The Framers Forum

Didn't think I'd be interested in this being a framed canvas man, but now I've got the basic gear I'm getting sucked in...

Does anyone buy in the majority of their mounts ie from something akin to a chop service, or is that likely to be uneconomic in small quantities? Any recommended suppliers for small numbers/fast turnaround/nice online ordering etc?

Part (b) of the question is what's available for someone who couldn't (yet) justify an Ultimat Gold - are any of the manual + clip on ruler things up to the job quality wise for occasional use?

Thanks as ever for your kind advice

P

Merlin or Kev come to mind . . . . .

Hi Viv

We do online mountcutting for framers and the public. 48 hour turnaround and very competitive prices Check out our website http://www.decormount.com

We can do it all by telephone too with card payments

Regards

Steve

Thanks for the mention Jim.

Check us out at www.merlinmounts.co.uk
You will find everything you need - and more - from standard sizes to custom made.

We have been supplying picture framers - Forum and non forum - retail and garage/hobbyist - with mounts for a long number of years. No minimum order. Whilst we are extremely busy and stocks permitting, Framers orders are usually turned around in 24 hours.

Regarding the "clip on" mount cutter I use a Frameco 860B Matmaster all the time which I bought secondhand on ebay for 70 pounds and it's the only cutter I use. Once I got to the level of producing perfect mats on it I then built up speed. Have just completed two largish frames each with nine A5 apertures in the mounts (for photos taken at the Duxford Airshow) and not a single hook or overcut (honest!). The odd undercut just needed nicking with a blade. Didn't take a lot of time to do either but I did have to mark pencil lines on the back of the mounts first. The very least I would go for is a ruler that is attached to a board (like the 860B) to stop any slipping. I'm gradually upgrading my gear to a more professional setup (eg chop saw/mitre trimmer to Morso, Stanley knife/ruler to Rotatrim etc) but the Matmaster stays.

I used a 'Maped' cutter for years....and years, before I upgraded to a pro manual mount cutter. I had to plot the lines with a pencil for even a single aperture, but I was used to it and I got good results most every time.

When I did upgrade to a pro manual (Keencut Utimat 48" - then a Keencut Ultimat Gold 60") single apertures were a total doddle, as were double/triple mounts, but for multiple apertures I still had to plot and mark with a pencil and line things up by eye and my experience with the Maped really helped.

Then I bought a CMC, and although I may not be the biggest computer geek on the planet, I think I have some sort of advantage over some framers that are total geeks that could maybe build a CMC, plus the soddin' computer that runs it, but would be totally screwed if it all went down.

Bottom line. To the eye, for a basic single, double - or even triple mount, the same results as a pro manual mount cutter, or even a CMC can be achieved with a hobbyist mount cutter, just nothing like as fast or as reliably.

Don't know where you are in Cambs. but I am just over the border in south Lincs.

Also have a Valiani CMC and do mounts for other framers, photographers etc.

Ring me on 01778 344144 if you want to find out more.

John.

I would give Merlin AKA “John” the thumbs up also, he has a great understanding of customers who source mounts from an outside supplier.

In fact it is not such a bad idea to consider source from a specialist supplier, over the years the most profitable framing as distinct from creative framing for me was when I sourced most of the components ready to go (chop and cut to size) for making the frame package from outsider vendors.

Having used a number of good quality secondhand mountcutters over the years, I would suggest that you should also consider a secondhand mountcutter. They can be more easily affordable than you might think.

NYAF - any recommendations re makes? I got my fingers a little singed buying an old Morso, but being a Morso it's not the end of the world (bar a few quid) to make good. How about mountcutters, which is the bombproof one with good spares backup?

...and I should say thanks everyone for all the info, it's very helpful and much appreciated.

Cheers

P

Gesso&Bole wrote:Merlin or Kev come to mind . . . . .

ta Jim, appreciated.

http://www.frames.uk.com discounts mount up on quantity, automatically calculated for you. All are square cut ouside edges,choice of colourmount or arquadia board etc.

there are other very good suppliers who are forum mmbers - picture lizard, zanart, decormount, and steve at Frontier picture mounts spring to mind or have a look at this site www.wizardmounts.co.uk for a list of some regional suppliers with wizard CMCs.

in case anyone else is interested - I happen to have several thousand packs of 50x picture mounts @ £10 plus VAT all conservation, creams, whites. ans about 20% in other popular colours, colourmount, arquadia, crescent, bainbridge, and some other boards, majority 1400 micron some 2000 micron, in "standard sizes" to move from stock- We ship fedex every day.

These are mostly reday packed up in all sizes from 6x4 to 12x10 the majority 8x6,9x7, 10x8. these are all straight cut outsides, so ideal for reselling.

we have been moving these to the trade and to some of our newsletter subscribers and through a "big name" and they have been going fast but if anyone is interested in some while we have them left don't hesitate to PM me, or phone the shop and speak to suzi or sharon 01736 330887, or request a sampler pack. I think you will be more than impressed with thge quality and the square cut outsides, which you dont get many other places.

we always have suprlus mats at appropriate prices in reseller sizes, if anybody is interested. To be honest I'm glad to get them off my hands

Re the OP> I'd get yourself a mount cutter, keencut or fletcher. you won't go far wrong with either. What you will save in P&P in short time will pay for a used mount cutter.

I use http://www.cadremont.co.uk/shop/picture-mounts , if that helps, check them out - you can order online (Im amazed that some companies still dont offer this), buy individually or in bulk, free delivery on orders over used to anything over £120. They also do some mount designs that you dont get elsewhere, check out the pinstripe mount.