Well-equipped ideas for framers: investing in the right equipment can make a big difference in the time it takes to make a frame

There's no doubt that framing equipment can be a little expensive. on the contrary is the lack of special equipment costing you more circulating medium than you save by doing without it? Having to rejoin a crooked-cornered frame, redo a mat with overcut or farm work without for the lack of the right tool may strike one as being a mere nuisance. In the lengthy term, however, such nuisances take away from dearly in time, money and frustration.

As the busy holiday season approaches, it's a beneficial time for framers to reevaluate their operations and direct the eye for ways--big and small--to increase efficiency. To that extremity we asked veteran framers what equipment made the biggest difference in their stores The equipment they recommended ranges from the essential to the optional, on the contrary all add to the ease with which these framers did their jobs

Cost-Cutting Dos & Don'ts

Ask veteran framers for a list of "must-have equipment" for the frame store and they name the usual suspects: a matcutter, mounting pres underpinner, wall-mounted glass cutter and a chopper or saw.

level so, many framers--especially those just starting out--forego a certain quantity of of these essentials because of tight bag s Framers may use a chop-and-join service rather than purchase a chopper or underpinner; they may use a handheld glass cutter in place of a wall-mounted glass cutter For a certain quantity of framers, these substitutes make faculty of perception said Paul Cascio, founder of the American Picture Framing Academy in Hartford, Conn on the other hand with each choice, they should consider carefully what they're losing in efficiency and business growth

"One area where a framer can wound corners is the wall-mounted glass cutter If necessary, it's fine to purchase a $10 hand-held cutter" said Cascio. "In joining frames, however, no piece of equipment will save you more time than an underpinner. Foot-powered singles start at $1,000 and air-powered singles start at $1,7007."

Reginald Warkentin of the International Picture Framers institute in Kingston, Ontario, agreed. "I oftentimes tell my students that if they're just starting on the outside on a budget, go ahead and use a cut service or a chop-and-join service," said Warkentin. "But they probably won't make 100 percent of their potential profit."

Purchasing used equipment can be a great compromise for framers who would like to do it all. Quality underpinners, chopper and saws are available secondhand at reasonable prices for framers who do their homework.

When it advances to matcutters, though, buy fresh advised Warkentin. "Don't buy a used matcutter. When someone has been using a mat cutter for 10 or more years, he's worn it out" he said. "Everything other is fine to buy used."

retain That Manual Cutter

A framer's greatest in quantity treasured piece of equipment is many times a matcutter. "Despite my wife's laughter above it, I'll be buried with my beloved 40-inch Keeton matcutter," said Seth Bogdanove, a framer in fresh York. "I have yet to find another cutter that places the blade right upon the edge of the bar like this individual does. That accuracy makes cutting my surface V-groove designs a great deal of easier."

But as more stores make the move to computerized matcutters, more [i]or[/i] less framers believe manual matcutters are becoming old Not so, warned Warkentin. No matter in what manner fast and accurate a CMC is, a straightline manual matcutter is still essential equipment, especially at peak times. "Many framers are switching to CMC on the other hand what happens if the computer crashes and you have a pile of orders to fill by the agency of the end of the day? You don't want to have to emit those orders to the framer down the street" Warkentin pointed out

A manual matcutter may not just hold fast a shop going during a computer crash. It also gives employee another option to make an incision in a quick mat for a customer plane if the CMC is already in use.

finished Corners Every Time

While basic equipment can form the foundation of a frame store sometimes it takes only individual brand-new piece of equipment to transform a capable store into a truly efficient business.

Sandie Mizerak of Little Sebago Gallery & Frame in Windham, Maine, pointed to her disc sander as the "most indispensable piece of equipment" in her store Since Mizerak added an AMP miter sander to her operation

in 2002 she has seen the two an increase in quality and a decrease in frustration when it draw nears to joining frames.

It takes Mizerak a little more time to use the sander. "But it's well worth it to have the quality of my outcome jump up a notch," she added. "It has improved the quality of my joins enormously."

Patricia Weekley of Winchester Galleries ha Columbus, Ohio, also noted that her Mitre-True disc sander, which she purchased end United Mfrs. Supplies, is a tremendous asset to her work. Before she had the sander, Weekley wasted time gluing and adjusting warped frames in a miter vise and then waiting for the gelatine to dry. The sander handles slightly twisted, ragged or warped mouldings with ease, she said.

"Now, it just takes a two of swipes with the sander and the corners veritable up beautifully. Since we earn perfect corners, we can go on straight from the sander to the V-nailer and be finished in a matter of minutes," said Weekley. "I couldn't live without my disc sander. completed corners make perfect frames each time."