Purchase advice

[shad3925]

I am a complete newcomer to picture framing.
My wife has now graduated with her art to level where items can now be sold and will require proper framing.
There is a strong possibility that her art group will also require frames.
I have been advised by a certain company that the following items are what I require:
Logan Simplex 550 mount cutter
Mitre trimmer http://www.diyframing.com/user/images/s ... mer275.jpg
Logan studio joiner
Toyo TC20 glasscutter
Am I being given sound advice?

[StevenG]

There was a thread here a while back along the lines you metioned, can't find it at the moment though. I'll be back later and I'll try again.

Sound advice yes if you're just going to do this as a hobby. No doubt someone else will come along shortly and give you a better answer though

[A3DFramer]

Gift fair's next week, good chance to go and see what the kit actually looks like. Can't say if that is good advice but NEC at Birmingham is @ the middle of the UK.

[An Old Master]

If you intend to be a picture framer on anything other than a very basic hobby level, you will need considerably better equipment than you list. Expect to spend, when buying new, at least £4k to get the basic essentials. The Spring Fair at the NEC is unlikely to reveal anything else.

[prospero]

Hi and welcome shad.

The mitre trimmer is just what it says, a trimmer. You will still have to cut the rails to length. And as far as I know it doesn't have measuring stops which are really vital in getting two opposite rails exactly the same length. If you are serious about making frames then I would look out for a secondhand guillotine such as a Morso. Not cheap, but will save you a lot of heartache. And they do hold their value.

Bear in mind that moulding isn't cheap and you can soon spoil a whole heap trying to cut it with cheap gear.

Never used the mountcutter.

Never used the joiner either. I have heard mixed reports about it. My impression is that you could probably get decent results with a bit of practice. Maybe.

[shad3925]

Many thanks for your replies.
'Feature piece' if you could please dig out the earlier thread.
'A3DFramer' Thanks for info on NEC.
'An Old Master' 4k seems at lot for someone at my level?
'Prospero' Thanks for your welcome, I note your trimmer advice and will look for something better.

[prospero]

Sometimes you have to spend enough to get your money's worth.

That's what I keep telling my customers.

[Trillian]

As An Old Master has said, anything other than a very basic level of framing will require some investment. £4k sounds about right to me, but you could save some squids buying second hand. If you hope to be producing 'proper' frames, (potentially for commercial purposes), then you will need 'proper' equipment. Picture framing is one craft where it really helps to have quality equipment, in order to produce accurate and long lasting results.

If your wife's artwork is good enough to sell, then it's good enough to be framed to a suitably high standard. Ask yourself the following question: "Am I making frames simply to enable the artwork to be hung on the wall for the duration of an exhibition, or am I making frames to compliment, enhance and protect the artwork for years to come?". It may also be worth considering, as has been mentioned in recent posts, that some galleries/framers who have gallery space, will expect the framing to be of a standard acceptable to them, before considering accepting artwork for hanging.

Of course, if you only want to be making frames to hang the artwork at home, the level of finish may not be as important.

[prospero]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Morso-F-Mitre ... 19e7d69e19

That one might not look pretty, but I bet it will do a better job than a trimmer.

[David McCormack]

Hi & welcome

Quality frames can be made on DIY hobby equipment. I think it comes down to how much time you can give to making a frame.

If you need to make many quality frames per day then you need to spend money on professional equipment. A Morso guillotine will be a friend for life!

But if you only make one or two frames a week, as a hobby, then there is no reason why you can’t make good frames on a budget.

See this post http://theframersforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=8745

Correct technique and attention to detail and plenty of time can produce quality results ready to sell in a gallery. The correct method of mounting your wife's art is just as important as making the frame. You will find plenty of info here if you use the search box.

[Keith Hewitt]

Go to The NEC
Spend plenty of time on Lion, Wessex and Simons stands
Speak to other framers - especially ones wearing the FF badge.

It will be the best days work you even did

PS - good idea if you can edit your page to say which part of UK - that will helps others to guide you to places local to you for future help.

[shad3925]

Trillian: Many thanks, good advice

Prospero: Thanks for the link, a little to far to collect, 200 miles each way

David: Many thanks for the sound advice & thread link (Superb photographs)

[An Old Master]

Framer's equipment in Northampton might be worth a try - they sometimes have S/H kit.

[muffinski]

Shad it is possible to pick up the 3 main items of professional quality framing equipment such as morso, foot operated under pinner and mount cutter second hand for around £1000-£1500. I personally did this myself in recent months through various people from this forum all of whom were really helpful and nice to deal with.