Search found 8919 matches

by Not your average framer
Wed 05 Jul, 2006 8:33 pm
Forum: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly
Topic: Bitumen gilding glaze?
Replies: 12
Views: 10164

Bitumen gilding glaze?

I'm repairing a pair of very old gilded frames, where the gold has been darkened with bitumen, (a favorite with the victorians I think). I've tried matching it in without success, so I need to make up some bitumen glaze. I assume it's a mixture of bitumen paint and french polish, but I don't actuall...
by Not your average framer
Tue 04 Jul, 2006 10:58 pm
Forum: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly
Topic: A sticky problem!
Replies: 15
Views: 15005

Osgood,

The point is that a ready made frame and proper framing job are not the same and I want people to realise that it's worth paying the extra for a better job. Sure I could give them D-rings, but I want them to think seriously about paying the extra next time!
Cheers,
Mark
by Not your average framer
Tue 04 Jul, 2006 10:05 pm
Forum: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly
Topic: A sticky problem!
Replies: 15
Views: 15005

I hate screw eyes too, but my original stock which I bought from a business which was closing down includes more screw eyes than you would ever believe, so they cost me nothing and it's good P.R.
Cheers,
Mark
by Not your average framer
Mon 03 Jul, 2006 11:04 pm
Forum: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly
Topic: A sticky problem!
Replies: 15
Views: 15005

The 25% off as a ready made with flexi-tabs instead of doing the full job as normal, is something I learnt from working for a well known Torquay framers. They do it all the time! It saves losing a deal, lots of people go for it, because they think it's a big saving. This is what they don't get: I do...
by Not your average framer
Sun 02 Jul, 2006 9:01 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: The Future of Framing
Replies: 6
Views: 5374

I don't take too much notice of these guru's who claim to be able to forecast future trends. I can't even guess what's likely to happen next week. All I know is that as soon as something becomes trendy, it's days are numbered. This year everything is way down, except framing which is lower in volume...
by Not your average framer
Sat 01 Jul, 2006 9:16 pm
Forum: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly
Topic: A sticky problem!
Replies: 15
Views: 15005

A sticky problem!

A senior gentleman brought in a photographic image of a nearby coastal town to be framered. He chose a mount and a simple frame and I told him the price. He looked shocked and told me he only paid £5 for the image. So I offered to do it as a ready made frame instead for 25% less, this is a standard ...
by Not your average framer
Fri 30 Jun, 2006 10:38 pm
Forum: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly
Topic: Deeper rebate oval frames?
Replies: 4
Views: 4394

Hi Les, I was contemplating something similar myself. I have unfortunately agreed to frame a cross-stitch in an oval frame with a double mount, because the lady wants me to match the illustration which came with the cross-stitch kit. This is something which happens from time to time and unfortunatel...
by Not your average framer
Thu 29 Jun, 2006 8:49 pm
Forum: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly
Topic: Tapestry stretcher?
Replies: 8
Views: 10176

Hi John,

I had a look at the price for the Umsco board in the Lion catalogue, which ain't all that much and a couple of tapestry jobs have just come in, so I'm gonna try one and see if I like it.
Cheers,
Mark
by Not your average framer
Mon 26 Jun, 2006 9:47 pm
Forum: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly
Topic: Tapestry stretcher?
Replies: 8
Views: 10176

Hi John & Mark, Since you both use the Umsco squaring board, could you enlighten me as to why it's more useful then the other type. I've neither seen nor used the Umsco so I'm wondering what I'm missing out on, (I'm also easily persuaded to buy new bits of kit too!). I had always assumed that th...
by Not your average framer
Mon 26 Jun, 2006 9:09 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Help needed squaring up a Keencut Laser mountcutter
Replies: 7
Views: 5723

Hi Nigel,

I think you will find Keencut will be only to pleased to help you. Their customer support is second to none. I've always found them very helpful.
Cheers,
Mark
by Not your average framer
Sun 25 Jun, 2006 3:44 pm
Forum: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly
Topic: Deeper rebate oval frames?
Replies: 4
Views: 4394

Deeper rebate oval frames?

I'm not sure if there is an answer to this one! Customers keep wanting oval frames for things which need a bit of extra depth and whenever I order an oval frame there is never much rebate depth at all. I don't know of a practical way of extending the rebate depth of an oval frame or of a source of d...
by Not your average framer
Fri 23 Jun, 2006 10:05 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Help needed squaring up a Keencut Laser mountcutter
Replies: 7
Views: 5723

This probably is not what you think the problem is! You've already squared it up and got good results and without changing anything you say it's all out again. Something else to check! First - check the rubber grip strip under the cutter bar, they get worn out or go hard over time and lose their gri...
by Not your average framer
Wed 21 Jun, 2006 8:56 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Latest trends in plain wood mouldings
Replies: 8
Views: 7623

Hi Osgood, Wenge is a dark and quite porouus African hard wood, which normally has a distinct grain pattern according to what I've seen on the web. The gain I've seen on frame mouldings looks somewhat different. It appears to be an "in" wood for fitted kitchens, etc. Something else will be...
by Not your average framer
Wed 21 Jun, 2006 8:33 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Would you do this?
Replies: 24
Views: 19307

I spent a whole week training with Pete Bingham paid for by the job centre when I was out of work and I specified that I only wanted training on hand finishing - nothing else! It was time very well spent and I had already done plenty of hand finishing before this! Almost 50% of my work is hand finis...
by Not your average framer
Wed 21 Jun, 2006 7:46 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Latest trends in plain wood mouldings
Replies: 8
Views: 7623

Being in a rural area it's not easy for me to keep up with what's the latest thing, but every now and then I pick up a few clues when I get asked for something to match a new fitted kitchen or new furniture. Can anyone suggest a good way of staying in touch with what's the latest buzz. Whenever I fo...
by Not your average framer
Tue 20 Jun, 2006 10:09 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Latest trends in plain wood mouldings
Replies: 8
Views: 7623

Latest trends in plain wood mouldings

A customer came in yesterday asking if I can offer any Wenge wood mouldings. Fortunately, I had a Wenge chevron sample on the display board, which I quickly produced. The customer came in again today and placed an other for £190, not for Wenge, but a dark brown flat stained pine which he said looked...
by Not your average framer
Wed 14 Jun, 2006 8:01 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Washlines
Replies: 43
Views: 35126

Now I come to think about it, Gold lines on mounts seem to get asked for much less these days too! However, we do quite well with gold mount slips, which ain't cheap, so I guess it's not a price thing.
Cheers,
Mark
by Not your average framer
Tue 13 Jun, 2006 9:54 pm
Forum: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly
Topic: Cutting 150mm Arcadia moulding
Replies: 9
Views: 6586

The black thingy is a stop, but not much use for framing. The Lion measurement extension system may not be cheap, but I got feed-up with thinking I had got it right only to find I'd cut it wrong. I threw away the black thingy and rod and bought the measurement system. Worth every penny! Cheers, Mark
by Not your average framer
Tue 13 Jun, 2006 9:45 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Urgent Premium
Replies: 12
Views: 8554

I don't charge extra, except where next day delivery charges for materials are involved. I think this is fair, but I don't take un-fair advantage, although if there's anything else to be ordered from that supplier and the delivery cost remains the same, I add it to the order and save the cost. Cheer...
by Not your average framer
Tue 13 Jun, 2006 9:34 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Washlines
Replies: 43
Views: 35126

I have found one of the most useful things to have when using a ruling pen is a very heavy steel rule. The one I use is made by Maun, (I'm not quite sure of the spelling), it's about 2.5" wide, 0.25" thick and very heavy indeed. I bought mine from a bookbinding suppliers, but Axminster pow...