I know this has been talked about: Double Sided Frame

[Marion P]

Hi Everyone,

I know this question has been asked and asked...

I have a land title that this customer wants framed, and wants to be able to see it on both sides.. and I know this question has been asked..

I am going to use a wooden moulding, with two mat boards to house the land title, and then I was told to use silicone to seal everything in.. sounds simple
but once before I used silicone to seal a piece of glass in.... and I couldn't get the silicone smooth, and then it started to ooze out when I pushed the glass in, and I made such a mess of it..

so my question (I know finally) is... what am I doing wrong?? How do you make a thin line of silicone spread easy?

Do I seal the two pieces of glass together first and then add more silicone on top of the glass to seal it all in?

or IS there a better way of framing this title?

I'll take any help I can get...

have a great day
Marion

 

[Ron Eggers]

Why are you using silicone at all? Just to hold the whole package together?

There are good alternatives. One that I've used is to cut strips of balsa wood and pin them into the frame rabbet behind the back glass (or acrylic, to keep the weight down.) The easiest way to pin them is to use the pliers-type fitting tool (affectionately known as the knuckle-buster.) If the frame is hardwood, don't use brads any longer than necessary.

I keep a bunch of balsa, about 1/8"x3/16", that I get from United specifically for this purpose.

 

[Paul Hardy]

If you do need to use silicone, put tape on the glass and the moulding first, apart from maybe 1/4" next in the angle. Use latex gloved finger smeared with washing-up detergent to run a neat finish into the corner. Excess goes on tape. Let silicone cure, remove tape, neat edge left.

 

[Pat Murphey]

I cut a slot in the rabbet of the frame at the appropriate depth so that I can slide in a fillet to hold the glass in back. I join the frame in a U shape and put the package and 3 fillet legs in. Then I use screws from the top (or bottom) to fasten the fourth leg and fillet. Also finish the back of the frame, if necessary. Use an appropriate saw tooth hanger. You then have an inexpensive, attractive AND reversible two sided frame. (Note double meaning of reversible.)

Pat

 

[Angie Pearson CPF]

We use clear acrylic spacers for smaller projects(anything under about 14 by 14). Turn them on their side pressing them tightly against the glass and the sticky side tightly onto the frame. There is no mess, it's really easy, looks much nicer than silicone, and it will stay put (I've never had anyone bring them back anyway)
Angie

 

[realhotglass]

Marion,
What Ron said makes sense.

Just put it all in the back, then use (what we call) a beading here in Oz.
Maybe the local hardware store has some suitable quad bead that suits the width of the rebate width.

Even if you have to predrill some really small holes in the quad first, into the frame a bit, then push the (slightly bigger) brads into the holes with a nail punch head to pin it in.

You can paint the internal rebate at the back black or whatever to keep it neat when taken off the wall to view.

Of course everything will be the same size, with the land title hinged between the mats, and mats taped together internally with a framers double sided tape, so it all stays nice and flat.

Silicone is hard to work with and keep off everything, takes a lot of practice !

Best with it.

 

[Marion P]

Hey guys,

Thanks for the advise.
The only reason why I said silicone, was another framer that helps me (due to my inexpeience) told me to use silicone. I've tried it and I'm not very good at it, I agree with Les, its really hard to work with and I would love to stay away from it.

I am going to my local hardware shop today and to find the quad beads and give it a go.

But everything you all suggested I am going to try, as I want to try it all.

So again, thank you so much for the suggestions and advise, I sure need and can use it.

Have a great day, and keep smiling......

Marion