Demise of Ribba frames with glass ~ what next?

Box Brownie

Box Brownie

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Hi all

I was looking at the up to date prices et al of the Ikea Ribba frames that I have used in the past.

I have noticed mention elsewhere that they have stopped using glass in the larger sizes............................but as far as I can tell they seem to have switched from glass to plastic (for "safer frames") on all sizes not just the larger/largest ones :(

As it looks like such OK'ish budget frames have not been discussed for some while, what are you using as an alternative, with glass, to the simple (elegant ? ;) ) lines of the Ribba frame?

TIA of the up to date insight & suggestions as to what to look and buy as appropriate :)
 
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Box Brownie said:
Hi all

I was looking at the up to date prices et al of the Ikea Ribba frames that I have used in the past.

I have noticed mention elsewhere that they have stopped using glass in the larger sizes............................but as far as I can tell they seem to have switched from glass to plastic (for "safer frames") on all sizes not just the larger/largest ones :(

As it looks like such OK'ish budget frames have not been discussed for some while, what are you using as an alternative, with glass, to the simple (elegant ? ;) ) lines of the Ribba frame?

TIA of the up to date insight & suggestions as to what to look and buy as appropriate :)
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I buy all my frames from the range, don't think you will get a better choice and price to be honest.
 
Yes I noticed that change to plastic recently, and haven't found a properly-glazed substitute in anything like the same price range. All I can suggest right now is bite the bullet and go for one of the Nielsen or many other ranges at twice the price, or buy Ikea (or similar budget) frames - a local hardware shop has something akin - and substitute glass for the plastic (ask local glass supply firms for a batch quote).

Or source materials separately and get a mitre (chop) saw with a fine-toothed blade.
 
Thanks all for the insighst and suggestions.

mark richards said:
I buy all my frames from the range, don't think you will get a better choice and price to be honest.
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I will have to check their website and find the nearest store.................I think I recall others saying that Range were worth a look but not all of the 'typical' standard sizes were there???

droj said:
Yes I noticed that change to plastic recently, and haven't found a properly-glazed substitute in anything like the same price range. All I can suggest right now is bite the bullet and go for one of the Nielsen or many other ranges at twice the price, or buy Ikea (or similar budget) frames - a local hardware shop has something akin - and substitute glass for the plastic (ask local glass supply firms for a batch quote).

Or source materials separately and get a mitre (chop) saw with a fine-toothed blade.
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Neilsen ~ will look that one up.
Do own glazing 'swap-out' ~ interesting thought, will need to look up local glass supply/cutting shops.
'Start form scratch' ~ yonks ago I saw mention of a company that did the "chopping" i.e. you could order the frame mouldings all cut to sizes required. I did think that would be a good idea for anyone wanting to make their own frames but had no storage for the long lengths of stock mouldings. But to make a decent and properly jointed frame quickly you would need an Underpinner and for a base model not that cheap.

So lots of food for thought all round :)



PaulButler said:
I've recently used these people for a few frames, decent quality vs cost and they use glass :) https://www.framewarehouse.co.uk/
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Looks interesting but with glass glazed frames it makes sense to have a nearby outlet as none too sure just how the average courier would be carefull enough 'carrying them' ;)

I surmise that this company is local'ish to you???

Edit ~ I do see this on their website, can only surmise their ready made frames come under this. Though never heard of Art Screen acrylic???

What type of glazing comes with the frames?
Frames can be ordered with Clear Glass – Non Reflective Glass or Art Screen Acrylic. Although glass is only supplied up to 76 x 71cm. above this size only Art Screen will be supplied in the frames. The computer will not let you order it. We have been supplying glass to mail order all over the country for 20 years. Very rarely do we get any broken – but in the case that we do we can only refund you for this; unfortunately we cannot supply a sheet of glass via couriers. Sorry.
 
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No idea what plastic they will use in Ribba but I ordered a custom size frame from an on-line frame company and it arrived with plastic not glass (which should have been obvious given the size of the thing). The plastic is excellent though and I'd be more than happy to use it ahead of glass in future.
 
ianmarsh said:
No idea what plastic they will use in Ribba but I ordered a custom size frame from an on-line frame company and it arrived with plastic not glass (which should have been obvious given the size of the thing). The plastic is excellent though and I'd be more than happy to use it ahead of glass in future.
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Re: plastic glazing ~ a good while ago when I created a Triptych as birthday gift for my brother I ordered a bespoke sized frame and it came wit plastic acrylic glazing. This was supplied still with its protection film and the static that was generated when removing the film was awefull. It took a lot of effort to keep the dust off it so that when made it was dust free.

Float glass by comparison is easily cleaned and nice and optically clear with no ageing loss of clarity....................I suspect the same cannot be said for the cheaper grades of plastic :(
 
viewfromthenorth said:
Along with some custom made frames (which are expensive!), I used some of these from Hobbycraft for my last exhibition: https://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/black-picture-frame-40-x-50-cm/590518-1000 and https://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/black-picture-frame-40-x-50-cm/590518-1000.

I think they're a thick perspex rather than glass, but they are rather good.
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Forgot about Hobbycraft ~ thanks for the links (NB they are the same product ;) ) but as noted by others some places have higher costs than Ikea and this HC one is one of those.
 
FWIW

I found this mentioned in my searches on supplier site:-

"We only supply genuine PLEXIGLAS® XT 0A000 (20070) manufactured by Rohm. This material is the highest quality available and offers approximately 7 times more UV protection than glass.

This material should not be mixed up with styrene or acrylic sheet which is the material that most department stores, certain other picture frame websites and a certain four lettered company company from Sweden use !"

PS Though finding the Plexiglass manufacturer pdf I found this grade listed:-

PLEXIGLAS Gallery®
Family of UV-absorbing and UV-protecting standard grades for
glazing of pictures and exhibits
 
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The plastic glazing in the frames I've had has been plexi-glass. It is high quality but as you note the static is dreadful. And yes we have a store about 10 miles away. Oh, and another vote for the hobbycraft frames too, they have some decent ones, juts none near me.
 
One of the frame sites that talk about Plexiglass mentions using and Anti-Static brush to remove the dust and keep the area clean when framing up.

I see such brushes are even sold by a company that specialises in 'conservation materials'........................this sort of brush may the only way to master handling Plexiglass ???

https://www.preservationequipment.c...rushes/Dusting-Brushes/Anti-Static-Brush-wide
 
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I recenlt bought a couple of Ribba frames with plastic in larger sizes - the plastic had a distinct ripple that caused visual artifacts, and I could not recommend it. The range to even cheaper, somewhat lower quality frames compared the Ribba.
 
ancient_mariner said:
I recenlt bought a couple of Ribba frames with plastic in larger sizes - the plastic had a distinct ripple that caused visual artifacts, and I could not recommend it. The range to even cheaper, somewhat lower quality frames compared the Ribba.
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Hi Toni

Thanks for the up to date Ribba insight ~ not good :(

Looks like if 'going plastic' then one of the UK sources, even if higher price, is the route to go???
 
ancient_mariner said:
I recenlt bought a couple of Ribba frames with plastic in larger sizes - the plastic had a distinct ripple that caused visual artifacts, and I could not recommend it. The range to even cheaper, somewhat lower quality frames compared the Ribba.
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What size did you have problems with ?
Had a few of the 15x10cm Ribba frames with the plastic and quite liked them. Was looking at getting a few of the 23x23cm frames for some 8x8" prints
 
Ste_S said:
What size did you have problems with ?
Had a few of the 15x10cm Ribba frames with the plastic and quite liked them. Was looking at getting a few of the 23x23cm frames for some 8x8" prints
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It was a large square frame - 30X30 or similar.
 
Someone mentioned the Range, this is one of my photos using one of their frames and mounts

I think I paid less than a fiver and it's a 16 x 12 inch print in there.

060 - On the wall by Donnie Canning, on Flickr
 
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