Hi Everybody, I have a large African batik that is 37 x 46 on one side and 36 x 44.5 on the other. I am going to attempt to do the math for the angles required. Any suggestions, other than ARE YOU CRAZY?
Opinions Wanted Need to cut an out of square frame
- Thread starter Melinda Tennis
- Start date
auntiesarahjayne
SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
float it on a board 40 x 49 and embrace the crookedness of the batik. Much Much easier.
Framar
WOW Framer
Now that is a phrase I shall have to remember! I am sure it will come in very handy.
Jeff Rodier
SPFG, Supreme Picture Framing God
The simple solution to your problem is tell the customer you will charge 10 times more to cut the frame out of square as you will to float it on mat board.
Embrace the crookedness
I think that's what I'm doing. The float larger ideas are good, thanks.
I think that's what I'm doing. The float larger ideas are good, thanks.
Warren Tucker
MGF, Master Grumble Framer
Cutting the out of square frame won't be much of a problem; forget the math and cut one 44" leg .5" long (or was it short). The half inch won't cause the miter to be off but by 1 or so degrees. We've done it by accident many times I'm sorry to say and no one notices untill fitting.
Framar
WOW Framer
If the corners can be joined anything is possible - just be sure to remind your customer not to hang the thing on striped wallpaper!
framah
SPFG, Supreme Picture Framing God
It's 1" longer on the short side and 1 1/5" longer on the long side. That's more than just a little off!
No possibility of trimming the piece, eh? ... or wrapping it to hide the "out of squareness".
Other than those ideas, then I agree, the float idea is the best.
azoq
CGF, Certified Grumble Framer
I did the math out on this (thanks high school geometry!)
You can see the angles in this image.
As you can tell, the most that the angle varies from 90° is by .85°.... not very much and I doubt that you have equipment that's going to be precise enough to make a difference. I have to agree with Warren in this regard... it's probably easiest to just cut the different lengths at 90°.
Or skip that all together and float it... a much simpler option.
You can see the angles in this image.
As you can tell, the most that the angle varies from 90° is by .85°.... not very much and I doubt that you have equipment that's going to be precise enough to make a difference. I have to agree with Warren in this regard... it's probably easiest to just cut the different lengths at 90°.
Or skip that all together and float it... a much simpler option.
Both Warren and Azoq are assuming relative symmetry. In order to get a sense of the shape, we need to know the diagonal measurements as well. That will tell us the acute and obtuse angles for the frame. The easiest way to cut the angles is with a template scribed directly from the item and a table saw with a sliding bed. You will need to make 4 jigs, one for each corner.
Can't you stretch it square?
Baer Charlton
SPFG, Supreme Picture Framing God
Over-size it.
You can drive yourself nuts making those cuts... and have 4 different length
sides with 4 different angles....
and it will make the cloth look great. . . as long as someone is holding it.
But the minute you hang it on the wall.... it will NEVER hang straight... no matter
how you align it... it will always be out of alignment with the ceiling, floor, doors
and window. Your customer will hate . . you . . . for . . . EVER.
Don't ask me why I know that
You can drive yourself nuts making those cuts... and have 4 different length
sides with 4 different angles....
and it will make the cloth look great. . . as long as someone is holding it.
But the minute you hang it on the wall.... it will NEVER hang straight... no matter
how you align it... it will always be out of alignment with the ceiling, floor, doors
and window. Your customer will hate . . you . . . for . . . EVER.
Don't ask me why I know that
I agree with Baer. If it was waaaaaaaay out of wack it could look quite cool. Bit a little bit would just be annoying.
David Hewitt
MGF, Master Grumble Framer
I agree with Baer (#12).
But, if you do decide to do the cut, or if you ever have a cut thats off a bit, make this tool.
If the wood is 2" thick. Get a thin piece of metal (like a cake icing spreader). Adhere sand paper to the sides(about 120 grit). Put your end together & sand till they are flush.
But, if you do decide to do the cut, or if you ever have a cut thats off a bit, make this tool.
If the wood is 2" thick. Get a thin piece of metal (like a cake icing spreader). Adhere sand paper to the sides(about 120 grit). Put your end together & sand till they are flush.
artfolio
SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
Yep, a float with good, wide, borders (at least 100mm all 'round) in a square frame is definitely the best look. Anything out of square hung on a wall with square corners will look silly. I do this regularly with horribly out of whack papyruses and so long as the base of the image is parallel with the floor all is well.
Thank you
Thank you all for your suggestions. All very helpful. I have a very good saw and attachments to cut the angles, so thanks for the math. The batik is way out of square at the top, so I may be able to have 2 square corners at the bottom and the top going off into the sky. Most probably I'll float it and disguise the empty parts.
Thank you all for your suggestions. All very helpful. I have a very good saw and attachments to cut the angles, so thanks for the math. The batik is way out of square at the top, so I may be able to have 2 square corners at the bottom and the top going off into the sky. Most probably I'll float it and disguise the empty parts.