Question Gotta Question on shadow boxes?

[Modigity]

Hey guys and gals I am making a shadowbox (and have never really made one) I am framing a handmade white clay Pipe given to my great grandfather by an Indian for a ride to town nearly 100 years ago. Just wondering how to fix the glass so it stays in place and how would you attach to backing? I was thinking of using white coated wire thru the backing.

 

[FramerDave]

1. Mounting the pipe: Mylar strips

2. Glass: Line the sides of the shadowbox with foam core and mat strips attached with dots of glue.

3. Purchase Jim Miller's book on object framing.

4. Profit.

 

[Modigity]

Tried to buy that book and one other on shadow boxes but they were sold out. Gonna try again soon.

 

[FrameMakers]

First off, make sure to cut the glass fairly tightly to the frame. Check the width of the rabbet and line the sides of the frame with FC & matboard or 2 layers of matboard if the rabbet is thin. Make sure that you can not see the core of the board from the front of the frame. I use a combination of ATG & glue to hold the sides in place.

The backing also needs to be cut pretty tight to the frame. As to mounting the pipe, each project is a bit different but mylar strips are a good start. Bent tubing is another that may be appropriate.

 

[CAframer]

Or for a more elegant look use a tall hand wrapped liner in place of the matboard/foam wall spacers. Frank's X (scoop) and NN (angular) profiles work great. The nice thing about the NN profile is that it can be easily ripped to reduce the height if desired.

A liner tends to run the eye into the image/object rather than the straight sides of a matboard spacer.

Here's an example that illustrates this approach - in this case NN profile ripped to 1.3/4" before being wrapped in Tivoli Cream, the same as the mount board(s).

Another approach is to float a window mat above the mountboard. Here's an example of that approach on a RedBull jersey:

And another one on a collection of old coins and rocks. This one uses a floated hand-wrapped rabbetless liner in place of a mat:

As an added bonus, using a liner or a floated mat also makes it easier to change the glass if ever needed!

 

[Jim Miller]

Tried to buy that book and one other on shadow boxes but they were sold out. Gonna try again soon.

If you are a member, the PPFA Bookstore offers discounts on books, including THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SHADOWBOXES AND FRAMING OBJECTS.

If PPFA does not have the book, then you can buy it from the publisher, Hobby Publications/Picture Framing Magazine Here.

Or you could email the author at artframe@att.net.