Search found 8919 matches

by Not your average framer
Mon 08 Jan, 2007 9:46 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Mountcutting blades
Replies: 28
Views: 15250

Today I was using up some of my remaining Tru-Vue mountboard to sell in ready made frames. I cut loads of mounts all with one blade and no hooks. I find it hard to believe that Bainbridge is any different to Tru-Vue. I also checked my blade depth and which cuts about a quarter of the way into the sc...
by Not your average framer
Sun 07 Jan, 2007 10:41 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Mountcutting blades
Replies: 28
Views: 15250

Recently, I seriously considered moving to Artcare, but having heard about how fussy it is about blade sharpness, I have had second thoughts. Come to think about it, I don't have much trouble at all with the others, except Arqadia, but regular blade changes solves that one too!. However, the Artcar...
by Not your average framer
Sun 07 Jan, 2007 10:20 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Mountcutting blades
Replies: 28
Views: 15250

I think I should clarify that I don't automatically get a slightly hooked corner just because I've used a blade more than once, but if it happens, then I wish I'd changed the blade earlier.

On balance, I usually use a new blade per customer and think it saves both time and money in the long run.
by Not your average framer
Sun 07 Jan, 2007 10:00 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Mountcutting blades
Replies: 28
Views: 15250

That's incredible, Not your average framer! What mountboard are you using? John, Mainly Bainbridge (mixture of white core & artcare), but also a lot of older stock which includes Tru-Vue, Arqadia, Daler and Colourmount. Arqadia being the most dense and therefore the quickest for blunting blades...
by Not your average framer
Sun 07 Jan, 2007 9:46 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Mountcutting blades
Replies: 28
Views: 15250

Hi Kev, Thanks for the offer, but I've got three different makes of blade in two different thicknesses and I also stand and the end of the mountcutter and pull the cutting head towards me with my wrist locked. However, I do sometimes get the odd slight hook on a corner when the blade starts to lose ...
by Not your average framer
Sun 07 Jan, 2007 9:03 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Mountcutting blades
Replies: 28
Views: 15250

Mountcutting blades

I often wonder if mountcutting blades are not as good as they used to be, because they never seem to last as long as I think they should. I have a very accurately adjusted Keencut Ultimat with new nylon bearings fitted about three years ago. It is adjusted to have no cutter head play whatsoever, the...
by Not your average framer
Wed 03 Jan, 2007 8:26 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Getting Started (Mount Cutting)
Replies: 6
Views: 4380

Hi John, Don't rule out buying a secondhand mountcutter. During my framing career all my mount cutters have been secondhand and they've all been good too! I started out with a C & H Bainbridge 4060A which only cost me £75, but since it had no start or end of cut stops, I then got a Keencut Dart ...
by Not your average framer
Wed 27 Dec, 2006 8:20 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Christmas 2006
Replies: 16
Views: 8942

As usual, this Christmas I was worked off my feet, but when I checked the months takings they were almost 30% down compared to last year. Customers have not been pushing the boat out this year, but looking for ways of saving money.
by Not your average framer
Wed 27 Dec, 2006 8:12 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: New year resolutions
Replies: 2
Views: 2593

New year resolutions

Happy new year everybody, My new years resolution is to work towards a really neat and tidy shop and workshop. This is easier said that done, because of the massive volume of materials and equipment, which just does not fit into such small premises. So in the coming days, I'm constructing a new shop...
by Not your average framer
Sat 23 Dec, 2006 10:02 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Christmas 2006
Replies: 16
Views: 8942

Merry Christmas to you all.

Image

Mark
by Not your average framer
Fri 22 Dec, 2006 9:04 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: What's this moulding?
Replies: 7
Views: 4457

Hi Mike, I think I may have a result for you. I don't have a current catalogue to be sure about this, but I've dug out an old 2002 Peers framing supplies catalogue with some quite similar mouldings. There isn't one in the same colour, but I don't know what's in their current catalogue, so a catalogu...
by Not your average framer
Sat 16 Dec, 2006 8:45 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: What's this moulding?
Replies: 7
Views: 4457

If it's gesso, I don't think it's one of Venton's. I'd like to know where to get it too. Looks great, I bet it would be a good seller.
Mark
by Not your average framer
Fri 15 Dec, 2006 11:02 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: What's this moulding?
Replies: 7
Views: 4457

I'm really clutching at straws here, but in one of Venton's out of date catalogues there are three plain wood mouldings shown only as outline cross section drawings. THEY ARE NOT IN THE CURRENT CATALOGUE OR PRICE LIST. However, I've often managed to get discontinued mouldings just by asking distribu...
by Not your average framer
Fri 15 Dec, 2006 9:48 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: What's this moulding?
Replies: 7
Views: 4457

This is where I might end up with egg on my face. When I first opened my shop almost three years ago, a customer was looking for a moulding with a similar finish to yours. I phoned around, got in a few samples and one was what the customer wanted, but I didn't get the job, because the customer wante...
by Not your average framer
Thu 14 Dec, 2006 10:29 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: How soon can you have it?
Replies: 20
Views: 11273

I don't close the shop all day, I just limit the hours I have to spend serving customers, especially while I'm doing things which I don't want to be interupted. For three days of the week, I'm running everything single handed and the rest of the week I'm making frames and cutting mounts for my part ...
by Not your average framer
Mon 11 Dec, 2006 11:02 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: How soon can you have it?
Replies: 20
Views: 11273

I'm preparing to put the closed sign up on the door so I can stop taking orders and get a few done instead. The thing I find hard to do this time of year is to just stay in control. Everything was planned for the next few days, but Tufnells have completely lost my Simons order. This time they have n...
by Not your average framer
Sat 09 Dec, 2006 9:31 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: How soon can you have it?
Replies: 20
Views: 11273

I do allow a little bit of queue jumping from time to time if necessary to meet deadlines for birthdays or special occasions. I've never charged any extra for it, but I did wonder if anyone else did.
by Not your average framer
Sat 09 Dec, 2006 8:01 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: How soon can you have it?
Replies: 20
Views: 11273

I've often wondered how much extra one could charge for rush jobs which are allowed to jump the queue. My thoughts have been along the lines of charging extra for getting the necessary materials delivered on an overnight delivery service, but also putting all other materials to be ordered from the s...
by Not your average framer
Fri 08 Dec, 2006 7:02 pm
Forum: After Hours
Topic: Funny things said by customers
Replies: 3
Views: 5609

Funny things said by customers

Today a lady came in with small oil on board which needed framing ASAP. While discussing the job, the lady asked about putting it behind glass and I pointing out that it would need to be spaced quite away back from the glass, because of the the amount of impasto on the painting. The lady then lookin...
by Not your average framer
Fri 08 Dec, 2006 7:21 am
Forum: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly
Topic: Advice Wanted Please
Replies: 15
Views: 14064

It is rare that the average framer gets a job where he should be fretting that sometime next century his work will be opened up and it will be found to be extremely important that the very last traces of his PH-neutral self adhesive tape cannot be removed. Hi Norah, I have two problems with this: 1...