Search found 9721 matches

by prospero
Wed 01 Nov, 2023 11:31 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: To chop or not to chop
Replies: 8
Views: 23406

Re: To chop or not to chop

You have to crunch the numbers. If you have a job that requires two sticks of an expensive moulding and you are left with say 6ft, then that bit is essentially scrap, especially if it's a wide one. It may have cost £30, but in practice you are never going to see your money back. You can't take it to...
by prospero
Wed 01 Nov, 2023 11:18 am
Forum: Help!
Topic: Swept Frames.
Replies: 16
Views: 27297

Re: Swept Frames.

The so-called 'Swept' frames that were imported from the Far East were typically very cheap, which is why a lot were used in the '80s/'90s. They were quite 'brassy'. I have had a lot of success with refinishing them in a more subtle tone to suit modern tastes. An Ivory base with hints of colour and ...
by prospero
Wed 01 Nov, 2023 11:08 am
Forum: Help!
Topic: Drymounting oil pastels
Replies: 8
Views: 10902

Re: Drymounting oil pastels

Mounting 101: NEVER stick anything down that you can't replace. :P If the piece needs to be drymounted then the artist should mount the substrate before executing the work. :wink: *I would be very wary of applying heat to an oil pastel. It would need to be cold-mounted using PVA and left under weigh...
by prospero
Tue 31 Oct, 2023 11:03 am
Forum: Help!
Topic: Thick repair wax
Replies: 8
Views: 7791

Re: Thick repair wax

I remember Simons doing wax filler sticks in tins. I used to melt it on with a soldering iron. They did wood shades and also metallics. I found this on Amazon.... https://www.amazon.co.uk/Total-Furniture-Repair-System-Touch-Up-Brown/dp/B017GGDNKO/ref=asc_df_B017GGDNKO/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode...
by prospero
Tue 31 Oct, 2023 10:57 am
Forum: Help!
Topic: Swept Frames.
Replies: 16
Views: 27297

Re: Swept Frames.

I remember the Lira frames and mouldings from Sisslings. :D They were dirt cheap and looked quite classy. The mouldings were on a base timber of some really ropey pine, often with multiple finger-joints. This made them very twist-resistant though. Cutting/joining was could be quite problematic but o...
by prospero
Sun 29 Oct, 2023 12:49 pm
Forum: Help!
Topic: working with thin mouldings
Replies: 19
Views: 59373

Re: working with thin mouldings

The elegant solution for making BIG subframes. Get some tongue and groove pine cladding. It's (relatively) cheap and comes in 8mm thickness. Rip off the tongue side. The clever bit is you can form half-lap joints without any fancy woodwork skills. Just use two layers, glued and screwed. The laminate...
by prospero
Sun 29 Oct, 2023 12:33 pm
Forum: Help!
Topic: Nitric Acid?
Replies: 6
Views: 3599

Re: Nitric Acid?

Acetone will eat into leaf very quickly. To control it, have a wad of cotton wool dipped in White Spirit
standing by. This will neutralise the Acetone allowing you to control the effect. :wink:

Nitric Acid is a bit OTT and is harmful to bare skin. :shock:
by prospero
Fri 27 Oct, 2023 9:43 am
Forum: Help!
Topic: working with thin mouldings
Replies: 19
Views: 59373

Re: working with thin mouldings

I'd say riveting the d-rings to the back is the best way. Even use 2-hole ones on a bigger frame. That way all the stress is taken on the back. Putting a piece of aluminium tape over the rivet 'tails' is a good idea. Fixing the back to the frame would work but if the back is near a damp surface or i...
by prospero
Fri 20 Oct, 2023 10:09 am
Forum: Help!
Topic: Framers triangle points!
Replies: 8
Views: 15095

Re: Framers triangle points!

I use Multi points for everything. They hold well. They are nice and thin and can be bent without springing back. They are also handy for joining stacked sections when the inner part protrudes - band one in and put a small screw in the hole. They are easy to remove. :D I never like the conventional ...
by prospero
Thu 19 Oct, 2023 9:31 am
Forum: Help!
Topic: Framers triangle points!
Replies: 8
Views: 15095

Re: Framers triangle points!

Lion do (did do) Fletcher 11mm ones.

But if you take my advice, invest in a Fletcher Multipoint gun. Excellent for 'shoehorn' jobs. :D
by prospero
Thu 12 Oct, 2023 9:28 am
Forum: Help!
Topic: CMC cut mounts - is this acceptable?
Replies: 11
Views: 19317

Re: CMC cut mounts - is this acceptable?

I have a manual cutter. I always tell people that blades are a heck of a lot cheaper than mountboard. On a manual cutter you can tell by the feel that the blade needs changing. :wink: * The 'kick-up' along the cut face seems to indicate to me that they were cut on a manual cutter. This is normal and...
by prospero
Wed 11 Oct, 2023 10:05 am
Forum: Help!
Topic: CMC cut mounts - is this acceptable?
Replies: 11
Views: 19317

Re: CMC cut mounts - is this acceptable?

As they say in Lincolnshire: "Av sin woss". :lol:

Looks to me as if someone is trying to squeeze to last drop out of the blade.
by prospero
Sat 30 Sep, 2023 11:03 am
Forum: Help!
Topic: Hot presses
Replies: 3
Views: 2431

Re: Hot presses

Ademco is a company long defunct. Never heard of Keencut machines.

The most common ones nowadays are Drytac ones. I had an Ademco one but replaced it with a Drytac.
In comparison they are much more substantial than the old Ademco ones. :wink:
by prospero
Fri 22 Sep, 2023 9:19 am
Forum: Help!
Topic: Framing prints for an exhibition that are different sizes. What would look best?
Replies: 9
Views: 7910

Re: Framing prints for an exhibition that are different sizes. What would look best?

LJ Hayseed is a good neutral shade. Not too white and not too yellowy. :wink:
by prospero
Thu 14 Sep, 2023 12:20 am
Forum: Help!
Topic: Frame identification
Replies: 4
Views: 7509

Re: Frame identification

Definitely off the shelf. :wink:
by prospero
Tue 12 Sep, 2023 12:43 pm
Forum: Help!
Topic: Gold Slip / Should it touch the artwork?
Replies: 14
Views: 7335

Re: Gold Slip / Should it touch the artwork?

I would be more worried about a work on paper being exposed to the environment. Oils on canvas are durable and damage can be repaired. But if somebody pokes a hole or scratches an piece of paper it a whole different matter. Also dust will settle on it and consolidate with the oil and will degrade th...
by prospero
Thu 07 Sep, 2023 11:12 am
Forum: Help!
Topic: Jumbo mount not big enough
Replies: 9
Views: 13228

Re: Jumbo mount not big enough

I wouldn't even attempt a conventional mount. When you get to that scale you have think a bit 'out of the box'. I'd go for a wide slip. Gold slips go up to 30mm. With a bit of trickery you can engineer a slip so it fulfills the properties needed - not crimping the edges of the paper and leaving room...
by prospero
Thu 07 Sep, 2023 10:59 am
Forum: Help!
Topic: Using an underpinner - or not...
Replies: 15
Views: 22827

Re: Using an underpinner - or not...

On wide mouldings (2"+) on biggish frames I like to put a biscuit in. It makes what is a simple butt joint into a Mortise and Tenon and make joining easier. The different in the strength of the corner is significant. I've tried breaking biscuited corners by hand and it's very difficult. I'm on ...
by prospero
Wed 06 Sep, 2023 10:36 am
Forum: Help!
Topic: Using an underpinner - or not...
Replies: 15
Views: 22827

Re: Using an underpinner - or not...

In my experience with underpinning (about 40 years) it's not good to add more pins after the glue as set. It's all about getting the top pressure in the right place - that is getting the top pad over the insertion point. Easy on a flat moulding, but on a moulding with a high back and placing a v-nai...
by prospero
Wed 30 Aug, 2023 10:08 am
Forum: Help!
Topic: Float mounting client complaint
Replies: 8
Views: 2821

Re: Float mounting client complaint

Every 70mm? That's too many. Also that tape is too strong. P90 would work better. Two hinges at the top and maybe two at the side toward the bottom which should be 'loose', that is formed so they allow lateral movement but hold the print down. It's a bit of a optimistic expectation to float mount a ...