Hi All,
Does anyone out there have experience of framing wedding dresses? I have been asked for a quote to do one and as I like to see new things as a challange and follow the belief that anything is possible if you put your mind to it, i said i'd work out a rough price for the lady to take away and consider.
I've done other types of box framing before such as sports shirts etc but never something as big as a wedding dress. I'm presuming the process would be the same but was wondering if there are any special precautions to take with something so precious e.g issues of light affecting the material over time. Also the final piece would be hung on a wall in a staircase so i'm wondering about the issues of weight and safety if using glass?
I've searched the archives and found one example which has been useful but any other advice would be greatly appreciated
Thanks
Sally
Wedding Dress
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Merlin
- Posts: 1540
- Joined: Thu 05 Jun, 2003 5:50 pm
- Location: Cornwall
- Organisation: Merlin Mounts
- Interests: Aviation
Hi Sally
Is this the one you found
http://estlite.scenes.biz/phpBB2/viewto ... ht=bedroom
It was a challenge to say the least. Cost was the biggest problem for this customer. Cheaper the better (as usual)
However, having established that it was being fitted into a bedroom, between two wardrobes, it had to go with 4mm strengthened glass (health & safety and bedroom antics !!). Light isnt really a problem in this bedroom apparently as the wardrobes stand proud of the frame and they are at 90 degrees to the main window anyway.
The box was made up using 100mm x 25mm planed pine. I cut a rebate in the top - on the outside - to give a snug fit for the frame and another rebate on the bottom - on the inside to take the 5mm MDF backing board.
I would have like to have used material to cover the inside of the box, but customer only wanted mountboard, so this had to be bevel joined where the least of it was showing.
With customers approval I attached the dress to the mount using Attach-eze poly prop 5mm T tags. Lots of them. Fortunately the dress was heavily sequined (sp), so the tags were hidden under these.
Basically the same as any sports jersey, just on a larger scale and maybe a more delicate material.
Cost was around the £200 mark although cant remember exactly as am not in the shop at the moment.
Hope this helps. If you have any more queries then come on back as I am sure others will pitch in as well.
Is this the one you found
http://estlite.scenes.biz/phpBB2/viewto ... ht=bedroom
It was a challenge to say the least. Cost was the biggest problem for this customer. Cheaper the better (as usual)
However, having established that it was being fitted into a bedroom, between two wardrobes, it had to go with 4mm strengthened glass (health & safety and bedroom antics !!). Light isnt really a problem in this bedroom apparently as the wardrobes stand proud of the frame and they are at 90 degrees to the main window anyway.
The box was made up using 100mm x 25mm planed pine. I cut a rebate in the top - on the outside - to give a snug fit for the frame and another rebate on the bottom - on the inside to take the 5mm MDF backing board.
I would have like to have used material to cover the inside of the box, but customer only wanted mountboard, so this had to be bevel joined where the least of it was showing.
With customers approval I attached the dress to the mount using Attach-eze poly prop 5mm T tags. Lots of them. Fortunately the dress was heavily sequined (sp), so the tags were hidden under these.
Basically the same as any sports jersey, just on a larger scale and maybe a more delicate material.
Cost was around the £200 mark although cant remember exactly as am not in the shop at the moment.
Hope this helps. If you have any more queries then come on back as I am sure others will pitch in as well.
John GCF
Thanks again for your help.
Just one more little question, what type of glass and fixings did you use for your dress. I'm against using 2mm glass and want to use acrylic but the customer is worried about it developing marks over time, she's also asked about toughened glass but i can see the added weight being a real problem as this is being hung on a wall in a staircase. Just wondered what you chose to do with the dress you framed.
Thanks again.
Just one more little question, what type of glass and fixings did you use for your dress. I'm against using 2mm glass and want to use acrylic but the customer is worried about it developing marks over time, she's also asked about toughened glass but i can see the added weight being a real problem as this is being hung on a wall in a staircase. Just wondered what you chose to do with the dress you framed.
Thanks again.
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Merlin
- Posts: 1540
- Joined: Thu 05 Jun, 2003 5:50 pm
- Location: Cornwall
- Organisation: Merlin Mounts
- Interests: Aviation
Hi Sallyb
As posted above. I used 4mm toughened glass, only because of H & S reasons, however, I would have used this anyway, as 2mm IMHO would be too 'fragile' at this size.
I believe there is a scratch resistant acrylic out there at 4mm thick, just not sure where, maybe another forum member can help here.
The box strength was a concern, hence the use of 100mm x 25mm planed pine. You could also reinforce the corners - inside hidden by an inner mount or on the outside - by using 90 deg angles.
The weight of the whole package should be supported at the bottom by either using a decorative batten fixed to the wall or by using 90 deg angles - tail up - again fixed to the wall. Remember you will have a heavy package when completed.
Keep coming back and please post photos if you decide to go ahead.
As posted above. I used 4mm toughened glass, only because of H & S reasons, however, I would have used this anyway, as 2mm IMHO would be too 'fragile' at this size.
I believe there is a scratch resistant acrylic out there at 4mm thick, just not sure where, maybe another forum member can help here.
The box strength was a concern, hence the use of 100mm x 25mm planed pine. You could also reinforce the corners - inside hidden by an inner mount or on the outside - by using 90 deg angles.
The weight of the whole package should be supported at the bottom by either using a decorative batten fixed to the wall or by using 90 deg angles - tail up - again fixed to the wall. Remember you will have a heavy package when completed.
Keep coming back and please post photos if you decide to go ahead.
John GCF