Stock and bits n' pieces
Posted: Tue 23 Jun, 2020 10:58 am
Hi all.
So during this downtime I have tried to have a look at how I run the business, looking at everything from my framing methods, the workshop layout, equipment maintenance and stock/materials I use. A good exercise 4 years in. I have received amazing input from this forum, and I am super grateful, I have learnt a lot!
The workshop has been redecorated, machinery moved to optimize space (everything on wheels!), blades off to be sharpened and so on.
I am about to place a re-stock order of a few essentials and it struck me that I am ordering the same items without too much consideration of other options.
I don’t think that these choices are necessarily ‘business critical’ but I would like to have a better view of all options.
I also thought this might be a good opportunity to add something back to the forum. Over these years I have bought various amounts of ‘bits’ and stock, some not great and it has been a bit of trial and error. I thought that it might be useful for me to list my selections and my experiences and might be of interest to new starters or equally folks who haven’t used some of these items.
It would be great to know what your essential items are from your experiences.
My go to’s and why I use them.
Back Board - I use as standard NuBord from Wessex and use both thicknesses. I find it easy to cut, it has a good rigidity and it takes my branded stamp well. I have only used ART-BAK Aqua for a specific job as an alternative so far. I did like how light this product was.
Mount Card – I am a fan of Larson Juhl and my basic staples are Artic White Conservation both 1400 and 2400 Micron with Onyx being my preferred black mount as it can take a few knocks and doesn’t scuff (top tip from Jan Stanlick). I have also used the Bainbridge mounts they have some beautiful colour selections. I will be ordering a few ‘white’ variants to have in my standard stock, I have been a bit lazy with the Artic White.
I use off cuts of the same mountcard for my backing mount.
Moulding – I use a combination or R&H and Lion predominantly. I like the quality of Lions bear wood products and also their FSC rating, I have been meaning to do a little more research into R&H and their standards. I have also used Wessex but as yet no other supplier.
I haven’t used much pre-finished moldings and this is an area I need to expand into. I will be looking at LJ.
Hanging hardware – As standard I use double D-rings and strap hangers (Lions 6594). I use the strap hangers for frames A2 size and over. However, I do find that these hangers are 1-2mm too wide for some of moulding I use, namely L001 from Lion and looking at alternatives. The R&H equivalent moulding however, A103, is better when using this hanger.
For narrow profile moulding I found these to be pretty good from Lion (2982). I haven’t tried riveting d-rings onto the back board yet as suggested to me. I only stock 15mm as the narrowest moulding as anything narrower I find too tricky work with.
I use low stretch picture cord from Lion but considering wire. I am not too sure of the merits of one over the other?
Glass – I started off with GroGlass then recently moved to TruVue. I am told (by Wessex) that one difference, that is fed back by framers, is that GroGlass is slightly easier to clean… I haven’t noticed that. Key difference from me is that the TruVue works out a little cheaper, certainly at the volumes I am buying.
However, I am considering moving back to GroGlass mainly due to the amount of plastic packaging that comes with TruVue. I am committed to do my best to reduce waste, buy environmentally friendly products and aim to reduce plastics as much as possible.
Glue – I use Titebond 3 when fixing frames together. I suspect that I don’t need to be using the waterproof wood glue but I had a few bottles given to me and ended up sticking ( ) to what I know.
I use Neutral PH glue (Wessex NPHA1) when sticking mountcard to foamboard or Mountcard to mountcard. I like that dries clear, is flexible and reversable with water. Its easy to work with.
I have a bottle of Evacon-R that I bought and can’t remember why I bought it or what its used for v’s the above bought from Wessex?
Tapes - as standard I have p90 plus for t-hinging photos (c-type papers), gummed conservation tape for most other things and also use tissue papers (and wheat starch) for delicate works. I have had mixed feelings with using linen tape when hinging window mounts, I fully suspect this is user error not burnishing adequately or it being too wet / dry.
I used to use PH 7-70 tape but moved away from using it based on feedback and now prefer using gummed tapes.
I have used HD tape from Lion (6919) when I have mounted A2 sized Giclee prints that had been backed onto 10mm foambard. The tape worked a treat and seems to be holding up well (one of the works is hanging in our home and against all my advice to my customers, above a radiator).
I used various widths of gummed brown tape to seal the back of the frames.
I haven’t gone into detail about machinery or tools as this seems to be very well covered as does finishing. That said I have just purchased a headless pinner and would recommend it. I had looked to buy the Axminster tool but noted that it was a 24 gauge and I wanted a 23G. I bought from amazon the Salki 86900006, it fires pins from 12 – 35mm and so far it works well.
And finally, my tip for black hand finished frames. I find that ‘Pebeo’ black Gesso covers really well, dries quickly and can be waxed and finished nicely. This method allows for the grain character to show but with no brush marks.
Thanks for everything and I hope that this is of use.
So during this downtime I have tried to have a look at how I run the business, looking at everything from my framing methods, the workshop layout, equipment maintenance and stock/materials I use. A good exercise 4 years in. I have received amazing input from this forum, and I am super grateful, I have learnt a lot!
The workshop has been redecorated, machinery moved to optimize space (everything on wheels!), blades off to be sharpened and so on.
I am about to place a re-stock order of a few essentials and it struck me that I am ordering the same items without too much consideration of other options.
I don’t think that these choices are necessarily ‘business critical’ but I would like to have a better view of all options.
I also thought this might be a good opportunity to add something back to the forum. Over these years I have bought various amounts of ‘bits’ and stock, some not great and it has been a bit of trial and error. I thought that it might be useful for me to list my selections and my experiences and might be of interest to new starters or equally folks who haven’t used some of these items.
It would be great to know what your essential items are from your experiences.
My go to’s and why I use them.
Back Board - I use as standard NuBord from Wessex and use both thicknesses. I find it easy to cut, it has a good rigidity and it takes my branded stamp well. I have only used ART-BAK Aqua for a specific job as an alternative so far. I did like how light this product was.
Mount Card – I am a fan of Larson Juhl and my basic staples are Artic White Conservation both 1400 and 2400 Micron with Onyx being my preferred black mount as it can take a few knocks and doesn’t scuff (top tip from Jan Stanlick). I have also used the Bainbridge mounts they have some beautiful colour selections. I will be ordering a few ‘white’ variants to have in my standard stock, I have been a bit lazy with the Artic White.
I use off cuts of the same mountcard for my backing mount.
Moulding – I use a combination or R&H and Lion predominantly. I like the quality of Lions bear wood products and also their FSC rating, I have been meaning to do a little more research into R&H and their standards. I have also used Wessex but as yet no other supplier.
I haven’t used much pre-finished moldings and this is an area I need to expand into. I will be looking at LJ.
Hanging hardware – As standard I use double D-rings and strap hangers (Lions 6594). I use the strap hangers for frames A2 size and over. However, I do find that these hangers are 1-2mm too wide for some of moulding I use, namely L001 from Lion and looking at alternatives. The R&H equivalent moulding however, A103, is better when using this hanger.
For narrow profile moulding I found these to be pretty good from Lion (2982). I haven’t tried riveting d-rings onto the back board yet as suggested to me. I only stock 15mm as the narrowest moulding as anything narrower I find too tricky work with.
I use low stretch picture cord from Lion but considering wire. I am not too sure of the merits of one over the other?
Glass – I started off with GroGlass then recently moved to TruVue. I am told (by Wessex) that one difference, that is fed back by framers, is that GroGlass is slightly easier to clean… I haven’t noticed that. Key difference from me is that the TruVue works out a little cheaper, certainly at the volumes I am buying.
However, I am considering moving back to GroGlass mainly due to the amount of plastic packaging that comes with TruVue. I am committed to do my best to reduce waste, buy environmentally friendly products and aim to reduce plastics as much as possible.
Glue – I use Titebond 3 when fixing frames together. I suspect that I don’t need to be using the waterproof wood glue but I had a few bottles given to me and ended up sticking ( ) to what I know.
I use Neutral PH glue (Wessex NPHA1) when sticking mountcard to foamboard or Mountcard to mountcard. I like that dries clear, is flexible and reversable with water. Its easy to work with.
I have a bottle of Evacon-R that I bought and can’t remember why I bought it or what its used for v’s the above bought from Wessex?
Tapes - as standard I have p90 plus for t-hinging photos (c-type papers), gummed conservation tape for most other things and also use tissue papers (and wheat starch) for delicate works. I have had mixed feelings with using linen tape when hinging window mounts, I fully suspect this is user error not burnishing adequately or it being too wet / dry.
I used to use PH 7-70 tape but moved away from using it based on feedback and now prefer using gummed tapes.
I have used HD tape from Lion (6919) when I have mounted A2 sized Giclee prints that had been backed onto 10mm foambard. The tape worked a treat and seems to be holding up well (one of the works is hanging in our home and against all my advice to my customers, above a radiator).
I used various widths of gummed brown tape to seal the back of the frames.
I haven’t gone into detail about machinery or tools as this seems to be very well covered as does finishing. That said I have just purchased a headless pinner and would recommend it. I had looked to buy the Axminster tool but noted that it was a 24 gauge and I wanted a 23G. I bought from amazon the Salki 86900006, it fires pins from 12 – 35mm and so far it works well.
And finally, my tip for black hand finished frames. I find that ‘Pebeo’ black Gesso covers really well, dries quickly and can be waxed and finished nicely. This method allows for the grain character to show but with no brush marks.
Thanks for everything and I hope that this is of use.