My tools for creating picture framing masterpieces

In this post I will list down all the major tools and equipment I am currently using to create my picture framing projects.

Mat Cutting

I use a 48" Keencut Ultimat Gold mat cutter. I have it installed in a custom built mat cutting table such that the cutting surface of the mat cutter is flush with the top of the table. The right hand squaring arm for this mat cutter is removable without using any tools, so I accommodated that too in the table design. I use it to cut a bevelled edge on 4-ply, and 8-ply mats as well as for sizing mats and foam boards. I got this mat cutter due to its 20 year guarantee, so I have peace of mind.

Timber Moulding Cutting

For cutting timber moulding to size, I use a manual Cassese CS55 chopper. This equipment has a very similar design to the Morso chopper, made famous by Morso of Denmark, are foot powered, they work through the use of a guillotine cutting principle. Unlike a saw, choppers do not produce sawdust, so it is perfect for a garage situation like I have. The finish produced by these choppers are very smooth, and they are ready to join immediately after cutting even without sanding it to size. They are a workhorse, and deadly accurate too. Just make sure the blades are super sharp.

Frame Joining

I use a Cassese CS88 Foot-operated underpinner for joining my frames. Same as my other machines, it is yet again foot powered so I don't need to purchase a compressor anymore, but more importantly, I don't really have space for it in the garage. When joining frames with the underpinner, I use a wood glue called Corner Weld, of all the glues I have used, I think this is the best, quick setting (only 5 minutes clamped) and doesn't dry rigid, it dries soft and pliable.

Multi-Material Cutting

For cutting different materials such as mat boards, foam boards, glass, gatorboard, MDF, plastic boards and others, I use a Fletcher F-3100 multi-material cutter. Initially I thought that this equipment was not necessary when building a new frame shop, but after using it for a while, I should have bought it since day one. It saves so much time in cutting all these materials since it removes the need to mark the boards prior to cutting, and it also has production stops for repeat work, and it saves table space since it is wall-mounted.

Mounting and Laminating

I use a Drytac Jetmounter JM26 Mounter / Laminator for mounting and laminating all prints. It is electric, but it's silent operation make it perfect for my garage setup. You don't even know it is turned on until the buzzer beeps when your hand is situated too close to the rollers.

Framing limited edition prints by Australian artist Reg Mombassa

I am currently framing several Reg Mombassa limited edition prints brought in by a new customer the other day. As they are all limited edition I suggested that conservation framing be used.

As the picture framer, you have to inform the customer about the options available, because more often than not, they are not aware that there is such as thing called conservation or preservation framing.

The limited edition prints are:

1) Fluffy the slightly pink kangaroo



2) Poplars and copses



3) Nocturne (etching)



4) Commemorative Tumulus



5) Hills Hoist



Of course from a layman's point of view, an item framed using conservation techniques and another with non-conservation methods will look exactly the same. Well, initially, that is. But I assure you, the difference will be seen in a few years. The colors on the exposed areas will fade as the accumulated effects of UV light takes their toll. The areas hidden under the mats turn brittle and yellowish.

The following is a description on the materials I used for framing the prints:

Crescent Rag Mat
Mats used for the job are all conservation grade. Rag Mats are made from cotton and not from wood pulp, which makes it free from lignin, the one responsible for the yellowing of paper.

Cotton Rag Foam Board
Foam boards also come in conservation variety. This project all used double matting spaced between foam boards, this gives the frame more depth.

Filmoplast P90 Conservation Paper Tape
The prints were hinged using this conservation tape. A pressure sensitive, white archival paper tape, long fibered and heavier weight than Filmoplast P. Recommended for repairing joints, hinging, and mending damaged edges of documents and book pages. Free from wood pulp and acid. Buffered with calcium carbonate, pH 8.7.

Tru Vue Conservation Clear Glass (with UV filter)
This glass has a UV coating on one side and comes in convenient sizes. The trick in cutting this glass is first determining which side has the UV coating. This is easy to do: grab an x-acto knife and score the glass on the very outside edge. The coating side is the one that scratches easily. This side will face the art. Make sure about this otherwise the coating will be scratched off every time the glass is cleaned.

Lineco Frame Sealing Tape
This tape was used to line the rabbet to further protect the artwork assembly from contact with the wood of the frame which is very acidic.

Framing a cross-stitch the proper way (Lacing)

A new customer came in the other day bringing with her a nice cross stitch for me to frame. There are many picture framers closer to where she lives, but she chose to travel to my shop (which is further away) as she wanted me to frame it for her. After I talked to her, I realized that she recently found my company's website on google and one page discusses picture framing of cross-stitch the "proper" way.

Mounting
There are many different ways of mounting a cross stitch for framing. But what I always use is the process called lacing. It takes more time than pinning, stapling or even using attach-ez, but I think (I know) that it will stand the test of time. When lacing, make sure that the boards used are of the archival/preservation/conservation type. This will ensure that they will not have an adverse reaction to the cross-stitch in the passage of time.

Archival Boards
As I already mentioned, make sure that your framer uses the right kind of boards. Many mat boards and backing boards are of the decorative variety. These are what many picture framers use by default. Not me, I always use the archival variety (Crescent RagMat in particular), unless the customer decides otherwise.

Use of fillets
For this order, I will be using fillets to enhance the framing package. In my opinion the use of fillets makes a framing piece look about $100 more expensive than its actual value, that's why I always recommend this to my customers.

UV Filtering Glass
If you have gone through the trouble of using archival type mat boards, then it makes sense to use UV filtering glass (I use True Vue Conservation Clear) to ensure that the framing package is protected from UV rays which reacts with the framing package by making colors fade after a few years.

Finished Frame
Here is the finished frame, take note of the gold fillet used to enhance the presentation, the perfect choice of mat board colours, it simply looks beautiful.

My first ever blog post

I have been thinking on creating a blog about my picture framing adventures since about two years ago. Although I have been framing for around 5 years now, my picture framing journey is still in the beginning stages of what I envisage to be a lifetime passion, and I intend to make this blog an online record of my exploits on everything picture framing from my point of view, a humble picture framer.

Picture framing is a passion of mine, I regard it as an outlet of my creativity. It started out as a hobby, about 5 years ago. Initially I got all sorts of DIY picture framing equipment to able to frame my own stuff instead of having it done by professional picture framing shops. It was fine for about a few months, but realised that I couldn't get the quality that I expected (I regard myself a perfectionist), so I researched about professional picture framing equipment from other framers (they are such a helpful lot), as well as from the equipment suppliers, began investing in professional framing equipment, and started a part-time picture framing business on the side to fund my equipment purchases.

In my future posts, I will be discussing everything picture framing, from framing equipment, its use and recommendations, proper framing of artworks in accordance with international standards, my current framing projects, tutorials, framing business issues and much much more, so I hope you enjoy it as much as I am.