The Framers Forum

A while back a customer brought me in a hand finished frame that was made by another framer in the area she used to live to see if I could possibly replicate it.

I identified the moulding from the R&H range and thanks to a little help from the original framers, Just Good Frames of East Twickenham I think I have been able to do a reasonable job for the customer. The picture below shows the original frame and the sample I have made up for the customer to approve.

A reasonable job!! looks like a perfect match to me

I hope you're going to reveal how you did it?

Bang on! Great job J2M, I second the request for details of how you did it?

Rolf

What can I say? That's a class job!

OK, here is how it was done but I cannot take the credit as Just Good Frames were very helpful in passing on their recipe.

Rose & Hollis Pine Scoop moulding (I will post the number tomorrow when back at work)

Scratched with the tip of one of those square section bradawls.

Worm holes created by hammering a nail punch just hard enough to indent the surface.

Gentle sanding to remove rough bits from above procedures.

Liberon Antique Pine stain applied fairly generously and allowed to soak in for a short time, excess wiped away.

At this point I thought I had got it wrong as the colouration was a honey/gold colour.

Generous application of Liberon Black Bison Wax - Dark Oak. This produced the right shade.

A little Rottenstone applied with a bit more of the wax on 0000 grade steel wool.

Buff up with cloth that is well impregnated with the above wax.

When I make up the frames I will give them a further dusting of the Rottenstone so it goes in the corners and wormholes.

The lady has brought in four more tapestries like the one in the picture and I have got in four different colour sheets of Crescent Museum Ragmat for her. Could be a nice little earner especially as she is used to London prices

Hi John,

I think you may have inspired a good many of us to follow your example. I've been using the same colour woodstain and wax together on cheap pine mouldings for years.

Scratching the wood with a bradawl, or punching in a few nail holes never occurred to me. If I'd seen this before, I think I would already be doing likewise.

That's a really easy way of adding value to cheap pine mouldings!

BTW, I think that would also work with a metallic gold finish replacing the woodstain, but for that I would use an obeche moulding.

Moulding is A17 Pine from Rose & Hollis.

I agree Mark it would look good in a gold finish. Looks like I will be ordering in enough for some more frames so might experiment with the offcuts.

Used that one gold. Does look good. Nice useful shape. Wish it came in obeche......

Hi John
Great job
I'm gonna order some tomorrow