Running out of options

[nobubblegumpunk]

Hello All, I'm trying to get a double sided frame display project off the ground but I'm having trouble finding what i need. The basic idea is to display 2 12" vinyl records side by side with both sides showing and the records encased in 2 mats with a reverse bevel to mount them in place. Only downside is i'm left with a lot of space if i join 2 frames together and every shop i contact to get dual faced molding (in the states at least)says it is unavailable to them. So i guess what im asking is should i just make my own, and if so what wood would u guys suggest for something with that kind of weight, 2Xglass(26" X 13"), 2X mat, and the 2 records. Or just bite the bullet and use some frame spacers. Thanks for any help u can give me.

[prospero]

Hi nobubblegumpunk.

Not surprising that frame shops can't supply double-faced moulding. It doesn't exist to the best of my knowledge.

My guess is the establishments you have visited so far aren't too keen to take on a job which is too difficult for them.

The usual method for double-sided frames is to simply put two frames back-to-back. I say "simply". In practice there are few complications such as how do you join the two halves and be able to separate them later in necessary. Then there is the question of the hangers.....

I would check out a few more frame shops. You might find one that do this stuff all the time and have gained expertise in this method.

[misterdiy]

Hi there

We do this sort of think all the time with cigarette cards which is effectively a sandwich of glass/mount/glass with the cards sitting inside the mount aperture. This could work just as well for the records, but the mount needs to be cut very accurately.

We also had a challenging item in where we were asked to frame a tapestry so that both sides could be shown. Luckily it was small but for that we did as prospero suggested and bonded two mouldings back-to-back.

Hope this is of some use

steve

[EmmaS]

I've heard of this being done with pieces of wood - a groove is cut down the length wide enough for the glass, picture (in this case record), glass sandwich and then it's sort of slid in (kind of like how you sometimes see with menus in cafes held in little wood holders if you know what I mean). It gets round the problem of bonding two mouldings back to back as you won't see any join at all along the edges but it will just be a very simple looking frame.

The frame can't be made before-hand and then the glass fitted, it all has to be pieced together around the glass so I guess it could be tricky to get good corners - I've never done it myself, in fact I'm still a humble trainee but I've certainly heard of it being done this way. Hope I explained it properly and maybe it'll help. Good luck

[JamesC]

Basically it seems you are almost making a window so a joiner may help to advise creating your own rebates - and you are probably limited to simple shapes painted or stained finish - though maybe gilding something could look good and you may decorate with pasta or something - not my area of specialism really.

I think once you have made it destruction may be the only way to get it out as you will nail gun or stick the inner frames in to hold the glass in- hammer and chisel. But presumably you want it to last?

Of course it's easy to make the records visible from the back - a genuine reversible frame is harder.

How could you hang it both ways without marking either side? make it real wide and stand it on a shelf? Make it wide enough to sit on two nails with a soft padding?

[markw]

As a carpenter I would have thought you would be in a better position to make up a frame for the records than a picture framer. I would start by creating your media package - Glass - mounts etc. assemble and tape up the package. You now create a rim for the glass - assembled and fixed around the glass. Personally I would use a nice barefaced wood and make sure that the jointing is part of the character of the finished frame. If you want to finish the frame by painting or gilding then I would advise that you mask the glass before assembly - you can then finish it - removing the masking when finished.

[framemaker]

My method would be similar to Mark's suggestion, and I don't see you will have a problem if you make or customise a moulding.

Here is one way, if both sides are to look finished, so it can be hung either way:

Make up the sandwich of glass, mount, records, mount, glass. Tape it up, then you know the depth required for the two rebates. Get some timber (oak, ash, tulip, maple, cherry) or a barewood frame and then cut the back off and make the two frames, if the sealed glass/mount package is 8mm, I think I would make each frame rebate 5 or 6mm deep and then would line each rebate with volara foam tape. To fix the two frames together, but so they can be taken apart, you could drill or router some recesses and fix some rare earth magnets (I think this idea was posted here some time ago), around the frame using epoxy, you could also add dowels if you want. As for the hangers, I would put these at the top, how about one d-ring fixed in each frame and then some hanging chain joining them together , or just hang the d-rings directly of wires, or of hooks.

[SPF]

Ditto to above!

[Dan]

There is a company that I think still makes them. Try Inline Ovales, they may be the ones that have them.

http://inlineovals.com/

Dan

[Dan]

These guys have exactly what you need. Look at the stained glass on page 49 i think.

http://savannahmillwork.net/xylo-site/index.html


Dan
307-587-4832