The Framers Forum

Dont know if this is unusual but i'm pleased with my first attempt at a deep box frame. Customer wanted the front removable so he could polish the medals if they tarnished, and could I leave a space in the middle for two more medals that were in the post. Luckily they came before I finished. Oh, and could it be free standing, have you ever felt the weight of a bayonet, they weigh a ton, managed to get him to hang it. And Mikey I know its white but thats what he wanted. (Dont know why some of the picture is missing but you get most of it.)

Nice job how did you stick the single medal and bayonet down?

Good looking job I can see all of the picture, nothing missing for me. I also like the white design, it looks fresher than a dark background, but I know that might be more traditional.

Interesting about medals tarnishing which is caused by light, so I wonder if UV glass would prevent this or just slow it down?

Tarnishing is caused by oxidation.

Just read up about tarnishing, so a little less in the dark about it now, which is what confused me as I thought light was a contributing factor because to prevent tarnishing one is often advised to store your silver cutlery in a dark drawer

What is that one I can see in the background? Nice job.

I think It's the KSA (King's South Africa Medal - Boer War) and if so there should be a QSA with it.

(I googled "green white orange medal ribbon") http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King's_South_Africa_Medal

Also really like the White - nice and fresh looking. Great Job , customer will be well pleased !

Hi all, yes the one in the background is part of a frame i did of my great grand fathers Boer war medals, regimental badge and tunic button. Badge and button are not original. Searched many antique fairs for those. QSA has battle clasps for Belmont, Moder River, Orange Free State and Traansvaal. Shame about the reflection. Moulding is Wessex F5012 with corner brackets, Daler crimson, lots of V grooves.

Bit more info about the Iraq, Afgan medals, blue and white ribbon is ISAF Medal(International Security Assistance Force). Coin next to it is UK Aviation Detachment. Medals along the bottom are General Service Medals for Air Operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and again in Iraq, last two are Queens golden and diamond jubilee medals. Customer also wanted the front removable in case he wanted to wear the medals at any time in the future. Kept the hinged pin on the back and used small frame clips to hook under the pin, and then screwed the m to the MDF backboard. Bayonet is wired in two places. Silver wire through the hole half way down the blade and black wire through a hole in the hollow handle. Hollow because the barrel of a standard issue SA80 fits through the handle. Cant see it very well but there is silver thread down the centre of the white stripes. Again used fine silver wire sewn through the ribbon and passed through small holes in the backboard. As for the coin on the right, customer suggested i stick it down with superglue or araldite. Yeah right!!!!!. I'll think of something, leave it to me. Two more pieces of brass coloured wire, made into a cross, formed the wire around the edges and trimed of the excess.

How have you constructed the box design? The moulding looks wide but shallow, is it a cove box? Thanks

The original design was to have the rim package hinged with a piano hinge, but it looked to bulky. The rim is Wessex polcore 2" washed white with 2mm float glass, 25mm boarder of Aqadia 'minuet' mountboard, framers points hold the package together. Box is just a four sided tray 1 1/2" deep, to allow for the depth of the bayonet, lined with 'minuet' and a nice snug fit into the rebate of the moulding, which is why you have to look around the back to see the deep box. Hooks and eyes hold the two parts together. Bit basic I know but it did the job and the customer liked it.

Thanks for describing how you put it together, cheers