Question Double sided framing of Olympic medals......

[Doug Souza]

I have a couple clients (Husband & Wife) who are both world class Paralympians. They have multiple medals (some gold) that they want me to frame, double sided. The medals have laniards attached and one has a "Baseball card" size card that explains the event on one side and details of the event on the other. I have some ideas but will have to experiment to come up with something acceptable.
Has anyone out there done a double sided frame that can show both sides of these items?

 

[Jim Miller]

Posting photos would help us understand the details of these items. For example, what are the medals' shapes and sizes? How are the lanyards attached?

 

[wpfay]

Hi Doug, and welcome to the G!

Knowing a bit more about the medals would help. Are they uniform in any way, but most importantly thickness?

A press-fit sink mat layered from 2 facing mats and a foam center board would work. The medals would need to be recessed to avoid contact with the glazing. The loop, and lanyard could be accommodated for on one side.

Hanging without securing the medals risks damage to both the medals and the glazing.

I'll be interested in hearing what other solutions there are.

 

[David Hewitt]

Hi Doug,
This could be fun, sharing creative thoughts.
Photos and a bit more info would help. Such as, will they be framed individual or in a group? Will others be added in the future? Table top, or hanging?

 

[GreyDrakkon]

I once asked someone "How often do you think you're actually going to take this down from the wall to look at the opposite side?" Like, realistically, how often does someone do that? Getting a high quality print of the opposite side and framing that alongside the front of the medal might make more sense if you want to actually see what's on the other side at any time. Same goes for the card.

 

[RoboFramer]

I once asked someone "How often do you think you're actually going to take this down from the wall to look at the opposite side?" Like, realistically, how often does someone do that? Getting a high quality print of the opposite side and framing that alongside the front of the medal might make more sense if you want to actually see what's on the other side at any time. Same goes for the card.

Totally agree - sometimes we can allow ourselves to become cabinet makers. Basically we provide a nice thing that can be hung on the wall and admired but what goes on to make it happen can sometimes be challenging, like float mounting etc etc. For a thing that looks like that but then can be turned around and look just the same is a challenge and if it's not a thing you do on a regular basis, well, this is how it would work for me .....

I've not done this before but I have this idea (I do have one actually) I'll have to experiment, that will take time, you will have to pay for that time I'm afraid. I'm thinking $X - a figure that will prove commitment from both sides -

99.9% of my customers would run, for sure, nobody's time wasted. Basically I do not want to do it as I'll probably never have to do it again nor want to, I'll only want to now, if my time is covered (and my hourly rate is actually on a par with your dentist).

I'd offer alternatives like this but also a slipover/slider frame job. Wanna see the other side? Fine, just open it, turn the things around and then close it again - simples (but TBH most my customers wouldn't even want to know the cost of that).

PS.

This is the OP's first ever post in 3.5 years of membership - posted 4 days ago and hasn't been back since - but what the hey - all good stuff for the archives. Would love to see photos and/or diagrams of the perfect solution and have to wonder if they're not here already then ????????

Will the OP make it happen and then maybe share with us a step by step and an amazing revolutiionary method and design.

(NO)

 

[Ylva]

Without photos, it is difficult to give any good feedback. It might be extremely complicated, or it might be somewhat easy.

I too price out these kind of jobs high, as there is so much more labor/time involved. I add time as well for finding a solution. Most customers quickly find that it is 'not that important' to see both sides and a copy/photo is sufficient.

 

[MnSue]

for two sided items, I've also used a mirror to show the back of items in the "front" display

 

[wpfay]

Basically I do not want to do it as I'll probably never have to do it again nor want to, I'll only want to now, if my time is covered (and my hourly rate is actually on a par with your dentist).

But John, It's our custom to develop technologies and skill sets, usually at our own expense, that have no potential future use.

 

[Jim Miller]

...I've not done this before but I have this idea (I do have one actually) I'll have to experiment, that will take time...I'd offer alternatives like this but also a slipover/slider frame job.

It makes sense to avoid wasting time, but I see a difference between time wasted and time invested.

The SlipOver and Slider frame designs were born exactly as you describe..."I have an idea, I'll have to experiment, that will take time..." And so it does. I spent hours on the first of those designs, and lost a bucket of money in the process. Fortunately, all those dozens of subsequent SlipOver/Slider jobs paid quite well, because nobody else in this area could compete with them.

 

[Lori Drugan]

This is the front and back of the gold medal framing I did for Lebron James. I used the same purple suede to cove the back of the frame before attaching the beehive hangers.

 

[Jim Miller]

Nice designs, Lori. How did you attach the medals to the backgrounds?