How do you frame so darn FAST?

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Stay off the Grumble! :D
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;) :D
 
Seriously, I have found that "batching " jobs helps with speed. Blank all the mats and backings, cut all the mats, cut all the glass, join all the frames, do all the fitting - and to get my self motivated for the mornings I lay out frames or matting before I go home to work on when I arrive at work - this way I don't have to muddle around finding stuff in the pre-dawn hours (actually my shop opens at 11AM - I'm just NOT a morning person!).

So that's MY answer: Batch!
 
Originally posted by stshof:
Stay off the Grumble! :D
shutup.gif
;) :D
Click to expand...
Help!! I've fallen <font size=1>into the Grumble</font size=1>, and I can't get up <font size=1>off my hiney and back to work<font size=1>!!
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I'm with Mar.... she's only slightly older, but with some liberty taken I might be "son of a batch"....

OK, seriously.

We do Frame making day. I make all the frames for the week.

Then I'll come in one morning about 6AM and knock out 6-10 fabric mats and liners.

Once we got the CMC... if we have the mat board... the mat is cut BEFORE the order is put away.

Mat board for fabric wrap is cut and order is stacked in the "Fabric" pile.

When the ordered matboard comes in.. the mats all get cut. So when the frames get made (Frame day) they can all be fit.

Batch Batch Batch . . . but never nag.
shutup.gif
:D
 
don't stand around and yak all day to your best friend (who also happens to be your business partner!!)
 
Im with Baer on the matting, although I do it the old fashioned way. If I have the board I cut the window immediatly and put it away with the art. This also reduces measuring errors that would result in a wrong size frame if that were made first.

Yakking is a real issue with me too, although I work alone.... occupational hazard.
 
Best thing we did was to have all due dates fall on saturdays. Our normal turn time is a week from saturday. We can then batch everything but rush jobs. Even making phone calls is batched.

I start buy cutting mats first, chop & join next followed by fitting. I cut the mats first and do my re measure at that time, so if it is wrong the frame is not already cut.
 
Batching ot grouping of certain jobs.

I like to group them so that I don't spend too much time doing any one thing. Jobs with some variety. Keeps me sharp and paying attention. I find I make fewer mistakes. I try to do 3-4 peices at a time. I don't start any job until all of the materials are in. That way I don't have to "learn" the job more than once. I hate when things are half done ,plus when half done things have a better chance of getting damaged or dirty.

I will set a batch of jobs that all require drymouting so I only heat up the press when I have to and then can shut it off when done.

When sizing matboard and backing I cut them at the same time. Can cut double mats blanks by offsetting the bottom board by 1/4-1/2" in the wall cutter. (Manual mat cutting of course)

Will cut all (3-4) frames at once so I don't spend too much time walking back and forth to the saw room.

Oh, and try and stay away from the Grumble.....
 
It would be hard to say which sped me up the most. The Wizard CMC or my Ledsome hydraulic saw with the 120 inch measuring arm or my Seal heat press using SpeedMount and ArtCare Restore or the pneumatic point driver from United or wearing the glass handling gloves from TruVue or the twice a week delivery from my suppliers or, or, or.

I guess the real answer is all of them.
 
I agree that the biggest time saver is "week batching" with a Sat. delivery date. Our shop was so busy on Sats that we couldn't get much back room stuff done on Sats anyways.

The second biggest time saver is tape sealing the glass-art-backing package. Yes it's messy to get back into a sealed package but you will rarely have to. I think it saves more time that it takes.

And.... tape sealing slows down rapid changes in humidity inside the frame resulting is fewer buckled mats and art. The tape also grabs the caca that comes out of the edges of your foam board.

Check out the short article on the FrameTek web pages titled "Stopping the dust pump". There's a very FAST and clever way to align the tape with the edge of the glass quickly and easily.
 
Lisa,
This is a GREAT question. Never thought to ask it, so thanks! It will be good hearing everyone's 'tricks', as some we've already read.

Besides the CMC, I too have found that sealing my frame packages has kept me from having to reopen near-finished items. With low humidity in Az., "debris" just flies!! It is easy to have those foreign objects enter onto a mat when you aren't looking. Since taping, I've NEVER had to take anything apart - that is a huge time saver.

In terms of physical speed, I quickly learned that when I try to "turn up the heat" to increase productivity, it works the opposite. That's when mistakes are made. Seldom do I go that route any more. It's just not worth it.

One thing I need to do is have a trash can at my side at all times. I feel like I waste a lot of time to toss trash; and the can is never close enough!! Hmmmmmmm. Any ideas?????
 
How do I frame so darn fast?

I don't! And that's been a huge problem for me! Thanks for this thread, I'm going to put many of these suggestions to use. I've tried batching stuff, but always seem to go back to the one-at-a-time thing, and chasing my tail. When I can, I do pull matboard and foamcore and cut the outside dimensions and put away with the art.

I just really need more self-discipline/focus.

Danny, I'm a Pepper too, but then, I spend too much time trotting down the hall to the restroom!

Starting today....I will batch my work. I will batch my work. I will concentrate and focus on...<font size=3>Oh look! A bird!!</font size=3>...I will batch my work...
 
Lay out your equipment and stock in a logical order so you don't have to walk back and fore getting stuff. I start at one side of the bench and finish the opposite side, out of the way of my framer on another job and not needing the same equipment as him.

(But I'm always lapping him)

Incontinence pants also mean I can drink as much as I like all day.
 
I have "make the frames day." and then I do each job in it's entirety. Don't "batch" like tasks except the frames. I find it more enjoyable that way.

However, I DO do time studies and keep track of which tool I use the most and in what order. Periodically, I will change where things are kept so the "most frequent" is closest, etc.

The "equipment layout" is also important when possible.
 
Ekwipment layout is a huge help, and space saver as well. If shops are layed out well you go from A to B to C. Too many shops Go A D B C=loose time and money, waste energy and efficiency


PL
 
Since Greg posted in this thread, I'll say that today the thing that saved me the most time in mounting this sheepskin document from the Vatican was using Nori paste for the first time.


Otherwise... the Wizard!
 
Unlike what some have suggested i don't think any one piece of equipment make framing Faster . I think a lot of different piececs do andd the more you have and the better you perfect their use the faster your production will become.

By this I mean some have said CMCs . **** yes that speeds up the mat cutting process once you have profected what ever brands instruction, but what about the Frames. suppose you Bought a really good double mitre saw wouldn't your chopping become faster/ and then don't forget an Underpinner . wouldn't that cut down on the back drilling and putting ?

Every new piece of equipment should increase your production butsome mor than others but all together they contribute equally. Just as being more organized ( e.g. laying out things in advance and batching jobs)

But you still have to perfect these tolls uses and techniques to maimize yourproduction and IMO ther is no ONE magic buy or method.
BUDDY
 
I like Specialty Tapes' "Framers Tape 2" as it won't tear upon removal lkie 3Ms' 810. Both have good acrylic adheisves and both will do the job.

You really should'nt let the adhesive come in contact with the edge of the art as it will probably get gooey and may even discolor the art.

For removal, sometimes its easier to just slit the tape with a razor and then tape over the remnants.

I promise not to tell.
 
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