The Framers Forum

Craftmanship in the assembly of frames? - OK, if you wish. But I'm really talking about the finished frame as a made object.

I wasn't trying to belittle anyone. Stop being so tetchy! If you run a business, use only factory mouldings and people come and pay you money - whats not to like? I just don't think there is any relevant discussion on the artistic merits of a factory finished frame.

Oops! Sorry Roboframer.
Nothing wrong with factory finished frames as a product but when we start judging a framing project in aesthetic or artistic terms, then a factory finished frame is just an assembly job. Where is the craftmanship? But, once again, if the customers happy ....

It's always exiting to hear some acerbic criticisms but let's not go overboard on our praise of the work. Featurepiece did a good job for the budget and weren't trying to lay down an aesthetic marker. They could have used a factory finished frame on this and then we all would be talking nonsense.

For such a small art-work, at least this "bigs" it up a bit. The glazing gives the whole product a little more value. And if the customers happy - well done!

Hello Rigglydude. I would argue that if you intend to explore making hand-finished frames, you don't really need a morso. A good quality and well set-up chop saw will do the trick, at first. This is because of how the mitres are usually finished on hand-made frames; ie the corner tends to be "b...

Hi Prospero - Why the difficulty with staining obeche? Granted it is a boring wood but would you not find the small knots and imperfections add some character to the wood? One reason I prefer obeche is the cheap base price, from where the cost of the work is in all the applied labour. Which wood wou...

These are my own experiences with using bare-wood. As a base wood for gilding, I actually prefer pine. This is simply because of it's weight. I find a gilded frame cut from pine feels much more solid than one made of say, obeche. Having said that, I first wet the pine with water, let it dry and then...

I would recomend The Trumpington Gallery, 20 Victoria Road, Cambridge.
Established experts and very "old school".

Good looking frame Geoff. I shall continue to watch your posts with quiet admiration and jealousy.
I'm curious as to you using schlagg leaf and powders, instead of gold leaf, considering the same amount of prep. work and finishing - or is it a multi frame job?

I totally disagree with moving this discussion to a hidden members only section. There is an important argument to be had here about where picture framing is going and guests should be able to listen in on the debate. The present situation where "high street" framing methods dominates the ...

Good to see I exited some friction. Having a FATG sticker does elevate a framer to a higher degree of standards above say, enthusiastic amateur. It also offers an assurance of the quality of workmanship for the customer. REAL framing is closer to rocket science when you consider the requirements of ...

Ok, I'm sorry if I appear to denigrate the work of picture framing within my described catagory 1. I was simply trying to establish some parameters to apply to the argument of good taste in framing. If framing is done in say, catagory 1 with skill and enthusiasm and not just dismissed as something n...

At last! A decent discussion and a good reality check. I would see the business of picture framing split into three catagories. 1, The framing of low value decorative art and effemera. Here we would look for neatly joined frames using mass produced mouldings, cleanly cut cardboard mounts and due car...

My sympathy on this one. Sanding gesso is a pain. It can be overcome however, and when done well, the results are quite beautiful. I really have to get back to basics and say that the only practical and easy way of applying gesso is with a spraygun. It doesn't have to be an expensive one, £30 to £40...

You can clean goldleaf and I presume a watergilded slip within the frame. Use clean cold water and cotton wool and very gently wipe one side at a time.Always be careful not to rub through to the goldleaf. These slips usually had a thin size coating and it's this coating which has become dirty. Cold ...

The glue size I mean is made from rabbit skin glue, made up to a standard of one part vol of glue to 10 parts vol water; then diluted by a quarter. This size is essentially liquid gelatine which when dry, leaves a clear film over the surface and so increases the light reflection of the gilding. The ...

Hello Phil Prosero is right, the frame has been painted with gold paint.You can remove it as follows, but bear in mind that you would want an overall antique tone to the resulting finish.So the best thing is to remove the paint in gradual layers untill you achieve a finish that best suits the painti...

Grahamg,I hav'nt got any current photos as yet. They can be applied to some of the plain wood mouldings such as those from Rose and Holliss. You would rout out a track on the moulding first, gesso the moulding, and then glue on the compo ornament.

Here is a selection of compo ornaments which I can supply. All the castings are hand pressed and cut from moulds of 'running patterns'. In order to utilise their elasticity, they are best used within a week or so of pressing. Prices range from £3.00 per foot (001,011,012); £3.50 (002,003); £4.00 (00...