What Your Frame????

[billiardshot]

I don't know if this been ask!

But how much or what do you spend on picture frame?

Standard or Custom to mounts all these fine photos [memorabilia] we collected over the years?

I figure around $100 so far, myself.

 

[ez2h8]

I used to work for the largest manufacturer of custom picture framing materials and no joke, the nicer moldings, mats and glass, expecially the conservation stuff can get really expensive! Great quality stuff but when I gave quotes for framing jobs I would do afterhours in the warehouse, even with my discount people were floored.

If I could toss out some thoughts.

Where you go and how much you invest should depend on the value of the print, where you are going to hang it and how long you want to keep it. Your chain craft stores always seem to have sales with coupons and have a wide array of options, but the quality of craftsmenship/materials may be lacking-get what you pay for. If you have a print of some value or preservation, I would get a couple quotes from local custom frame shops. And depending on your area, there are usually several to choose from so price shopping can be good.

Frames are always priced by the foot, except readymades(prefab'ed). Metal(aluminum) is always less then wood and if this is going in a nice room, I would suggest wood for the richness it can bring. The wider the wood, the more expensive. Natural wood frames w/o veneers seem to be the less expensive but warpage can happen. Wood veneer frames or gold/finished moldings are higher priced but have less warpage and look great. Some frames are merely laminated paper over wood. Cheap price, but could peal or warp with time. Also consider how you are going to hang it. I have seen some really nice framed pictures get hung with 4 screws right thru the frames into the wall. I guess if you have money to burn or in an enviroment that requires frames to not move, this is ok, but a good hanging kit is wise and structurally safe. Mats, glass and foamboard get just as pricey and complicated especially with conservation materials.

Poster size prints (24x36) being framed with average size wood molding, simple mat and basic glass can run in the area of $150.00-250.00. Metal frames are usually 1/3 to 1/2 that amount.

But, it doesnt hurt to shop around Biglots or other craft stores if you are budget minded. Just thought I would share some of the experience.

ez

 

[JesPiddlin]

Well, for frames, I have to admit I'm a bit cheap. Many of our pics don't stick around in a frame for very long, before we replace them with newer ones. The things we generally keep up on the wall are large, odd-shaped, hand-created items... made by, for, or with the help of our kids or grandkids. (The refrigerator is COVERED!) We're more the family historian types, who keep things of record in top-loading plastic sleeves, inside a 3-ring binder that is easily accessible.

Once in a while, old pics hit the walls here, but generally, the walls carry pics of current family members and they are sometimes changed out as often as the seasons change.

I do have to admit that we spent a little bit on some prints when we bought this house, but we haven't put them on the walls, because we haven't found the perfect frames, yet. Maybe we'll make them, one day.

For those design papers you might want to put in a frame, or for scrapbooks -- especially for pool-related memories -- you could hunt forever for some materials, but we found a place that is trying to build a supply of pool-related scrapbook items. Check out http://scrapbook-store-scrappersaurus.com/biposcit.html These guys are great to deal with. I'm sure they'd be glad to know if you find other billiard-related scrapbook items they might want to carry, too.

 

[mosconiac]

I guess I'm a cheapskate, but I get this fairly nice 8x10 frame from walmart with a semi-gloss black frame & dual (stepped) white mats for $13. I've about a dozen of them and each one has been solid...unlike most cheap frames that literally fall apart.

 

[Snapshot9]

Framing

The only recent frame I had done was a poster size frame for a Pool picture puzzle (put together and glued each piece in by my Niece for Xmas present)
with James Dean, Bogie, Marilyn, and the 3 stooges. I got a bronze Aluminum frame for it precut.

I put Pool pictues in my computer room (2nd bedroom). I still have to get a frame for a 2nd one of James Dean, Bogie, Elvis, and Marilyn.

For a poster size, I would say $30, $40 tops. Wood frames have taken a back seat to the array of other types of frames, like anodized Aluminum frames.

 

[alstl]

I would play safe, go three rails with outside english and put the cue ball behind the 6.

The best place to buy picture frames is at estate sales, especially if you wait till about noon on Sunday when they are practically giving stuff away.