F
framer
Guest
With biz a little soft I took in a couple of puzzles last week. I never do puzzles. Now I got one stuck to my drymount press. GRRRRRRRRRRRRR.............
K
Kit aka emrr
Guest
BUMMER! I suppose you could find the same puzzle and assemble it - how much time have you got? Rubbermaid sells a teflon pot scraper that works great for getting gunk off of the press - doesn't scratch.
Good luck and deepest sympathy. Kit
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Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana
Good luck and deepest sympathy. Kit
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Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana
Framer:
Do you have a plan for recovery, or are you looking for ideas? If the latter, tell us more...Is the puzzle face stuck to the platen, did some drymount film get into the wrong place, or what?
I once had a puzzle face stick to the platen of my drymount press. The customer had applied "Puzzle Preserver" or the like to it. I believe that is a latex-based clear paint, and probably is heat-sensitive. Anyway, I was able to peel it off the platen after it cooled.
Good luck
Do you have a plan for recovery, or are you looking for ideas? If the latter, tell us more...Is the puzzle face stuck to the platen, did some drymount film get into the wrong place, or what?
I once had a puzzle face stick to the platen of my drymount press. The customer had applied "Puzzle Preserver" or the like to it. I believe that is a latex-based clear paint, and probably is heat-sensitive. Anyway, I was able to peel it off the platen after it cooled.
Good luck
F
framer
Guest
I'm sure it was Puzzle Preserver. I wasn't thinking when I put it in, cheap job and in a rush. I got it off, thanks Dupont for teflon coated plates. It wasted about an hour of time. I'd rather be goofing off.
I really didn't want to do them in the first place. But the customer said they were the last things She and her husband did before he past away. So softy me took them in. I need to go check in at the warped moulding forum, maybe the doctors in....
NO MORE PUZZLES!!!!!!!
[This message has been edited by framer (edited May 03, 2001).]
I really didn't want to do them in the first place. But the customer said they were the last things She and her husband did before he past away. So softy me took them in. I need to go check in at the warped moulding forum, maybe the doctors in....
NO MORE PUZZLES!!!!!!!
[This message has been edited by framer (edited May 03, 2001).]
ChrisW
CGF, Certified Grumble Framer
We do lots of puzzles.
We laminate them with satinex in our vaccum press and then drop them in a nice wide high end moulding ( hopefully ). The v-press sucks the film down into the puzzle cracks and makes a great texture to the finish.
Did the first one about 8 years ago as an experiment and still use it as a sample. It was a disney 101 Dalmations puzzle and we NEVER wanted to do it again.
The satinex gives the pieces a nice sheen but the groves are shiney. An excellent effect, try one, you'll like it.
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Wal-mart...the Ferengi of our times.
We laminate them with satinex in our vaccum press and then drop them in a nice wide high end moulding ( hopefully ). The v-press sucks the film down into the puzzle cracks and makes a great texture to the finish.
Did the first one about 8 years ago as an experiment and still use it as a sample. It was a disney 101 Dalmations puzzle and we NEVER wanted to do it again.
The satinex gives the pieces a nice sheen but the groves are shiney. An excellent effect, try one, you'll like it.
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Wal-mart...the Ferengi of our times.
Audrey Levins
MGF, Master Grumble Framer
I've got a beef with puzzles, and it has nothing to do with their annoying, crackly finish...LOL It has to do with the fact that 90% of the people who bring in a puzzle are looking for cheap artwork...."Oh, we had such fun assembling it, and now we have a free poster for our wall!"
And because most puzzles are poster-size, and require spacers and/or a topmount, and a moulding deep enough to hold it all, they freak out over the price and start whining that it's "just a puzzle!!!" I told a woman flat-out that if she didn't separate her puzzle from the glass, it would almost inevitably adhere to it, and she said she didn't care, so I had her sign a waiver to that effect just to get her out of my hair.
Problem is, I've seen a lot of "worthless" puzzles become treasures once someone is grown/moved away/passed away, and the customer who did them on the cheap now wants me to somehow salvage the job. Drives me nuts.
I'm with Framer. I HATE PUZZLES.
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I don't care what color your sofa is.
And because most puzzles are poster-size, and require spacers and/or a topmount, and a moulding deep enough to hold it all, they freak out over the price and start whining that it's "just a puzzle!!!" I told a woman flat-out that if she didn't separate her puzzle from the glass, it would almost inevitably adhere to it, and she said she didn't care, so I had her sign a waiver to that effect just to get her out of my hair.
Problem is, I've seen a lot of "worthless" puzzles become treasures once someone is grown/moved away/passed away, and the customer who did them on the cheap now wants me to somehow salvage the job. Drives me nuts.
I'm with Framer. I HATE PUZZLES.
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I don't care what color your sofa is.
Jean McLean
CGF, Certified Grumble Framer
I slid a small 16 x 20 puzzle onto Bainbridge's new adhesive mount foamboard leaving 4" around it for the mat. It came out beautiful and did not need lamination. I banged it and hit it and none of the puzzle let go. We double matted it with the top mat raised so it does not touch the glass. It was nice and I feel that it can be easily reversed if the customer chooses. Does anyone know if this will eventually let go when exposed to summer humidity, etc. Has this adhesive foamboard been out long enough to trust it?
Janet L
SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
I hate framing puzzles too. As Audrey pointed out, the customer is looking for CHEAP "art?" for their walls. You get the deposit, do the job, and you can then count the months till the customer will come back in to pick up the job...AND this IS NOT a job that you can put out with a price tag to recoup your loses. There are not very many people who will rush in to purchase that puzzle in your showroom window! (Not to mention that I wouldn't even want to put a puzzle in our window!)
I've got a framed puzzle, framed back in November, still waiting for it's owner to come in and pick it up. Numerous calls and conversations with the customer. She'll be in on blah, blah, blah. Balance on the puzzle is $56.
Hey FRAMER, maybe the puzzle I've got is the same one you fried! Describe yours, and if the piece fits...it's yours!
Janet
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How cheap do you want it to look?
I've got a framed puzzle, framed back in November, still waiting for it's owner to come in and pick it up. Numerous calls and conversations with the customer. She'll be in on blah, blah, blah. Balance on the puzzle is $56.
Hey FRAMER, maybe the puzzle I've got is the same one you fried! Describe yours, and if the piece fits...it's yours!
Janet
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How cheap do you want it to look?
po' framer
MGF, Master Grumble Framer
The framers in the area must all hate puzzles because we seem to get a bunch and accept them with a smile.
Laminate while mounting, put a nice moulding and liner together.... Never a question, never a problem with payment yet, happy customers because they found some place who did just what they wanted and found a way (with the laminate) to save them some money.
wham bam ka-ching!
Laminate while mounting, put a nice moulding and liner together.... Never a question, never a problem with payment yet, happy customers because they found some place who did just what they wanted and found a way (with the laminate) to save them some money.
wham bam ka-ching!
Audrey Levins
MGF, Master Grumble Framer
Hey Janet--
You should have a "Puzzling Postscript" on your order form stating that all puzzles require full payment beforehand....
My boss requires full payment at the time of purchase, period. Unless it's a regular customer, or a corporate account that needs to get a corporate check issued for the amount.
People often whine about the full payment, and I always smile, and point to the bins under the counter and in the back, and say, "I know, it does seem ridiculous to imagine, but some people don't come back for it even when they've already PAID for it!"
Which is true. Our bins are overflowing with orders that are already paid for; a few are over a year old.
Most people understand; a few have gotten furious, and screamed at me that THEY DON'T PAY FOR ANYTHING THEY HAVEN'T SEEN, and I kindly inform them that if there is anything about the workmanship that they don't like, we'll be happy to take care of it...and as for the color/design, that's why we encourage them to take as long as they like deciding what really works.
And then I smile a whole lot.
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I don't care what color your sofa is.
You should have a "Puzzling Postscript" on your order form stating that all puzzles require full payment beforehand....
My boss requires full payment at the time of purchase, period. Unless it's a regular customer, or a corporate account that needs to get a corporate check issued for the amount.
People often whine about the full payment, and I always smile, and point to the bins under the counter and in the back, and say, "I know, it does seem ridiculous to imagine, but some people don't come back for it even when they've already PAID for it!"
Which is true. Our bins are overflowing with orders that are already paid for; a few are over a year old.
Most people understand; a few have gotten furious, and screamed at me that THEY DON'T PAY FOR ANYTHING THEY HAVEN'T SEEN, and I kindly inform them that if there is anything about the workmanship that they don't like, we'll be happy to take care of it...and as for the color/design, that's why we encourage them to take as long as they like deciding what really works.
And then I smile a whole lot.
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I don't care what color your sofa is.
Janet L
SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
Audrey,
People that live in our area had a bait of the swindlers during Hurricane Fran cleanup because alot of the workers required payment up front and the work was never done. I would never charge a person the full price of the job, only a 50% deposit. The customer feels comfortable and so do I. It's rare for a completed job to never be picked up. Sometimes it does take the customer longer than I'd like, but after numerous calls and reminders, they do come in and get their work and I am paid the balance owed on the job. Most customers will bring in another job at pickup or shortly there after. At that point, I can discuss the problem of more expediate pickup.
Don't know what's up with the puzzle customer of mine. I've got another puzzle of hers in our bins awaiting framing, but she asked that I not begin the work until she picks up the one that's been ready for so long. Before I begin this second puzzle for her, I will suggest that she pay up front and I think she'll understand or she'll take the puzzle to a different framer. I'll certainly explain that I don't offer layaway without payment for months on end.
Janet
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How cheap do you want it to look?
People that live in our area had a bait of the swindlers during Hurricane Fran cleanup because alot of the workers required payment up front and the work was never done. I would never charge a person the full price of the job, only a 50% deposit. The customer feels comfortable and so do I. It's rare for a completed job to never be picked up. Sometimes it does take the customer longer than I'd like, but after numerous calls and reminders, they do come in and get their work and I am paid the balance owed on the job. Most customers will bring in another job at pickup or shortly there after. At that point, I can discuss the problem of more expediate pickup.
Don't know what's up with the puzzle customer of mine. I've got another puzzle of hers in our bins awaiting framing, but she asked that I not begin the work until she picks up the one that's been ready for so long. Before I begin this second puzzle for her, I will suggest that she pay up front and I think she'll understand or she'll take the puzzle to a different framer. I'll certainly explain that I don't offer layaway without payment for months on end.
Janet
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How cheap do you want it to look?
sumik
CGF, Certified Grumble Framer
Dry mount a puzzle? Gee, I just glue em down. Is that a problem?
I don't know about anyone else, but I don't mind doing puzzels. Framer, you should tell the customer to come down here to Maryland, and get their puzzels framed. (As long as they use a custome frame!)
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Sue May
"You want it when?!?!?"
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Sue May
"You want it when?!?!?"
Stories about puzzles help remind me why I don't have my shop any more. I remember doing a Christensenpuzzle once that had an angled, uneven edge. I usually mounted them in the vacuum press and this particular job was to be mounted on a maroon matboard with a double mat around and with about three eights of the maroo to show. Since the puzzle wasn't "fixed" I used a piece of foam to hold it while I flipped it onto the matboard. Just then a customer came in so I left the vaccum running while I helped her. When I got back and open the press I found I had mounted the puzzle ontohe foamboard. Since the job was due the next day I spent what seemed like hours cutting around the puzzle outline and scraping off the foam from the back. The result didn't look good, and my fingers even worse. My wife reminded me that we had that same puzzle at home so that night both of us worked into the wee hours to put it together as a replacement. We managed to do it okay only to find there was one piece missing (don't all puzzles come with one piece missing?} Not to worry. I'd take the replacment puzzle into the shop,work one piece out of the mismounted puzzle and use that for the missing piece. Simple right? Not so. The puzzles were cut to a different pattern and the pieces did not match. So it was back to the original puzzle which we eventually did get into passable shape to meet the deadline.