picture frame tools, a question

[reible]

I just finished putting a picture in a store bought frame as a gift for a granddaughter who just had a birthday. My photo and I'm thinking that it should have been my frame as well.

I've made frames before, none in the last while however. No problem with the cutting or fitting but two issues came to mind while working on the frame today.

First they used a special fastener at the joints, not something I've ever tried or worked with. It appears to be called a "V"-nail at Rockler. They have two version of installing them:

http://www.rockler.com/ezy-framer-v-nai ... ation-tool

And this:

http://www.rockler.com/pushmaster-pictu ... joiner-kit

So the first thing I'm interested in is about this type of system, like do you have one? How do you like it? Have something better you would like to share?

[BTW I'm working on next years budget which starts in Dec.]

Next up was the frame I was working on used points to hold the picture in place. It turned out I had run out of the version I normally use that you shove in with a screw driver or stiff scraper so I had to re-use the ones they had put in. That did not go as well as I would have liked, well at least that part is up against the wall and not seen....

Since I was at the Rockler site I found these two tools:

First was this expensive one:
http://www.rockler.com/frame-master-point-driver

then this less expensive but cheaper looking one:

http://www.rockler.com/framers-pliers

Same sort of questions, do you have one or simular, how do you like it, and would you sugjest something else?

Ed

[cincinnati]

Never used any tool in the link below but Lee Valley has a few options.

http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.a ... 3293,51854

http://www.leevalley.com/en/home/Search.aspx?action=n

[algale]

Ed,

I used the v nail drivers like the ones pictured when I was working in the framing department of my college art museum. I have something like it now but I can't get at it because of some remodeling going on in the basement. They work quite well for smaller frames. You don't want to use one, however, to put together wide/heavy frame stock or a large fame with a heavy piece of glass in it.

The point driver I used was like the framer's pliers in Ed's second picture. Worked well. Also drove brads, as I recall.

Al

[reible]

Never used any tool in the link below but Lee Valley has a few options.

http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=51854&cat=1,43293,51854

http://www.leevalley.com/en/home/Search.aspx?action=a&pb=1&ap=1#start

Thanks the first link to the interesting hammer. Might just look at that first as I can see it having other uses too.

Have a problem with the second link... could you please check and if needed repair it?

Ed

[reible]

Thanks for the reply.

What I'm looking for at this point woud be to make frames for pictures I take that I think are special, or ones that make the cut for wider distribution (been on TV or picked up online).

I've picked a photo size of 11" x 14" and I do want glass in the frame. The frame is going to be a holder more then a decortive feature. Most likely painted in a simi-mat finish or left natural.

Total weight would be in the 2 to 3 pound range and always with narrow width pieces of say no more the 1-1/2". Nominal thickness of about 3/4".

I think this is would be called "small" in your terms?

Ed

Ed,

I used the v nail drivers like the ones pictured when I was working in the framing department of my college art museum. I have something like it now but I can't get at it because of some remodeling going on in the basement. They work quite well for smaller frames. You don't want to use one, however, to put together wide/heavy frame stock or a large fame with a heavy piece of glass in it.

The point driver I used was like the framer's pliers in Ed's second picture. Worked well. Also drove brads, as I recall.

Al

[algale]

Thanks for the reply.

What I'm looking for at this point woud be to make frames for pictures I take that I think are special, or ones that make the cut for wider distribution (been on TV or picked up online).

I've picked a photo size of 11" x 14" and I do want glass in the frame. The frame is going to be a holder more then a decortive feature. Most likely painted in a simi-mat finish or left natural.

Total weight would be in the 2 to 3 pound range and always with narrow width pieces of say no more the 1-1/2". Nominal thickness of about 3/4".

I think this is would be called "small" in your terms?

Ed

Yes, Ed, that size should be fine for a v nail joined frame. By the way, I looked at the links again and the one I currently own is the Ezy-Framer V Nail tool in your first link. I used it quite a bit back when I first got it and went about framing things around the house but I haven't used it in about 5 years. Now go find yourself a Lion Mitre Trimmer and you will be popping frames out in no time. That's what we used at the museum to cut all the frame stock. I've got my grandfather's (they used it to cut moulding in his furniture factory). Amazing tool.

[cincinnati]

Second link fixed.
Just a mix of tools used for picture framing.

[reible]

Second link fixed.
Just a mix of tools used for picture framing.

Thanks!

I'm a big fan of Lee Valley BTW.

Ed

[bffulgham]

I've got one of the Fletcher Frame Masters and absolutely love it. I got mine 8 or 9 years ago from Dick Blick Art Supplies, a very reputable company.
Their price is much less than Rockler's...at least for now.

An added benefit of the Frame Master is that you can also get Glaziers points if you need to replace window panes in traditional wood frames.

If you are going to mounts lots of pictures into frames, I'd vote for the Frame Master.

[berry]

I have one of those framers pliers, but I didn't get it from Rockler. I found it worse than useless. Maybe it was the brand I bought? The two ends didn't line up exactly, I couldn't exert much force and eventually the tool broke.

I purchased it for glass stops on a wine cabinet door. I ended up using brads, a tack hammer and a piece corrugated cardboard. Pre-drilled the glass stops, slid the hammer on the cardboard and drove in the brads through the glass stops into the rails/stiles of the door.