Glass thickness for very large framing jobs.

[Not your average framer]

Hi,

I often get asked to frame large maps for hotels and pubs, etc. The first thing I ask is how close the public will get to it? Can anyone lean against the glass, etc.?

Part of my concern is I have never seen any published guidelines about this and also getting thicker glass at a sensible price is a problem too! The local hardware store sells thicker glass, but they don't seems to do scratch free glass.

To date, I've been using normal 2mm glass with a beefed up backing board behind for added support. Although I recommend plastic glass, everyone wants glass instead. It seems to me that it would be nice to have some kind of guidelines or standards for such jobs.
Thoughts, anyone?
Cheers,
Mark

[Roboframer]

The FATG recommends moving up from 2mm on 1 sq m or more.

But if artwork is spaced from glass I'd upgrade smaller than that.

You need to speak to a glas supplier such as

http://www.glass-mirror.co.uk/contact.html

Who have every sort of glass you can think of plus scratchproof acrylic

[osgood]

Acrylic is the safest option for public areas, especially if its large.
More expensive down here than glass but its also lighter.

[Merlin]

Hi Mark
I agree with Osgood.
To an extent you have a 'Health and Safety' issue here and you are the professional from whom advice has been sought.

We too do a lot of Maps and 'fire Poster' framing for the Hotels down here. Anything that is at shoulder/head height in these places, IMHO must be glazed with Acrylic.

It doesnt take much for an over enthusiastic person to swing a bag/golf clubs etc over the shoulder and break the glass on any of the pictures found along the many corridors.

For smaller pictures we use 3mm Acrylic and for the larger ones and maps we move up to 4mm.

[Not your average framer]

Hi,

I am yet to pursuade any customers to pay the extra for 3mm acrylic. The last one I did was with 4mm glass from a local hardware shop, but it had several scratches in spite of rejecting the first piece I was supplied with.

Local glass companies and framing suppliers seem to charge an incredible amount for thicker glass. I am sure it should not cost as much as it does.
Cheers,
Mark

[JFeig]

Most US framers use either 2mm or 2.2mm glass. That latter is called SSB in the industry.

I personnaly do not use 2mm over the size of 22 x 28. There is one picture framing glass source (General) that sells the 2mm through 36 x 48 and possibly through 40 x 60 (not sure).

I will use the 2.2mm in sizes up to 40 x 60. This is pretty much the size limit for American distributors in the picture framing industry such as Larson Juhl.

Anything over 40 x 60 is an automatic switch to acrylic...... no matter how many "ands, ifs, buts..." a customer will interject into the conversation.

A far as acrylic, we use .118" (3mm) for sizes up to 48 x 96,

[absolute framing]

interesting thread,

A quick question on acrylic. I know acrylic is prone to static, attracting all that dust anf fluff, but are there any other disadvantages ? ie. does it yellow, or scratch more easily ?

Regards,

Stephen

[markw]

Glass and Mirror supply an amazing range of Acrylics - they are, as Roboframer has already stated, very helpful - they can supply the non scratch stuff cut to size - as you cant cut it with standard kit.

[Merlin]

Only go for the Acrylic version NOT the polycarbonate version. This latter one yellows very quickly.

Acrylic glazing comes in two forms - like glass really - smooth and non reflective. Make sure you get the Scratch resistant coated version.

I have had no problem scoring and 'snapping' 3mm scratch resistant on the Excaliber 5000.

It is also approx half the weight and some 8 times stronger than its glass equivalent.

[markw]

John - the acrylic that I am talking about is Artshield - the stuff that you can attack with wire wool - and it just doesnt scratch - Glass and Mirror recomend that its cut with a saw.

[Roboframer]

G&M may recommend that artshiled is cut withe a saw, but my excalibur scoring blade also does the job. Have to take it out of the machine to snap it though, over the edge of a table.

I think we get paranoid at times over frame glass, sure acrylic is lighter and it bounces/things bounce off it. But the non scrtachproof is as much use as a chocolate ashtray. It goes fuzzy when cleaned even with soft cloths.

What about window panes? are they acrylic? what if someone falls heavily against one of those? You could go through it, when glass in a frame is broken it is usually retained in place because there is very little space behind it.

People like Glass and mirror will provide safety glass and toughened glass, if glass is what the customer wants. Weighs a ton, but so do your shop windows!

They also provide 2mm glass in 40 x 60 sheets, maybe larger actually, but you wouldn't catch me even picking one of those up!