Anyone make their own frames?

AshleyC

AshleyC

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Ive been thinking about making my own frames to cut down on costs and have seen some framing "clamp and staple" type systems on amazon which seem good. this type of thing

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Charnwood-...479900816&sr=8-2&keywords=picture+framing+kit

or this

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stanley-1-...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=VRJRERF92JP5N867N008



Just wondering if anyone has any experience of them, ease of use, neatness of finished article?

Also regarding glass for the frame, can anyone recommend a good supplier of different glass types, i was looking at matte finish glass
 
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Don't make my own frames but my experience with those mitre box saws is that they can get close but the joints are never spot on. This may be fine for your own use but I certainly wouldn't want to use one for a frame for a customer. You may be better off looking on the auction site for a guillotine type cutter
 
Would it be cheaper once you have bought everything, impossible to beat the cost of Chinese imports
 
where do you get these cheap chinese frames from? ive just used regular framing sites in the past or the guy down the market , both of which aren't particularly cheap.
 
Loads of places, for example Wilko do them and plenty on Amazon or Ebay.

Need to do the mounting oneself, but that's cheap and easy enough
 
I've made a few and glued the joints, hammering small pins in to hold them whilst the glue set.

As Jim says, the cuts have to match exactly for a good job, normally professionally made with a "Morso" guillotine.

I ended up buying ready made frames from The Range.
Not only were the frames cheaper but they came with glass, which gets expensive when you cut your own.

I would pass on the mitre saw.
 
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Yes I use Lion for bits and pieces. They are pretty good.
Never had any cut to size though.
 
AshleyC said:
Ive been thinking about making my own frames to cut down on costs and have seen some framing "clamp and staple" type systems on amazon which seem good. this type of thing

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Charnwood-...479900816&sr=8-2&keywords=picture+framing+kit

or this

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stanley-1-...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=VRJRERF92JP5N867N008



Just wondering if anyone has any experience of them, ease of use, neatness of finished article?

Also regarding glass for the frame, can anyone recommend a good supplier of different glass types, i was looking at matte finish glass
Click to expand...

Like others have mentioned, you won't be able to beat the prices of bulk ready made frames such as ikea etc.

What you can do is increase the quality and range of what you can offer and make non standard sizes, if you spend your money in the right places!

IMG_1020.jpg

If you buy glass in bulk and cut to size, it can be cheaper than conservation level mount board!

If you're not going to buy a Morso guillotine (or equivalent), a decent mount cutter and a decent underpinner,

IMG_1018.jpg

IMG_1019.jpg

then the honest answer would be to buy higher quality ready made frames and cut your own mounts.

Like a lot of things, 'if you're gonna do it, do it properly or go home!'

PS a dedicated workshop space definitely helps!
 
yeah cheers, i think the simple option is to source frames off ebay. Its not something i will be making a living out of, i just need 20 or so decent quality frames for showing work off. I certainly dont have the space for that heavy machinery even if it looks cool :)
 
The attached shots show the first (and so far only) mount and frame I have made. This was done under guidance from my wife who got quite into framing a good few years ago and was done using the two bits of equipment you linked to in your first post, Ashley. My wife also has a mitre trimmer which is a very handy, but quite scary bit of kit and a mount cutter.

It is not perfect but good enough to hang on the wall, but, as noted above, a fair bit of kit is needed. Storage of framing and glass is an issue. Even a few years ago to make it viable fairly large orders of both were needed. Now, give the availability of good quality cut to size frames I think these are a better option.

Dave


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17185-1480414330-49e9e4ae9f23014e9274133ee4c06c1c.jpg
 
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AshleyC said:
Ive been thinking about making my own frames to cut down on costs and have seen some framing "clamp and staple" type systems on amazon which seem good. this type of thing

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Charnwood-...479900816&sr=8-2&keywords=picture+framing+kit

or this

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stanley-1-...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=VRJRERF92JP5N867N008



Just wondering if anyone has any experience of them, ease of use, neatness of finished article?

Also regarding glass for the frame, can anyone recommend a good supplier of different glass types, i was looking at matte finish glass
Click to expand...

Had That saw your thinking about a few years back used it for mitres for the skirting and facinigs thats about all its good for
if you still want to do your own buy a good electric miter table saw with a fine blade (more teeth) they come in around £200
like most of the others peeps say there is plenty of good cheap frames out there
 
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