Bigguns

Marc Lizer

SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
Joined
Jun 28, 1999
Posts
1,545
Loc
North Hollywood, CA
What is the biggest you have done?

Was it a challenge? How did you solve them?

HERE is a recent one we did.

THIS is with a 15 x 18 frame set in front of it.

And for even more scale, THISis with a 26 x 38 map set in front of it.

Large items pose thier own set of problems.

Recently we did a job at City Hall, where we built and installed on site.

C'mon folks. Share your horror stories.
 
I also thought it fair, since you saw the Biggun frame being made with the Ledsome vice, you would want to keep me honest, and see the frame was being used on a job, and not just a plug.

HERE is the finished frame, before fitting.

And
IMG_1387.JPG
this is the after. If you want to see a super large version click HERE.

We actually did 2 of the gold style. We also did 3 in THIS style. Click HERE for a large version of the same.

It is an edition of 29 pieces. On the gold one the glass size is 36 x 46, and the outside edge of the frame comes to 48 x 58, and weighs 30 lbs total. The Black ones are the same ID, and about 3 inches smaller OOD.
 
The week I opened, many years ago, when I knew little about framing, a man came in with the Lord's Prayer in crochet. Sure, I can frame it, couple of hundred bucks. A week of invention later it was in a frame 45 x 93 inches with mats glass etc. I had just hired a woman that had never framed anything before this piece and it took the 2 of us just about all week to figure it out and finish it. I made a stretcher frame and stretched canvas over it. We then put this across saw horses and with one of us on the floor under it and the other pushing the needle down from above we spent about 10 hours sewing the crochet to the canvas. Next the mats which were spliced out of 4 sheets for each of the 2 colors. Then I had to get the glass shop to deliver the glass as I couldn't carry it. Not too much trouble after this - 3 inch oak frame and assembly. Went to the sailboat supply shop for some rigging wire to hang it. It looked great!

- I learned a lot on this job
- The lady I hired became one of the best framers I've ever come across
- Although I carged about 10% of a realistic charge for this job, the customer went crazy at the price and threatened to sue me. The man then donated it to his church and told the congregation he had spent thousands to get it framed. On the way home from church he had a heart attack and died.
- the frame still hangs in the church and so I occaisionally go to church to see it
- the next year another member of the church brought the 23rd Psalm to be framed to match - when I told him the "new" price he declined and this one is now stapled to the wall in a corner of the church.
- I often wish I knew a bit about conservation framing back in those days - the canvas backing should be OK - there's no wood within 3 inches of the crochet - the paper mats are 2 inches away from the crochet - no glue - and it doesn't touch the glass. I've been tempted to reframe it but....
 
Largest so far was a French advertising poster. The acrylic glazing measured 48"x121 1/2" (portrait). I made the frame from various raw mouldings that I bought from Xylo (frame width 4 1/2"), and had a friend of mine that owns a cabinet shop paint it with a piano-black finish. Usd a fabric-wrapped liner mat and pieced together 4-ply rag for a mount board.
It hangs from a specially designed cleat in an open staircase. Probably weighs 150 lbs.

When installing it, I had it laying flat on the floor in the entry of the client's home when their 2 year old ran in the room and jumped up landing squarely on the acrylic. No harm done, but the adrenaline was pumping for a few minutes.
 
One of the luxuries of working alone is I can turn down certains types of jobs without feeling guilty. Before I had that luxery, I framed two quilts. One finished off about 4 x 8 feet and the other was about 6 x 10 feet. We framed them in the shop, disassembled them completely and then reassembled the pieces at the site. Coincidently, both employees who helped with these installations were gone within weeks of completion. I think one of them entered a convent.

I almost quit myself.
 
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