Opinions Wanted LJ Bonanza Wood

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neilframer

neilframer

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Anyone have experience using LJ Bonanza Wood such as BW26060?
It appears to be an MDF product with a faux wood finish. I have to bid on a project that they want cheap, cheap and cheap.
I'm wondering how it might chop and how fragile the finish might be.
If it's bad, then I'm probably going with a real wood simple profile Studio which I am familiar with and have used before.
The Bonanza Wood is about 40 to 50 cents a foot less than the real wood.
Thanks in advance. :popc:
 
I guess LJ has some tie-in with Framerica now.

Long story short, a hotel client of mine pulled one of those MDF/paper frames out of a storage room and showed me a corner where the paper had peeled back from the joint. The "girls" had been wiping down the frames with moist towels and the moisture gradually caused the paper to pull back from the seams.

If it's only 50 cents difference, I would definitely go with wood. In fact, I would prefer poly over MDF almost any day, which is what the hotelier wound up buying based on his bad experience.

Also, the ones with highly "textured" printed patters look beyond tacky to my eye, although some of the darker monotone versions can be pretty handsome in the absence of too much cleaning.
 
Thanks. This is exactly the kind of info I need. I believe it is Framerica carried by Larson. If it's carp, I don't want to use it.
I prefer real wood myself, but I want to have a couple of options.
 
Bonanza Wood is made by Framerica and sold by Larson Juhl.

I think it's a good product at an inexpensive price point. Easy to cut and join and consistent quality.

No surprises when you open a box of Framerica.

We use it for ready made poster frames and value framing.

As more_so mentioned some finishes are nicer than others.

I've never had a return because of the laminate coming off.

I don't think it would do well in a steamy bathroom environment.

I have more problems with $10.00/ft wood veneers than with Bonanza wood.

Doug
 
I use the blacks for value line and have used quite a bit of the "tuxedo" style. Like stated, great consistency and no guess what I'm getting when I order a box or stick. I have not had any problems with the laminate coming off either.

The only problem I have had is when I leave it laying on an uneven surface in +100 degree temp with 99% humidty, but does make a nice oval frame though.

Matt
 
Thanks, Doug and Matt. It's for an office and I could present the BW as the bottom line and if they want real wood then they can make the choice to pay a little more.
 
I use quite a bit on my value line. There are a few tricks for v-nailing but I think it cuts like butter. Contact me privatly if you like. LJ only sells some of the many profiles.

PS. I just got an email from LJ today saying the price from Framerica was going up very soon (I forget the exact date but in about a week or so I think 4%??)
 
I started carrying it a few years ago as a cheaper alternative. As was stated, cuts like butter, and inexpensive. Also as was stated, you have to re-think a little bit where you are going to put your v-nails (generally further from the outside edge). No idea how long the laminated finish will last.
 
Thanks for checking in. As far as quality, you usually get what you pay for, so the client (designer) has the options of price and quality choices.
I appreciate all of your responses. :thumbsup:
 
Cuts beautifully with a saw. If you v-nail, use the hardwood v-nails. Your yield from a box of bonanza wood will be close to perfect, in terms of warp and twist. With any conventional wood product that is close to that same price point, you'll be throwing out 20% or more of the box due to warp and twist.
 
Thanks Paul. I have a Hansen chopper with freshly sharpened hollow ground blades sharpened by Tech Mark so I think it will cut very clean.
I mostly join the frames in a vise (I use 8 vises) before vnailing so I just bang them through the vnailer quickly.
Thanks for checking in. :thumbsup:
 
I’m not crazy about it. It is a very heavy, very dense MDF which I have difficulty cutting with a chopper. It hasn’t chipped on me, but even when trying to “nibble” my way through a fairly deep moulding, I need to almost jump on the Morsø foot pedal to drive through it.

My V-nailer is a manual VN-J and driving nails into it is also difficult.

I really dislike the stuff.
 
Thanks, Bill. Thanks for all the responses! :beer:
 
Cutting with a chopper could be somewhat difficult as I know of many that have had issues. You might want to request a chip from Framerica to test before ordering. I believe they will still do that.

Other than that, it's good stuff for the right application.
 
I've used Bonanza wood on commercial and price-sensitive jobs with great success... but then again I've got a saw and a pneumatic vnailer. This stuff cuts very nicely on the saw. Contrary to what others say, I actually use *softwood* vnails for this stuff... reason being that hardwood vnails are blunt and "smash" their way in, whereas softwood vnails are sharp and *cut* their way in. I find this is especially important with those Bonanza woods that have this hard coating on the bottom...
 
I use it with limited success. I wouldn't use it for large frames since the tendency to bow out and be kinda wily on the one you are bidding on.
The wider ones are easier to work with, cut easy and corner well.
I did some frames for a coffee shop franchise (menus) and they loved them. I had to reinforce the middle cause the mdf has a tendency to sag on long frames. I'd go with the wood and let them know about the bw, all the strikes against it. It's worth the extra cost for real wood. Good luck.
 
I've been sitting on the sidelines watching this thread with great interest. I think it is pretty silly to dismiss a product so quickly. Sort of the ongoing poly vs wood debate :).

Like many products, some are better served for a specific use than others.

I use a significant amount of Bonanza Wood. Just finished another 4 large mirrors for an ongoing remodel of a retirement facility. Did over 10 floors of a hotel with 36 x 60 mirrors in every bathroom too. Yes, there is a learning curve.

Cool thing is that LJ does stock some profiles that eliminates the requirement to buy by the box from Las Vegas (for me in San Diego - that is the closest Framerica warehouse).

Is it carp? Hardly - and it is a cost effective alternative for production/volume with little waste.

Some profiles are better than others especially for larger sizes - and the metallic finishes are unforgiving especially if you have a bad mitre.

Ever been in the Las Vegas Hilton? All the room and corridor art is framed in Framerica.

So my vote is that I like it.
 
neilframer said:
Anyone have experience using LJ Bonanza Wood such as BW26060?
It appears to be an MDF product with a faux wood finish. I have to bid on a project that they want cheap, cheap and cheap.
I'm wondering how it might chop and how fragile the finish might be.
If it's bad, then I'm probably going with a real wood simple profile Studio which I am familiar with and have used before.
The Bonanza Wood is about 40 to 50 cents a foot less than the real wood.
Thanks in advance. :popc:
Click to expand...

I'd make a sample of each and let them choose. If they want cheap cheap cheap, then go with the bw for sure.
You would think the Hilton could afford nicer frames. Like Roma. IMHO.
It seems the bottom line here is saving for them and profit for you.
Nobody's dismissing bw. We've all had our experiences with the stuff.
Some bad, some good, and some great.
 
PicturedFramer said:
You would think the Hilton could afford nicer frames. Like Roma. IMHO.
Click to expand...

Herein lies the key to successful retailing for our industry. They can, but why would they if they didn't have to?
 
This discussion is greatly appreciated. The frames are 26"x26" and 28"x 36" so size is not really a factor. I will be presenting the BW as a choice along with the Studio wood and I will let the client decide. I can get the BW locally at the LJ warehouse here in town.
If the client chooses the BW I will tell them to dust with a feather duster only. :icon11:
Thanks for all the input.
 
I would staple mat board to the back as a dust cover in those sizes with a 1 1/4" BW.
 
pwalters said:
Herein lies the key to successful retailing for our industry. They can, but why would they if they didn't have to?
Click to expand...

The Las Vegas Hilton isn't owned by Hilton. The group that owns the hotel was leasing the name. It's has not been renewed though, and as of the end of this year it can no longer be known as the Hilton.

Just a personal guess but I don't think they can afford Roma.
 
I sell it as my bottom line framing. It cuts well (saw) and joining is okay. I also use the normal soft wood v-nails; gives me better results than the hardwood ones.

I just received new samples; distressed look and it will be something that is easy to sell around here at a great price point. I sold some already; and it seemed that joining that one was easier....

So far; the finish is holding well (I have one framed sample) but I do advise customers against hanging it in their bathrooms and I will tell them it is just not the same quality as wood (but neither is the price).
 
Artrageous said:
Neil, have you contacted Framerica directly for a price quote on that moulding? You may be surprised at their direct price.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I might do that but with LJ I don't have to pay shipping and if any is flawed I just take it there and swap it out.
 
Artrageous said:
You may be able to get the moulding for 1/2 the price. At least call for a price quote.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip. I'm definitely going to call and get a quote. 1/2 price is a good thing. I picked up 6" straight samples from LJ this morning so I could try a test chop.
The client is coming tomorrow to decide on the moulding.
 
neilframer said:
Thanks for the tip. I'm definitely going to call and get a quote. 1/2 price is a good thing. I picked up 6" straight samples from LJ this morning so I could try a test chop.
The client is coming tomorrow to decide on the moulding.
Click to expand...

Neil, a selling point for Framerica's Bonanza line is that it's Certified Green, both upstream and downstream.
 
Artrageous said:
Neil, a selling point for Framerica's Bonanza line is that it's Certified Green, both upstream and downstream.
Click to expand...

I like the Certified Green! Not to mention the "green" that is the profit. :icon11:
My new puppy eats like a horse and I'm having her spayed and chipped in 2 weeks. Part of the overhead! :rolleyes:
 
opinions wanted on LJ Bonanza Wood

Couple of things not previously mentioned:

Use the Corner Weld glue sold by Framerica (and thru LJ). This is a must. Specially designed to work well with the product. Great glue, we just it on mostly everything in the shop, also.

currently we use a saw. Used a chopper with Framerica for a long time. Must have sharp blades and your blades will dull a bit faster if you use a lot of Bonanzawood.

Some have mentioned the the paper covering. They sell both paper covered and more the more durable wraps that are more like a formica counter top. These are my preference. Very durable finish.

Freight for boxes of moulding is significant. Factor that into your decision of how to order. Our latest order was around $125 for 3 boxes, somewhere around 480'.
 
Thanks tamip! I use Corner Weld from LJ. All tips are appreciated. :thumbsup:
 
DVieau2 said:
I've never had a return because of the laminate coming off.

I don't think it would do well in a steamy bathroom environment.
Click to expand...

Knock wood, I haven't had any issues with Bonanza wood de-laminating either. FWIW, I have a framed print (an inexpensive artcard, nothing of any value) in my daughter's bathroom with a Bonanza wood moulding and it looks as good as when it was first hung 6 years ago. There is no sign of de-lamination at all and I don't think you could have a steamier bathroom environment than my teenage daughter's bathroom. :D
 
more_so said:
I guess LJ has some tie-in with Framerica now.

Long story short, a hotel client of mine pulled one of those MDF/paper frames out of a storage room and showed me a corner where the paper had peeled back from the joint. The "girls" had been wiping down the frames with moist towels and the moisture gradually caused the paper to pull back from the seams.
Click to expand...

  • The connection that LJ has with Framerica, is that they distribute a limited selection of it.
  • The second point about the paper/lam. peeling is no doubt a left over story that continues to circulate back when Framerica was Framemica. There is no comparision to todays product.
 
Some of the paper wrap does peel. Mostly when hung or handled in a manner that is not ideal.
 
j Paul said:
  • The second point about the paper/lam. peeling is no doubt a left over story that continues to circulate back when Framerica was Framemica. There is no comparision to todays product.
Click to expand...

The issues with delamination are still happening. It's a quality control issue rather then a defect in the adhesive. I'd be happy to send you some samples.

Framerica has moved into transitional flooring now. They manufacture more flooring at their warehouse then they do moulding now. I wouldn't be surprised if they moved completely out of the moulding game. Rumors abound that they might be moving down to the Carolina's.
 
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