all situations - white flumbs for dark mounts and vice versa - plus for flecked mounts he has shiny flumbs and for those with vucuum cleaners and compressed air he has self-adhesive flumbs. For those that thwart him too often he also has living flumbs - they look like a normal flumb but are actually tiny insects with indelible ink for blood.

He also carries all the tools and tapes required to undo the backs of frames, throw one or two flumbs in and re-seal it all in approximately .65 of a second.

You can't beat the flumb pervert; your only chance is to join him - by deliberately leaving at least two extremely skillfully placed flumbs inside each frame - there's even more chance of him leaving you alone if you advertise this fact and offer money or a discount for anyone that can find them within one hour - a bit like 'Where's Wally'

Walking backwards around your workshop three times, naked; chanting "Ég elska flumb öfuguggi" ("I Love the flumb pervert" in Icelandic) whilst throwing glitter about appeases him for about 7 hours. A ritual sacrifice of a Dyson appeases him for a whole month - but the daily walking backwards thing is much cheaper and no real bother.

Thanks guys, most helpful as always.

Roboframer, you are flumbing funny. I am currently outside Curry's, naked but for my Blackberry. I think I may have misread your post

I put some special flumb poison down years ago and never seen a flumb since.

prospero wrote: special flumb poison

Can you get that in the UK?

You know those clear plastic strips you get in the collar of a new shirt & suchlike ? If you rub one one your hair ( if you've got any ) to create a bit of static & then slide it between the glass & the pic / mount, the dust particles are attracted to it. Works a treat. Especially good when you've assembled the whole thing & then notice a fleck inside the frame. you only have to undo a small area to slide the strip in.

Some plastic plant markers work well too

I use a Buzzard feather, give it a rub then run it round the inside of the mount and glass, picks up those really teanny bits that you only see when it's all together.

This tip is compliments of Merlin.

Ian

I knew there had to be a use for all those Buzzard feathers that I have lying about.

Actually, I do have a Buzzard feather but it's still attached to the Buzzard. (Stuffed). Would a Short-eared Owl feather work?

Assemble the package face up

Backing

Art

Etc, etc.

Mounts

..........then hold the glass on its edge at right angles to the package and let the glass drop (flop) down on the package, this should blow out any dust etc. that may be lurking around, it has virtually always worked for me, then place the frame on the package carefully flip over and seal the back.

prospero wrote: Would a Short-eared Owl feather work?

As Long as you use one of the long flight feathers. Unless of course you are working in minature when a feather from the ear of the short eared Owl would work.

We have a number of Buzzard flight feathers. Never failed yet for flumbs

Get yourself a piece of MDF or ply - whatever thickness and as big as you need.

Paint it black and cover it with staggered lines of domed frame bumpers about 3" apart (lines and bumpers)

In one corner have the bumpers closer together for smaller pieces of glass.

Oh, and don't rely on the self adhesive on the bumpers - make lines of wood glue (or whatever) and place the bumpers on them.

This makes for a slip-proof glass cleaning surface and the glass is kept off the table - the flumb pervert HATES this idea and will pull out all the stops unless you do the daily ritual detailed above.

I have some "fat budgie" feathers.....will they do?

Your employees matter too ....

One of my framers was a farmer in Lincolnshire in a previous life - BIG farm - all the latest vehicles and machinery - but one day he had a bad accident on one of his vehicles - it was state-of-the-art, but a basic function had been skimped on to achieve the performance of the new fangled extras - long story short, he had to pack it in. What he once loved he now hates.

The other was a sales rep for farm machinery and vehicles - he actually SOLD the vehicle that ended the other guy's business. He gave his job up in total disillusion and ended up here with me.

What, (you may ask), has this got to do with flumbs?

Well - they are both .................. wwwwwwwwait for it .....

EX
TRACTOR
FANS