Framing costs

[chainsaw]

OK, I bought my first proper canvas recently, and went to a local independent framers, two guys in a little shop unit.





its normal glass as where it will be hung just gets north light.

Actual canvas is about 14" by 11"

I paid £55  is that a good deal?

[kernow]

Jul 18, 2017 9:03:15 GMT chainsaw said:

Actual canvas is about 14" by 11". I paid £55  is that a good deal?

Hello, I'm new here...

That's not dissimilar from what I used to pay at a framers in Brighton for something of similar size. Just be careful if you're asking them to frame prints - unless they know what they're doing, or if you're not totally explicit about what you want, they are likely to use methods that aren't entirely reversible and might cause you problems in future.

For small canvases I've started making my own frames - partly out of necessity as I've just moved to 'the countryside' and don't yet have a trusted local framer, but also out of curiosity. I prefer to leave canvases unglazed anyway, so I only need basic tools to put these together. Here's one that I made at the weekend for a Uldalen study.

[mikeydread]

Nice job & welcome kernow

Lovely Uladen btw

[yobaby]

Hey Kernow, which shop in Brighton are you referencing?

[kernow]

Jul 18, 2017 10:53:57 GMT yobaby said:

Hey Kernow, which shop in Brighton are you referencing?

I used to take mine to Frame Factory in the North Laine. They were pretty good, but their default methods are definitely not conservation-friendly. But if you request exactly what you want, they will happily do it (and do it well, in my experience). I never had anything particularly valuable framed by them though, and to be honest I most likely would have gone with one of the 'bigger names' for piece of mind. 

A friend of mine uses Thomas Rainsford and rates him pretty highly, but no experience of his work myself.

[yobaby]

Ah great thanks, I have used a guy Lee Taylor - taylormadeframes who's pretty good. I wondered about Frame Factory, looks pretty expensive (being in the lanes) but I'll check out Thomas Rainsford

[kernow]

To be honest I'm not sure how their pricing compares, but the only time I paid over £100 for anything was when I opted for more expensive glass. Prices were pretty decent to be honest - I think I had a 50x70 floated (properly) for around 90 quid in a well made frame.

My next door neighbour was a picture framer with a little studio at Seven Dials. I didn't like the state of the frames in his house so never used him for anything, but would always feel terribly sheepish when bringing new work back into the house. One time I saw him standing in the window, watching me carrying a frame inside with sad eyes.

[IggyWiggy]

Jul 18, 2017 12:07:29 GMT kernow said:

To be honest I'm not sure how their pricing compares, but the only time I paid over £100 for anything was when I opted for more expensive glass. Prices were pretty decent to be honest - I think I had a 50x70 floated (properly) for around 90 quid in a well made frame.

My next door neighbour was a picture framer with a little studio at Seven Dials. I didn't like the state of the frames in his house so never used him for anything, but would always feel terribly sheepish when bringing new work back into the house. One time I saw him standing in the window, watching me carrying a frame inside with sad eyes.

[chainsaw]

Thanks.. so it was in the right ball park for a frame of the size.

Needed glass on it, kids splatter stuff everywhere.

[yobaby]

I think that's very cheap for framing, I've just had a small canvas framed with No glass and it cost me £140 all because the only decent frame available/suitable had come from Italy. Granted it looks great but that is a lot of money. What I look for these days is a framer who will frame to conservation standards and not using P90 tape but rather the japanese hingeing approach, the next stage is to see what type of frames they have on offer. I've a piece framed by John Jones and a piece framed by Pauli and they are MILES ahead on anything else i own, the quality and finish is incredible.

[chainsaw]

The place I went to had about 100 frame options in stock, in lengths of timber moulding to be cut to size, only has three for deep frames like the above though, but had catalogues to order more mouldings from.

So frames made to order to size. I have no idea yet about how they'd do float mounting though.

[broke]

i have been a bespoke picture framer for a number of years now so i can help anyone out that needs any advice. Personally i don't think any stretched canvases should go behind glass, a good varnish will do the job. No glass, is going to look 100 times better than the most expensive museum glass you can buy, no glass will also save you a pretty penny. Instead go for a frame with a slip to act as a mount. never ever use perspex, its expensive, scratches easily and wont conserve your picture for shit. oil paintings shouldn't ever really go under glass as they take a long time to dry/cure and glass can affect this process. however most people don't realise how damaging sunlight (even indirect) can be to artwork, if its a valuable piece or something you really care about spending the money on the more expensive glass is a must.

£55 for that job is extremely cheap, i would expect to be paying at least £80-£100 for a filleted box frame like that. looks like its been nicely done.

to save cash do your framing yourself, its really easy and will cos you a fraction of the price. most framers will sell standard sizes that will fit most artwork, a handmade, standard size, do it yourself frame, with glass and mounts included will cost you half the price of getting it professionally done. Alternately get down to a charity shop and upcycle some old frames.

[broke]

Jul 18, 2017 13:05:19 GMT chainsaw said:

The place I went to had about 100 frame options in stock, in lengths of timber moulding to be cut to size, only has three for deep frames like the above though, but had catalogues to order more mouldings from.

So frames made to order to size. I have no idea yet about how they'd do float mounting though.

if the framer stocks a company called Mainline Mouldings, i would go for them as they are cheap and by far the best quality. 

float mounts are essentially sandwiched between fillets that surround the inside of the frame and the glass. 

here is a dodgy cross section created using some powerful image editing software.

imgur.com/bMRBaoV

[chainsaw]

Jul 18, 2017 16:19:11 GMT broke said:

£55 for that job is extremely cheap, i would expect to be paying at least £80-£100 for a filleted box frame like that. looks like its been nicely done.

I was happy with it, but had nothing to compare to.

If anyone is local to Pudsey

Google link with photos

they don't have a website


Would it be a useful resource for people to link to recomended framers to help those looking in the future?

Perhaps local ones? if you are based in Aberdeen its no use haveing and excellent one in Cornwall suggested.


Another idea perhaps tutorials or guides on websites or you tube on making your own frames?
Welded steel tray frames ?

If people need the help.

[sɐǝpı ɟo uoıʇɐɹǝpǝɟ]

I've done DIY framing for $30, and have spent up to $300 for "the full treatment" - raised museum glass etc and to be honest, the results aren't too different in terms of visual appeal.... the biggest issue though is if you use cheap plexi or glass, the canvas or print will fade eventually. it depends on the pigments used, but even a high quality piece, kept out of direct sunlight, in museum glass, will eventually slowly fade - it just depends on how much and how long until it does

my opinion is always do the best you can afford and what you think is appropriate. the most important thing is that you think it looks good and will enjoy it for years to come

[sɐǝpı ɟo uoıʇɐɹǝpǝɟ]

and ps - i think that framing looks great on Opie's piece. well done and that price seems extremely reasonable (though I assume it's not UV or museum glass for that price?) so keep it out of direct light if possible

[chainsaw]

No its ordinary glass, it will be in north facing area shaded. But they said they could do other glass.

Windows in the house have UV filter on anyway

Thank you for you comments.

[dot]

I'm not an expert on frames - have used a few people in the past.
fwiw - it started off with a local framer then MFM - he did a few works.
I then moved onto John Jones, Railings etc.. ended up with a chap in sw london.
It's taken a while lots of detail and serious ups and downs.. for some reason some framers just want your work and you out the door - and some will talk about the work what suits it and .. everything besides. I had my framer help with an Eric White - he did the frame which had a shade of white matching an obscure part of the work.. it turned out magical.. I guess even the artist would be impressed.

So take your time - Your tastes will change - just hope you can move with your taste in framing - it might change

and don't buy something which is tricky to frame - i did... and the cost of it - was astronomical.

hey - it's all about the learning ... ho ho right