Guidelines for getting started on making your own frames:

1. Having found a supplier, familiarize yourself with the choices available. This could take a number of visits and you do need to allow the time for this.
2. Obtain a catalogue and look at it in the showroom to ensure you can relate what is shown in the photograph to the samples on the wall. You may be charged for the catalogue.
3. Ask if you can have small samples of any mouldings you think may be suitable. There will be a charge for this and it is unlikely that they will be cut while you wait.
4. Unless you really like a challenge, avoid mouldings that have a moulded back edge (below) as they have a tendency to break away at the back when cut. They are also difficult to clamp. Reverse mouldings with a very shallow back edge are impossible to clamp (below). Frames should not need clamping after underpinning, but usually the ones that do need a little help will be either a reverse moulding or a moulding with a complicated back edge.
5. Begin by working with smaller square-backed mouldings and don’t be too ambitious size-wise: mistakes can be costly, and we all make them. You can experiment with larger mouldings and frames as your confidence grows.
6. Always check your moulding for twisting or other damage before you leave the showroom. Few suppliers will accept responsibility after you have left their premises. Remember they are used to dealing with trade customers who write a wastage loss into their prices, and so will not take too kindly to customers who complain because their wood has a knot in it.
7. If your work requires mounting it is quite easy to cut your own samples. A complete range of mount board samples would probably be excessive and suppliers would be reluctant to supply them without charging. Try asking for a colour chart, but bear in mind that each mount board manufacturer will have their own chart.
8. I strongly recommend using a glass merchant – take your frame and backing board with you and get him to cut the glass to size. Picture frame suppliers have glass in 36x48in (92x122cm) sheets, which is very difficult to store safely, and the problem of dealing with the off cuts is best avoided (try feeding your waste into a bottle bank and you will see what I mean!) I will deal with glazing in the final article.

One other little tip, when you are confident with selecting from your catalogue, and have built up a relationship with your supplier, it is a courtesy to telephone before you visit, to allow him time to get your order together.

Moulded back edge
Mouldings with a moulded
back edge have a tendancy
to break when cut

Shallow back edge
Reverse mouldings with a
shallow back edge are
impossible to clamp
 

The full article can be found in the September 2010 issue of The Artist