Thread: Best place to buy picture framing supplies please

I frame things a bit and usually go to a wholesaler but occasionally I need something I dont normally use and get it from a local framer - maybe ask them?

There's a big frame shop I used to go to when I lived in Sydney

Its on Chapel st Roselands, I bought mattes from them, not sure of the range of other stuff they sell but they would be worth a try

Hodgo

My sources are:

Glass - glazier, specify that you want picture glass and not window glass.

Other stuff - art supplies shop.

Frame moldings​ - sawmill (mainly), picture framer, or Bunnings/M10 (rarely).

Thanks Graeme.

By glazier...you just contact your local retail glazier and order the glass, cut to size?

I ask because I've found I can get all the other bits here and there but glass seems to be some secret trade that only retail framers can access.


Cheers.

Originally Posted by GraemeCook

My sources are:

Glass - glazier, specify that you want picture glass and not window glass.

Other stuff - art supplies shop.

Frame moldings​ - sawmill (mainly), picture framer, or Bunnings/M10 (rarely).

When I did a bit of framing, I used to take the finished frame/s to the local glass place and they would cut the glass to fit.

My experience with glaziers is that you have to call around - most wont stock 2mm glass/art glass as most of their work is in the contruction industry

If you have the means to cut glass yourself, you could try frame manufacturers. In melbourne APM moulding (picture framing wholsaler) has a framing/art business called chamton and they will sell you glass - maybe there is the equivalent of that in sydney

Another option is 3mm acrylic, which is what is used anyway for really large prints. Then you can cut that easily with a tracksaw/tablesaw/panel saw.

Originally Posted by qwertyu

My experience with glaziers is that you have to call around - most wont stock 2mm glass/art glass as most of their work is in the contruction industry

If you have the means to cut glass yourself, you could try frame manufacturers. In melbourne APM moulding (picture framing wholsaler) has a framing/art business called chamton and they will sell you glass - maybe there is the equivalent of that in sydney

Another option is 3mm acrylic, which is what is used anyway for really large prints. Then you can cut that easily with a tracksaw/tablesaw/panel saw.

Yeah none of the local glazing shops stock an art glass. One even said ‘it’s just the same thing’ (meaning as ordinary glass)! The Central Coast is not a good place to buy anything specialised.

I am interested in your comment about using an acrylic, though, as I’m worried about the weight of these. Do acrylics rival glass in terms of optical qualities ?

I worked at a picture framer for some years. We used to buy most materials from

Picture Frame Supplier & Framing Supplies | Antons

but I doubt they would deal direct with small home operators. A lot of items like foamboard had to be purchased by the box too, but I think we bought mat boards by the sheet. Frame mouldings by the stick.

I forget where we got our 2mm glass from, but most of it comes from China these days. As well as standard clear 2mm, there are a whole bunch of UV filtering and non-reflective options to choose from. Acrylic was reserved for VERY large items where glass would be too heavy/dangerous or impossible to get in the required sheet size. For example, I've framed stuff that was 1m x 3m.

The problem with acrylic (compared to glass) is static. When putting the thing together, you peel off the protective plastic film and then have very little time to get everything together before it starts attracting dust. Once this starts it is almost impossible to remove, and the longer you take the worse it gets.

Acrylic can have very good clarity, but still not as good as glass. I don't remember what grade of acrylic we used (possibly from Antons?)

Antons Clear Acrylic 40" x 60" - 3mm

There was a special scoring blade to fit framing glass cutters that was used for acrylic. It created a deep cut, then bend to snap cleanly along the line. If you cut it on a saw you will get tiny particles stuck all over the acrylic due to static, which will cause problems down the track.

Frankly, I hated using the stuff (and that's at a framing factory with all the right gear for the job). I think the 3mm could be purchased in sheets up to 3m long x 1.2m.

I can't speak for NSW. although in SA most framers will sell mouldings, Glass, acid free foam board etc. General glass retailers seem to have no clue, mention Museum Glass and you just get a blank stare.
I produce my own moulding, but the other stuff I don't use enough of to buy wholesale, items like foam board, sheets of mat board, acid free tape, can be sourced from Art supplies as well.
As for Acrylic I don't use it and it is very unlikely that I ever will.

As I'm sure you're aware, there is a massive markup on picture framing ! OK, the framing factory had to spend a fair few $$$ on decent dropsaw, V-nailer, mat cutter (even a manual one, let alone computer-controlled), and glass cutter.

Cost of materials for an A3-size picture, single mat, would be unlikely to exceed $20-25 in total (depending on frame moulding chosen). If I worked just on one picture, the job would take no more than a total of 30 mins for all operations from go to whoa @ $25/hour labour cost.

Selling price would have been somewhere in the range A$110-150 for something that size.

Framing shops started to lose a lot of business when you could buy framed prints in places like IKEA (albeit with a very limited selection of frame mouldings like the basic 20mm black/white square) for a fraction of the price of custom framing, then change out the artwork for your own. Of course, there is still plenty of market for unusual/complex framing jobs involving floating mounts, box frames, or even mounting sports memorabilia such as signed shirts, etc.

Easiest way to get glass would be to do everything else yourself, measure up the size, and just get a framing place to cut glass and foamcore to size for you. Bought in bulk, the 2mm framing glass from China was incredibly cheap.

Professional point guns used to secure everything in the frame aren't that expensive on eBay, and acid-free tape can be bought as needed.

Originally Posted by Hodgo

There's a big frame shop I used to go to when I lived in Sydney

Its on Chapel st Roselands, I bought mattes from them, not sure of the range of other stuff they sell but they would be worth a try

Hodgo

Yep, they are good.
Looks like I’ll be buying some of what I need there.
Thanks for the recommendation.