The Framers Forum

I agree about cord being better than wire. It does stretch a bit, but that is a good thing as wire is always being stressed, making failure more likely. If you burn cord instead of cutting it you get a neater end with no fraying. I use a refillable gas cigarette lighter, which is very economical and quick.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t dislike SSS. I just prefer Cord.
I think we maybe splitting hairs a bit!
After all if a frame drops off the wall its not because the Polyester cord or the Super Softstrand gave way.
The main thing is that its attached to the frame correctly and then hung on a suitable wall hanger.

deejay wrote:I agree about cord being better than wire. It does stretch a bit, but that is a good thing as wire is always being stressed, making failure more likely. .

Gordon Bennet - I'd best warn the electricity board - don't want this in my fishpond!

Roboframer wrote: Gordon Bennet - I'd best warn the electricity board - don't want this in my fishpond!

Whats that stuff called that holds up suspension bridges?

The Jolly Good Framer #1 wrote: Whats that stuff called that holds up suspension bridges?

extra stretch cord?

Super SoftStrand No 60000000000 ?

Mary Case GCF wrote:
extra stretch cord?

Ah, that would be why the Forth road bridge is so wobbly!

deejay wrote:I agree about cord being better than wire. It does stretch a bit, but that is a good thing as wire is always being stressed, making failure more likely.

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The Jolly Good Framer #1 wrote: So my conclusions is that polyester cord and Super softstrand are as good as each other.

You are entitled to have any opinion you wish and to prefer whatever you wish, but your conclusion is not supported by fact.

Cord does stretch! Have you tried hanging a series of three, four or five pictures on a wall with the top edges all at the one level. Impossible with cord. Doable with SSS wire! A cinch with 'Hook-Ups'

Some people prefer the look of cord, because that's what they use. They rarely have tried anything else! I'm sure you would find that"cord loving" framers are rare amongst high quality framers around the world. Personally I think it looks cheap and nasty and unprofessional, especially because of the knots!

One thing about cord v wire. Cord being slightly elastic will absorb shocks.
What shocks? I hear you ask..... Well I have heard many accounts of pictures jumping off walls. Somebody slams a door, a big lorry goes past, etc. One I know of jumped down the stairs when a low-flying aircraft went over. The funiest one was an artsist friend of mine who had some pics on display in his local pub. One small pic jumped off the wall during a wedding reception and landed on the cake. What caused it remains a mystery.

deejay wrote:I agree about cord being better than wire.

Wire always looks a lot more classy than cord. Presentation matters too!

deejay wrote:wire is always being stressed, making failure more likely.

Not if the stress does not exceed the rated breaking strain!

Before I get a rollocking from ormond....... I still use wire.

prospero wrote:Before I get a rollocking from ormond....... I still use wire.

Good on yer Mate! That's what I like to hear!

I'm not intending to give anyone a 'rollocking'! I just think there are some people who are a little insular and perhaps a little lost in their own world, doing what they've always done and loving it, without trying new things and without seeing what the rest of the world is doing. I am trying to get them to understand that they should look at what the rest of the world is doing and try something new and better.

I seem to remember badgering Robo some time ago to try SSS wire and now look at his posts on this topic! He saw the light!!!

When I started framing in 1977 I used wire as a matter of course. After the 80s I changed to cord as a succession of frames were bought in to me for repair ( not ones I had framed, I might add ) because they had fallen off the wall because the wire had broken at the point where it impinged on the picture hook. My theory was that some sort of chemical reaction had taken place between the metal of the hook and that in the wire. I have NEVER known of cord failing in this or any other manner.

deejay wrote: they had fallen off the wall because the wire had broken at the point where it impinged on the picture hook. My theory was that some sort of chemical reaction had taken place between the metal of the hook and that in the wire. I have NEVER known of cord failing in this or any other manner.

The wire probably corroded and the hanging point was the weakest point -maybe if two hooks were used the wire may have lasted longer.

Can't see the above being a concern with coated stainless steel.

The corrosion thing happens when brass wire is hung on a steel nail or screw. To compound the problem, a nail is quite thin and the entire weight is taken on a relatively small area. With proper picture hooks the weight is spread over a greater area. Half as much if you use two.

So - back to the first post - brass wire that looks the bollix.

1. Does it?

2. For how long?

Lion have a coated brass wire, with a non-stainless steel core for strength - it states in their catalogue that the coating can crack and corrosion can happen.

I'd rather use cord - and I don't like cord at all (any more)

[quote="The Jolly Good Framer #1
Whats that stuff called that holds up suspension bridges? [/quote]

Cable?