La Galleria-una problema...

[Katie]

Bella! Roma moulding 8453 Purple Plum has this great finish, it's a rubbed finish that comes off rather easily. Any suggestions on how to replace what was removed when the corners were wiped of glue? I may just have to take a lightly damp cloth to the rest of the frame to make it all match. Rottenstone won't work either. I called Roma, but they didn't have an answer. !Un error deplorable!

[Frank Larson]

I have on occassion mixed Mat Magic powders and rottenstone or whatever (dirt?) to try and match the "patina" when I've wiped it off the corners before. If I get close enough I'll slop it all over the frame so it all matches. Good luck!

[jframe]

Katie,

I'll try to keep it short. Get some paste furniture wax, Minwax is good. Spoon some out on a piece of glass, a tablespoon or so to start, depending on the size of your job.

Mix some oil paint in the desired shade, then add a little, I mean LITTLE of it to the was and mix, mix, mix with a pallette knife until it is completely mixed and creamy. Is it the right color? Don't add too much paint, it will take too long to dry. You'll get the hang of it.

Brush, stiple, or use a cloth to apply it to the frame, you'll get the hang of what you like to apply it with (sometimes you'll want to gob it on, just takes longer to dry).

Let it dry a little, then buff with a soft cloth. For a matte look, don't buff too much, for a soft shine, keep buffing lighty. I've done this on many, many, too many Roma's that didn't match the sample. It dries to a hard finish and can be removed with mineral spirits etc.

There is a lot of "getting the hang of it" in this, but you'll use it over and over once you try it.

Jo

[JRB]

We are removing ALL of Romas acid wash finishes from our sample wall. The quality has degraded to the point that even they seem to have no clue as to what it is supposed to look like. They seem to be selling the heck out of it and I can't understand how.

What Roma ships as compared to their corner samples is ridicules, the only thing the actual moulding and the corner sample have in common is the shape of it. I talked to one of their managers yesterday and was told they don't use a master sample set at their factory. Well, that is obvious. He said they have no control over the outcome of an acid wash finish. He said even their corner samples that they ship out to frame shops had a huge variation in the colours to the point they look like totaly different finishes.

The last two orders we have recieved from Roma had to be completly re-finished to match the sample the customer chose. This stuff ain't cheap to begin with, then to have to lose several more hours trying to match the finish is just plain wrong.

This is frusterating for me because I have always considerd Roma as one of the premier moulding manufactures and distributers. I have never had any problems with any of their finishes and availability untill recently. Now the finishes have gone downhill and they are out of stocking items to boot. It seems like they are outsourcing to the lowest bidder. The manager I talked with denied that, but did say they are having serious quality problems at the manufacturing level.

John

[Emibub]

You guys are making me nervous, I've made a pretty heavy commitment to Roma on my wall. I've only had it up since February, I have sold one La Galleria and it wasn't a perfect match but it was good. I've been telling the customers the variance can be big since they are acid washed. I'm stressing the feel of the style as opposed to the color. I am very trepadacious (Sp)? selling them. I was warned by the sales rep that there can be a huge difference. I chose to put them on the wall because they are cool. I guess I didn't get any glue on the surface of mine,(lucky). Good luck.

Kathy
Out on a Whim Custom Framing

[lise]

It's not the original La Galleria that has the problems with the finish wiping off. The original multi-layered acid wash with gold leaf is a much more superior moulding than the newly released 8400 and 8500 series. But you do get what you pay for. The 8500 series is hot now for people who want the acid washed finish without the gold leaf price. There is an obvious difference in appearance though.
What we've found is that the machine finished series is consistent while the genuine leafed series can be quite varied although the basic colour base is there. People just have to be told that these frames are a work of art in itself and like original art, there will be some vaiations.