The Framers Forum

I have noticed recently that every time a moulding rep comes into my workshop with a case full of new mouldings -they are all big. Now, I like big mouldings, but a lot of my customers want little skinny mouldings and i like to keep my customers happy.

Its worth raising that old moan - rebates. great big mouldings - with rebates that would shame a narrow black hockey - why hasnt the message got through to moulding manufacturers that we need good rebates. how do you frame a canvas when you only have 5mm of rebate?

I have a theory that mouldings are designed by decorators - they look at the shape - texture - colour. they completly bypass function. A good example came into my workshop last week - 60mm wide 20mm deep moulding with an inverted v shape on the face - the design of which compromised the rebate totally - it was very shallow - it had to be because the v shape narrowed the possible rebate depth to a point where it was almost useless for all but the thinnest sandwich of materials.

Can we start an award for the best new mouldings - awarding points for form and function.

The manufacturer will probably tell you, Mark, that the system has a built in award scheme. If the framers don't like it it will not sell. Expect to see your profile on special offer some day soon.

Before I got my pneumatic staple gun, many moons ago, rebate size was a very big issue with me. Now, if the back is flush, or even slightly proud, at least I can deal with it. Whereas, before, it was vital that there was enough depth to clear the back.

You have raised a good point though. It would be interesting to know what are the most popular mouldings. Are there regional variations in what is popular? I could well believe that I may not even have considered stocking some of the profiles that you consider to be 'standards', and vice-a-versa.