The Framers Forum

I'm a small framer in the States. (Lakewood, CO)

My wife and I are coming to London for a few days in early June. While there I would like to try to find the following:

a. A source for oval frames. I have a customer that is looking for a wood oval, and I would like to look at some options. In the US we have to bring our resale license number to buy from framing wholesalers; I assume this is similar to the requirements in England.

b. A good ruling pen. Most of the ruling pens in the states are not very good. I do quite a bit in decorative mats and would like to see if I can get a better ruling pen.

We have been to England several times, and normally while I'm looking for sources my wife goes shopping, so I would prefer a supplier that is not too far from London, or at least easily accessible via the underground. I don't want her to have too much time for shopping.

Thanks in Advance

Russ Wood
Grey Owl Framing
3465 South Otis Court
Lakewood, CO 80227

Hi Grey Owl,

D & J Simons are based in the east end of London, and they carry a range of oval frames. Click here for a link to their online catalogue page for oval and circle frame rims.

Lion Picture Framing Supplies carry ruling pens. Their head office is in Birmingham, and they do have a South East England base, but it's in Middlesex (a good distance from central London). You might be able to buy from them over the web. Click here for a link to relevant products on their website.

Hope you enjoy your visit to London!

Thanks for your reply, Moglet.

I've also seen your comments on the Grumble, and appreciate your help.

Russ

You're more than welcome, Russ!

The ruling pen in Áine's Lion link is the Ecobra and IMHO a great bit of kit. Maybe Simons do it, wouldn't be surprised - but I'm at home now, can anyone with a Simons catalogue confirm?

Yes, I drive an Ecobra.

Can't see it in the Simons cat. That's not to say it isn't in there somewhere....

Google reveals one stockist in the London area.

Yoy can try Wessex www.wessexpictures.com, they are in south london. Lion have the best range,

Hi Grey,

I don't do a lot of ruled lines myself, but I understand that old ruling pens are generally superior to most new ones on the market. My friend Linda Wassell here in Houston is a master of French matting, and sells antique and vintage ruling pens. If you'd be interested let me know and I can send you her contact information.

The ecobra is not 'most new ones' - it's superb, you can do a line so thin you can hardly see it, but, like any pen, only as wide as gravity/consistency of medium will allow. The lower blade also pivots 90 degrees for cleaning and the whole thing is pretty bulletproof.

I've tried some very old ones, including the one from my school tech drawing set, which is aaaancient! All I'd say is compare anything, new or old, to the ecobra; if you don't like it I'll buy it off you - if it's before my next Lion order - really should have a separate one for glue ('size' that is - acrylic gloss medium etc - for gilding)

One thing with ruling pens is that they need breaking in. A new one will not work quite as smoothly as one that has worn to the users grip. Never let anyone else use your personal pen. Also, don't clean them too fanatically on the inside of the blades. A thin film of dried watercolor on the metal will make it hold more paint without blobbing.

John, would you consider that getting decent inks is as important as the pen, or would you just use watercolours?

I only use watercolour, acrylics or size, always mixed fresh, sometimes, if I want a solid black line, I'll use Chinese stick ink, but I'd not buy it in just for that - I have it handy for calligraphy.

I hate gold inks and paints, I use foil or real gold leaf, with acrylic gloss medium. There are other adhesives, such as wunda size, gum amoniac etc, but you can (lightly) burnish gilded acrylic medium with agate.

But to answer your question a good pen is a first - I know from using (pre mixed) Chinese stick ink that my pen could do inks, I just don't like them!

prospero wrote:One thing with ruling pens is that they need breaking in.

Amen to that!

I hated my ecobra when I bought it, it felt 'scratchy' - when I finally had a brainwave it was about 5 years old - (about the time the thread on my old school one gave up the ghost) - there was a Euro Mouldings label on its box with a ref no - but it was just a blank label - all the print had faded - and it was in a drawer!

I broke it in on an oilstone and now it's just sooooooo smooth!

.......And annovver fing. The actual ruler that you use is a major factor in producing good lines. I use a Maped brand which is extruded ally with a steel insert on one edge and rubber strips on the underside. The steel edge can get glunged up and this will cause the pen strokes to 'stutter' a bit. (especialy if you have been using one of those gold pens.) I keep a little wad of wirewool handy and give the edge a good polish now and then.

Wahay - I use the same thing - I have two, one for normal straight edge stuff and one dedicated to lining.

Only stumbled across it - it was my first mountcutter - there's an angled blade holder that fits in the channels, I probably still have it - don't know where I'd get another, if I needed to - Lion?

I use mine face down and run the pen along the blunt side, not the scaled side - it's rounded slightly and so keeps the nib out of contact.

Well I'll go to the foot of our stairs......

I've got two as well. One for lining and one......well you know the rest.

First, thanks to all of you for your help and suggestions.

I currently have a ruling pen set from my high school days that does a good job, but I was looking for something a little better. Back in high school I did not keep the pen as clean as I should have, and I have tried to sand off the India ink I was using back then. As someone mentioned many of the new ones are terrible. I attended a class by Linda Wassell earlier this year, at the Rocky Mountain chapter of the PPFA, and I believe it was Linda that suggested I look for something in Great Britain, if I was ever there.

I have used real gold leaf (22K) with wunda size, and the results are okay; I expect get better with practice. I tried Acrylic mat medium with gold leaf and that did not work well, but I have not tried acrylic gloss medium. I have also used some of the heavy acrylics {Golden brand] that work well when thinned with water. I had not thought about having two; one for lines and one for size, but I will consider that, as

I contacted Lion and they will deliver to my hotel in London, so I don't have to try to get out there by underground, train and bus.

Again, thanks to you all for your help. Let me know if I can ever return the favor.

Russ Wood

Thanks for this thread.

I have one of Lion's ruling pens. I tried it a couple of times and gave up but this thread has inspired me to have another go.

Thanks.