How would you handle this?

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FraminGal

CGF II, Certified Grumble Framer Level 2
Joined
Apr 24, 2002
Posts
376
Loc
Pittsfield, MA - The Berkshires
I put a bid in on a large job. A total of 80 mirrors, two sizes, 40 pcs. each. I don't have the measurements with me here at home but the larger of the two is approx. 30x56. I've been going over the logistics of this project. Here are some of my thoughts & ideas and if you have any personal experience, ideas or advise I would love to hear it. Here is how I currently plan on handling this job. Have the mirrors delivered to my home garage because if they are delivered to my frame shop on a palet(s) they wouldn't fit through my door. I would then make the frame at the shop, bring the frames to my house and assemble there. The previous owner of my shop is going to help me and others. I figure each mirror will take about 20-30 minutes to assemble. I can then easily load my rental truck with finished mirrors. Any suggestions on how to protect cargo during 6 mile ride? My computer geek husband can get me 200 styro corners from work but I'll probably need more protection. I thought about delivering the mirrors late at night to avoid traffic, insane drivers, etc.

Any ideas welcome.
 
Judy -
Since you're renting a truck, I would recommend you rent the padded furniture wraps as well. It might be over-kill, but I would also protect the mirrors w/ cardboard or foamcore to prevent any scratching or breakage. For overall protection you might want to wrap each frame w/ a cardboard
covering. The amount of protection depends on how well you drive & road conditions
 
I'm just thinking outloud here..........I can't offer any opinion on what to do. I'm just thinking it looks like a logistical nightmare. Transporting huge frames from the shop to home and then to their ultimate destination? Do you have adequate space at home to assemble these? Did you factor the additional costs of transport and packing materials?

I'm only asking because I have been picking some brains on attempting to get corporate accounts and I wonder how you arrive at the prices when you bid on a job. It seems like a lot more than a cut and dried framing job. I would be afraid of underbidding so I would want to consider all these logistics before bididng.

Like I said, just thinking outloud, good luck!
 
FraminGal,

Are you pretty comfortable with the specifics of fitting an individual mirror of that size? E.g. painting the inside of the frame lip so the raw wood doesn't reflect from the back of the mirror? Cushioning the back of the mirror with Coroplast or fomecore? Attaching a sheet of MDF, masonite or plywood to add structural support, if needed? Installing adequate hanging hardware? Are you using 1/4" plate? (I hope so.)

You probably know all about this but, if not, you'll want to get that out of the way before worrying about the logistics of quantity and transportation. I just finished ONE mirror a bit bigger than the size you mentioned and I was darned happy to see it leave the shop in one piece.
 
Well, I must say that this isn't going to be the pot of gold I originally thought but I am making a profit. I'm competing with out of state suppliers who probably do nothing but large commercial orders. I've discovered that with any large order it is low price, high quantity vs. higher price, a few pcs. This is only the first 80. Hopefully, there will two more orders of 80 for a total of 240. I will probably learn a lot the first 80.
 
When I transport framed art or mirrors I just use cardboard corners held on with a couple of wraps of 5" stretch wrap. When I load the truck I stand them upright face to face, back to back, with a sheet of cardboard every 4th piece or so and tie them in place. If the truck is large and rough riding I may lay some padding on the floor, floor mats like you use in the shop to pad your poor overworked feet work well. Never had a problem so far and I've transported a lot of stuff.

Is the 30x56 the outside dimension of the frame or the glass dimension? If outside then 3/16" glass may be heavy enough depending on the frame. I've actually have used 1/8 glass on pieces larger than that and had no problem. Of course you need at least 3/16 if you have a bevel. I also prefer to use a 3X board or the like rather than foamcore to back up the mirror. Oh, and use LOTS of framers points like every 1" or so. The reason is people tend to push pretty hard on a mirror as they clean it, much harder than when they clean a picture, and they clean them much more often.
If I was going to be doing a whole lot of these (like you're planning on) I would build an upright fitting table in my garage so the bottom of the piece would sit on a ledge a little lower than waist height or so and lean slightly away from me at the top. Basically a 4x8 sheet of 3/4 plywood screwed to the wall at the top and wedged out about 8" at the bottom with a 3" lip on the bottom to set your frame on. This will really save your back. Investing in a couple of glass cups wouldn't hurt either. 8" ones run about $50 each.

As far as finishing the back, if the frame is light weight I would use 1/8" luan plywood glued and stapled on. If the frame is strong enough by itself I would just finish off with tape, not paper, paper tends to tear with the kind of handling you're going to be doing. 3 hole D-rings or Wall Buddies should be enough for these small mirrors. (Yes, I really do consider 30x56 a small mirror!). When hanging I would use mollys (the metal expanding type).
 
Another tip………have your local timber yard/store cut the MDF or whatever backing you are going to use, my local timber supplier in Dublin will cut 8 x 4 ft 3mm MDF to the sizes I require for about 50 cent per cut/piece that require……………..ok I takes me about an hour and a half of a round trip to collect the cut pieces…………if I were to spend the time cutting this myself I guess I would spend over 2 or 3 hours doing the job myself and what a mess…………I have found that with my small set up that when I want compete for contract work (in Ireland over 30/40 pieces would be considered contract) if I out source most of the cutting/preparation and only make the frame shell I can generally compete with the bigger commercial houses……..so I only end up doing the assembly not the most exciting thing in the world……….yet I can generally turn a decent profit on this sort of work.......sometimes better than custom work……….remember there is a smaller pool of suppliers/framers willing to take on this type of framing work………….not everyone will take on 80 pieces.

For transport use cardboard corners……….if you haven’t got a supply of them get a roll of corrugated and shape and fold the corners from a blank sheet of corrugate………..it will take you a few minutes to work out how to fold the first few but then you will fly through them.

For painting the inside of the rabbit get yourself a few BIG felt markers that the guys who make hand posters use………the sort of posters you see in supermarkets………a office supply business will have them or I have seen them in the Viking Direct Catalogue.

Good luck with the project…………..there is money to be made on this sort of work if you plan it well…….you are right treat the first one as a learning curve …………..the next few will be a piece of cake……………sorry one last thing moving 80 mirrors of this size is going to take some work………..you have to load them………..aaaaaaaaaaaand then unload them.

All the best

Dermot

[ 05-25-2003, 10:31 AM: Message edited by: Dermot ]
 
Oh yeah...it's a good idea to make a couple of extra just in case. At least order extra mirrors, they're easy to chip or scratch.
One of the reasons I like using 1/8" luan plywood is you can cut it on your wall cutter. It takes a couple of strokes with your mat cutter blade is all.
 
If I was you, I'd be praying someone else gets the bid. If you are not set up for that type of work you could end up losing money on that order plus any profitable ones that may have come in the door. Good luck to you whatever the outcome.
 
Don't forget to have the load in the truck balanced equally on each side of the cargo area. Proper cargo straps will hold the mirrors in place to avoid shifting in case of an emergency stop or turn.

This is the method I use when we deliver framed art for a home builder in my E-150 van. I installed rings into the frame on both sides to use as anchers for the cargo straps.

BTY, the floor is carpeted.
 
Let's be positive!! I recently framed a 4'x7' beveled mirror, 2 4'x5' beveled mirrors and a couple of 24"x30" mirrors for an Inn that is being renovated. Logistics are not as difficult as you think, once you plan it out - this was my first order like this, and it went well. I just dove in and made quite a lot of money off each mirror and would love to do it again ;) . I ordered mirrors from FMI at very good prices.

1) assembling mirrors of this size: I set up a workspace in the downstairs garage of my framing studio. First, I used solid wood doors that we had as the backdrop for assembly at a 15 degree angle, lined it with carboard from the mirror shipment - this was my assembly area. The floor was antifatique mats to rest everything on.

2) frame assembly - we assembled the frames in the upstairs studio and carried them down to the assembly area (2 of us); blackened the insides, etc.

3) all tools required were brought to the work area

4) time to assemble - it took a little longer than I originally thought to assemble, but I had padded the number so I was okay. I decided on using offset clips because of the size of the mirrors - predrill, drill, etc., used the carboard that came with the mirror that was the exact size inside as filler instead of the foamboard I had quoted, we covered the backs with black backing paper.

5) delivery - we rented a uhaul to transport approximately 40 miles away. we used additional antifatique mats on the floor of the uhaul, cardboard corners on the corners, blankets covering the mirror and cardboard to cushion inbetween. We then strapped them in to hold them tight from movement. Everything traveled well and was delivered successfully.

This job was a challenge the first time, but I would love to do more jobs like it! It was not as difficult as I first anticipated and helped our numbers for the month in what seems to be a slow period here for framing.

If you have any questions, you may email me or call me.

my 2 cents!
:D
Elaine
 
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