New framer in Brisbane Australia

[jiminoz]

Hi everyone, my name is Jim.
I'm totally new to framing and living in Brisbane (originally from Liverpool) there doesn't seem to be a forum as good as yours so I was hoping for some advice and help.

I am a semi retired electrician and looking to get into framing as a hobby and with the hope it may generate a little pocket (beer) money. Anyones' thoughts on how that would turn out would be appreciated.

I am doing a course run by Frameco next week and hope that will give me some insight into the equipment on the market, however I am sure they will reccomend their equipment and so I am hoping for some unbiased opinions from you guys.
Their appears to be two main mat cutters on the market, Logan and Frameco and the Logan seems cheaper but I have no idea on quality so opinion on that would be very helpful.
I have read on your forum that you mostly seem to recommend a Morso guillotine cutter however that would be a risky expense for me at this point in time for me (also not many available here) so how do the hand guillotine cutters stack up.There are many more questions I would like to ask but I don't want to make this any longer than it is.
Thanks for any help forwarded.

[Nigel Nobody]

Jim,
Equipment you purchase depends on whether you want to be a hobbyist or a professional. I'm pretty sure that the company you mention specialises in hobby type equipment.
There are other brands and types of matcutters on the market apart from the two you mentioned. Fletcher is probably the most popular in Aus.

If you intend framing for other people for money, I would strongly advise that you do a framing course at http://www.theframingschool.com.au/ so that you learn what materials and processes are best, rather than invent processes yourself.

Hand guillotines are generally for fillets, not necessarily for mouldings. A Morso or other brand of chopper/mitre guillotine is best to begin with.

Many people decide to get into framing because they assume there's nothing too it, except four bits of wood and a piece of glass. How hard can it be???
It really isn't rocket science or brain surgery, but there is a lot more to it than most people think. Just to give you some idea, the CPF exam paper consists of 150 questions in 3 1/2 hours and only around 60% of pro framers pass it the first time.

IMO it's far better to learn as much as possible from a real framing school or a competent, highly regarded, professional framer who keeps up to date with current knowledge.
It will be much easier to get tuition from The Framing School than from a pro framer.

[prospero]

Welcome Jim.

Well you are going in the right direction doing a course. You might only be starting off on a 'hobby' basis, but that's not a bad thing as long as you are aspiring towards professional results. And you are wise not to jump in with both feet and chuck money about.

There has been a lot of recent discussion on the subject of hand-operated mitre trimmers. They are OK up to a point. You would have to saw the lengths slightly oversize first and then trim the ends. Can be done, but it's a bit of a long-winded procedure. A Morso (or equivalent) does the job in a fraction of the time. Not sure of the market down there, but a secondhand Morso might cost double what you would pay for a saw+ handtrimmer. Think of it this way. I'd say, (UK dosh) about £600 for a s/h Morso v £300 for the trimmer/saw. That's £300 difference. £300 doesn't buy a lot of moulding. You can easily knacker £300 worth of moulding using cheapo equipment. Also a Morso will keep it's value. I paid £610 for mine in 1985. (New). It's given 25 years excellent service and I could sell it for more than that today. There really is no substitute.

Mount cutters.....No knowledge of the the brands you mention. I'm sure you'll get the heads-up on any shortcomings from other members who do.

[prospero]

ps....

Listen to Ormond. He knows of what he speaks.

Making Frames is just gluing four bits of wood together. Anyone with a modicum of aptitude for woodwork can do it.
But that aspect is almost inconsequential in the process of Framing a Picture. Much more important to learn techniques for mounting artwork. It's not just a question of making it look nice. As a basic rule, if you frame something that is not replaceable, you should be able to un-frame it and never be able to tell it has been in a frame. If you use techniques that alter the framed item in any way, then it can affect it's intrinsic value dramatically. Sometimes to the point of rendering it worthless. On a limited edition print for example, even a tiny crease will make it unacceptable to a collector. Even worse, slapping tape all over it or trimming it down. But people do it mostly out of pure ignorance or to save a couple of $$$s.
I could tell you many horror stories on that subject......

[jiminoz]

Thanks guys,
Ormond/Nigel and Prospero,
I did research The Framing School but they are only in N.S.W. and the only course I could access in Brisbane is the one I am doing. It's a three day course run by a Melbourne company and is only run in Brisbane occasionaly. I have been waiting since last August for this one.
I take your advice on experience. Having worked in the electrcai industry for 42 years and trained dozens of apprentices I am well aware of the dangers of inexperience.
I certainly would not attempt anything that is not replaceable until I felt I could do so without danger.
My initial ideas would only be on easily replaceable prints etc.
I have been in touch with some local frame shops and they are happy to carry out a chopping service for me and offer any advice I may need so that is a good start.
I will continue to check out the equipment available (thanks for Fletcher tip) and will let you know how the course goes.

[realhotglass]

G'day Jim, great to see another potential framer in the making.

The course you are doing will give you some insight, but will only scratch the surface and will use very basic hand tools.
This is fine to see how you like it, give you a chance to do some practice framing for yourself and perhaps some gift framing for family / friends.
Certainly don't open commercially without some real in depth training like that mentioned by Ormond.

There is The Framing Show coming up in June (Sydney) and it would be as great a benefit for you to attend this 3 day show. Lots of demos, lessons and hands on, vendors, equipment, deals (consumables and equipment).
This event is only held every second year, so get to it if you can in 2011.

FWIW, you are a sparky mate.
If you need to get licensed, do so and take on as much of the electrical work you can for the next few months with flood inspections up there.

You will probably be totally sick of electricals by then but could outfit very well for framing at least.

Best wishes for your venture.

[WelshFramer]

Frameco stuff is hobby level but it's good quality. I started with some of their stuff and replaced it with professional equipment once I felt confident I could produce good quality frames and realised that I needed to halve the time it took to make a frame.

As for a amitre saw, I was recommended a Nobex mitre saw with extension arms by someone who had testes many saws. At under £100 in the UK it's a bargain and, with a little practice, will produce murres every bit as good as a Morso (sometimes better).

[pictureframing]

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[Kwik Picture Framing]

Hi Jim,

How are you doing?

You will learn that being a successful framer is a lot about experience. You will learn things as you go along and can gradually pick up a good set of equipment to help you. Nothing works as well as this!

If you have any specific questions about projects, this forum is amazing to get the answers.

[prospero]

btw Folks. This thread is three years old.

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[Roboframer]

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[prospero]

I do.

[IFGL]

prospero, next time I am down under I will be sure as excrement to come and have a picture framed by your good self.

I must admit though, never once in my 39 year existence on this planet have I wondered 'who is the best picture framer in Australia' now Estonia is a different story this plays on my mind constantly.