Corner matching on moulding...

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Garnetta

Garnetta

CGF II, Certified Grumble Framer Level 2
Joined
May 31, 2004
Posts
225
Location
Missouri
We sold a wide frame with a decorative border. Since we order our moulding as chops, we have little control over how the corners match. Yesterday we received the chop for this wide moulding and one of the corners leaves a very thin, sharp sliver of the decorative border which will stick up about 5/16" above the other corner no matter which leg we match it with.

I'm concerned that this thin piece of wood may break off during client transportation. It's also rather sharp.
shrug.gif


Any solutions or information would be greatly appreciated! We've never had this happen before.

Thanks!
Garnetta
 
Many times when chop is ordered there simply isn't enough time left to reorder. Often there will be one corner that is impossible to match even if you cut it yourself. Can you determine if matching this corner would compromise the others?
 
We've tried every corner combination possible and this one corner will stick up and be sharp and weak no matter which combination we use. It just happen to hit at a highest point in the frame's design and the other corners did not.
 
this moulding could have been milled at a different time, you should have the Company check fo you.
There might be some difference in the coloring or new stamping on the back, etc.
 
Quite often it is near impossible to match corners to any degree of satisfaction. Depending on the pattern and finish, I sometimes will carve and then fill with wood putty mixed with glue and then touch up with oil paints mixed with bronzing powders where appropriate. Each situation is unique and takes some experimentation to reach a satisfactory result.

I find the subleties of oil color give better results than using acrylic paints. Also, oil colors do not dry as quickly and are much more forgiving allowing you to wipe off or "muddy around" the tone to get good results. Be sure to allow adequate time (a day or two) before handing the work over to the customer or the oil can rub off easily.

Another trick on many finishes is to use rotten stone dusted onto the touched-up surface and then blown off. This evens the finish to match the rest of the frame and takes away the "wet look".

Resist carving unless absolutely necessary as it is much more difficult to match the finish on raw wood or the composite laminate than to touch up the existing surface and tone the putty filling.

Dave Makielski
 
Never be afraid to ask your vendor to match the corners. We at Gryphon are asked this quite often and are used to it. We normally tell the customer we can get 3 of the 4 corners for sure. We then number the bottom of the corners so they can be matched easily.
 
If the rail on the other side does not have the same problem - wouldn't that mean it was poorly cut? If they could avoid it once, they can do it a second time.

I have to image this is not the same as asking it to be matched. That is beyond just chop service, and it's worth it if you have to pay extra for it.

Gryph - Do you charge more for matched? Don'y you waste moulding to do the match?
 
I used to do this at a vendors place way back when...everyone is correct on the three, but most likely not 4 corners. It can take much more moulding. It is a difficult task for any vendor, if I requested this service I would be willing to pay.
Gryphon do you add a percentage on or do you add a feww extra feet and charge chop price?
Patrick Leeland
 
No I don't charge extra. Its usually just a matter of shifting a cut by a couple inches or so. I have never charged extra to try and match some corners. I feel the extra cost for chop over length should suffice.......Why do I feel like this will come back to haunt me one day? :rolleyes:
 
for those of you who are sewers--as in "sew" not the disposal place--or wallpaper hangers: figure out the repeat of the pattern in the moulding then order the chop according to the length of the repeat then trim as needed on our saw. We often order mor than is needed for this.


Most requested matching corners come from the Roma Elements line and some of the larger==like 3 1/2-5"--profiles for canvases.
 
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