The Framers Forum

Hi to everyone on the forum. My name is Franc and I'm based on the south coast. Although I've been framing alongside a full-time job for the last five years, retirement beckons later this year (any teachers among you will know how much that brings on a wry smile) and I hope to increase framing production. I have to say how much I've enjoyed the quality and good humour of forum members topics and advice and its helped me to gain confidence in trying out different techniques and checking out your thoughts on bits of kit. Not long back I invested in a Valiani mount cutter, not cmc, I wish, courtesy of Bagpuss (Thanks Adam, its earning it's keep) and it was a revelation. My old Keencut Arrow now sits forlornly in the naughty corner of my workshop.
I have a little gripe which I will share with you and you can decide if I should be feeling a bit miffed. I have been looking for a second-hand multi-material cutter for some while on the forum and e-bay etc with no success. One cropped up very recently on the forum so I rang up straight away and offered the full asking price in cash. Speaking to the seller I made arrangements to drive to the midlands and collect the item. He mentioned that he had had time wasters in the past so I did my best to reassure him. Thought it was almost a done deal when he rang my good lady to say it was sold. No asking if I could up my offer. Felt a bit deflated but hey that's life I suppose. I just wish some people could be a bit more thoughtful in their dealings. Well that's now off my chest so off to the studio to finish a frame for my deputy head. If any one has a Fletcher 3100 or Keencut 5000 (1200mm) for sale then please get in touch. Cheers!

Greetings Franc.

Welcome to the forum

Funny how a lot of people retire into this industry.

I have been wondering what those of us who have been in the industry most of our working lives do when we retire. I haven't figured out what I will retire into.

It's like being addicted to cold turkey - what do you do when you want to stop?

alistair, maybe retire to the military seems like lots of framers are from the military

featurepiece wrote:It's like being addicted to cold turkey - what do you do when you want to stop?

Oh believe me I could think of plenty of things.

stcstc wrote:alistair, maybe retire to the military seems like lots of framers are from the military

I think I would give that idea up straight away. Was thinking more on the lines of a brewery , cheese making or artisan bakery. But lets face it I ain't going to earn enough to retire so i think I might have to become a bespoke framer and open a little shop somewhere specialising in needlecraft

Never heard of anyone addicted to cold turkey. What about hot turkey?