The Framers Forum

Hi folks,

I’m new to the business and new to the forum so please excuse my lack of knowledge and clumsiness in explaining my predicament.

Using a Morso F, I’m having terrible problems with certain mouldings; in fact I’m not very happy with the result on many mouldings.

I’ve changed the blades (first time) and things have gotten worse, I think…

I’m going to try to attach a couple of images to demonstrate the problem, which occurs with mouldings with a thickish coating of ‘Gesso’. These are chipping at the base of the chop. This seems to be a problem with mouldings from a number of different suppliers. Although the problem is worst at the bottom of the cut as you can see from the image (hopefully) the rest of the cut is nothing to be proud of either.

I’d really appreciate any tips on adjustments, techniques or religious rituals that may be performed to improve my lot…

Paul

Well, you can see that the uncoated inside of the moulding is cut neatly - turn the moulding around and cut it the wrong way - not upside down - but make the outside the inside.

If the gesso still does not cut neatly - it's the gesso! It ain't wood and don't cut the same, there are varying qualities and types too.

If it does, try bringing your blades forward a touch - but to test if you actually need to do that, stick a strip of mountboard each side of your morso fence (left and right of blades) which do the same job effectively but buggers up your measuring if you use it for a solution.

If that works then your blades are not forward enough - if not - it's the moulding.

I've dumped loads of these gesso'd things - some batches are fine, some not, they can also differ along the length. Gesso cuts and acts differently to the wood it is on and sometimes results in gaping mitres - the wood underneath joined perfectly but the gesso crumbled and cracked.

Don't know how they react to a saw.

The problem being worse at the bottom could also just be down to the coating or it could be that your blades are not going down far enough.

Try it on something well-'ard, like plain ash or ramin to confirn whether it's adjustments of blades or trashing of stock!

Hi Paul
Welcome to the Forum. As RoboFramers says.

From the look of your second picture, it seems as though the blades are not cutting cleanly - silly question. Are you sure they are sharp and hollow ground.

Try RoboFramers trick of putting some mountcard between the moulding and the fence, so that the 'V' of the blades cut into the mountcard on the final downstroke.

I too have ditched quite a few gessoed mouldings as they were 'ragging' on the final cut.

Hi Paul,

Just a thought. Gesso is liquid above about 60 degrees centigrade, solid at room temp. and it becomes most brittle at lower tempatures. So are these mouldings stored at room temp., or have you just taken them from the delivery van and cut them without letting them warm up to room temp first, or are your moulding stored in a cold place.

Not a guarranteed solution, but might be something to consider.
Hope this helps,
Mark

Another tip Paul, is to ensure the blades are clear of impacted waste where the blades meet. Can make all the difference to that final slice.

Hi Paul,

Welcome to the forum.

Some mouldings are more trouble than they're worth, this is probably one of them.

If you are happy with the way your machine cuts other mouldings, ditch this one, you can probably live without it.

That's a good point - that final slice - the last notch on the morso is closer to the next than all the rest - make sure you use it.

I'll hack through certain mouldings I know can take it in one go - but only for photo frames etc - never bespoke. It's tempting to skip it.

Hi Paul

Welcome ……..another from Wicklow…what part …………..I’m in Ashford

I’m no longer framing I retired from framing a few years ago to concentrate on an other business interest.

Over the years I found that some of the mouldings supplied in Ireland were dreadful I just could not get a decent cut no matter what I tried ……perhaps this is one of them….

To get you through this job try putting a strip of masking tape on the back of the moulding it may help……but make sure you remove it very quickly or it may damage the finish….

If you want give me a call on 087 2575059 if you need any help, I’m more than happy to help anyone getting started perhaps you can avoid some of the problems I faced when I was framing,


The best of luck


Dermot

Thanks everyone,

I’ve tried cutting it wrong way round, with tape on and with the mountboard, its still chipping. left a piece sitting on the radiator for 10 minutes, still chipping. Other mouldings cut better but not 100%, the blades are new, but I think the cut was fractionally better before I changed them..

The supplier has suggested putting dry lube on the Morso blade, I will give this a go as well.

Roboframer, when you say 'saw' do you mean one of the hobbyist saws?

Demot , Blessington, I'll definitely be giving you a call.

Thanks again for all the tips

Paul.