Question Purchasing mats/ frames?

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vroom_skies

Grumbler in Training
Joined
Aug 2, 2010
Posts
9
Loc
Connecticut
Hey all,
First time posting on your site, seems like a great place from what I can tell.

I've been wanting to get into mating/ framing for awhile and when the opportunity came to get a mat cutter, I jumped on it. I ended up getting a C+H Advantage Pro for a nice deal.
So with all that taken care of, now comes the time to learn about mats & frames & where to get them from and all that?

I have to many questions as I'm pretty much starting out fresh, so I though it would be best just for you to spill w/e is on your mind :shrug:

If you have any specific questions you need to know from me, feel free to ask.

Thanks in advance,
Bob
 
Hi, Bob. Welcome to the Grumble! :)

I hope you enjoy it here. If you haven't
already, try doing a search of the archives.
There's a lot of valuable info. to be found
in past threads. Also, it can help to adjust
your user CP so that it at least shows what
state or region you're in. That way, you're
not a complete cypher to people.

One important thing to know when framing
is that there are different protective levels
of both matboard and glass. The guy who
teaches the mat cutting classes at our local
college only shows his students wood based
paper mats, but for conservation framing, there
is a wide variety of mats that meet much
higher standards.
 
It would help to know if you are asking because you want to do this for yourself. Are you a hobbyist, artist or going into business?

It would also help if you asked questions rather than ask us to spill.
 
Hey all,
Thanks for the warm welcome... five months later :icon9:
As I'm sure you all know life gets in the way, hence why I never made it back to this thread.

I've recently been asked to show some of my work at an exhibit and in a hurry need to order some supplies and get going.
I'm mainly after what are your preferred sites/ stores to order frames and mats from? Also if you have any secrets of the trade that you think I should know, that would be great.

I've been searching the site for info and have found some, but as you know times change and therefore answers change.

I'm also interested in looking into purchasing wholesale. Would any of you happen to have any information in regards to that?

Big thanks in advance,
Bob
 
Hi Bob, most of the people here are framing business owners so we are the stores people buy from. You have not mentioned where you are located so that will make a huge difference. Buying mat board and having it shipped is very expensive due to it's size. If you are in my area I sell full 32x40 sheets of standard paper mat for $4.95 per sheet. I charge the same for full sheets of foam core. I also sell length moulding from $1 to $5 per foot in full sticks. None of this helpful to you if you can not pick it up because I don't ship. Please add your location for the best possible assistance.
 
Bob,

Knowing your location would be a big help in answering your questions. :thumbsup:

BTW: Welcome to the G. :icon21:
 
$4.95 sounds very cheap for a 32x40 sheet of matboard.
Click to expand...

This was likely a PAPER type mat, not a conservation grade regular mat. They cost a few dollars less, but the bevels tend to turn gold/orange as the acidic insides eat their way out to the art. Some shops use them for decorative framing (corporate bidding, etc), backer boards for the CMC, or for items of little value that may only be framed for the short term.

Opinions on this will vary, but most framers and even big boxes switched to the conservation grade mats and UV reduction glazing many years ago. Future liability was probably one of the biggest factors. A lot of people come in to get old items reframed, and often there is "acid burn" where the paper mats came in contact with the art. Backing with cardboard touching the art was another bad practice used in the past, because the stuff is highly acidic. We still see damaged items come in that were done this way.

There are a lot of options and opinions about this, for sure. That was mine :)

Best regards and welcome to the grumble!
Mike
 
Just a thought here... go to a framing school and get some real training. Asking questions here will only give you tiny bits and pieces of the whole picture.
Check out the New England Framing Academy in NH. Right near by.

...and welcome to the G.
 
Mike Labbe @ GTP said:
This was likely a PAPER type mat, not a conservation grade regular mat.
Click to expand...

The fact that is was described as standard paper mat would indicate that is what the price was for. I also sell alpha celluose and rag but the standard paper outsells those by at least 500 to 1 among the artists and photographers here. The only boards I won't sell are the white core standard paper mats because they are deceptive to the consumer.
 
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