Rag-board Fillet

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Baer Charlton

SPFG, Supreme Picture Framing God
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Hugh had a wonderful article in the recent PFM about rag fillets. Just thought I'd post some pictures on the "Hard way" to do them. Jeez, Hugh, where were you when Chan was teaching me the hard way... :D

laying out the "mat" with a 5/16" reveal.
LayoutE.jpg


Cut and match up the layers. Bottom layer is 4-ply with 8-ply for top two layers. (third and smallest 1/8" mat not shown.) Then glue all together with ph neutral fabric adhesive.
TrimexcessE.jpg


Sand "mat" to general shape then begin gesso layers. (Whiting, water, & ph neutral adhesive mix. More water = easier to sand and shape, More glue = tougher more resiliant surface; use for final, very thin watery surface finish. Also very good to burnish.
GessoE.jpg


Let rest for about a week after all layers are done, and before applying boul and leaf.
EFillet-AbovetheFruitedPlane01.jpg


Caligraphy is optional.

EFinishedframing.jpg
 
Hi,
You've lost me. There appears to be a frame in the first photo. Where did it go, or am I missing something here.
Mick
---------------------------
The impossible I can do today,
Miracles take a little longer
 
Hi Baer,
The more I look at the photo's the less sense they seem to make. In the bottom photo, the blue fabric appears deeply recessed, or is that an optical illusion caused by shadow
Mick
-----------------------
The impossible I can do today,
Miracles take a little longer
 
Baer: I'm confused too. Can you explain what I am looking at in picture 3?? Is that the Liner and mats stacked 8 ply, 8 ply, 4 ply and liner from bottom to top?

It turned out really nice.

since this is the hard way, maybe I better look at Hughe's article before I get really confused.
 
Mick the fabric is on a liner: hence the rag mat/fillet. (which is wrapped with Lineco aluminum tape as a firm accepted barrier)

The liner started life as a shallow scoop. I milled off the rise and made it into more of a layed out ogee. The actual depth is less than 3/8" drop, high back to sight lip.

Walt you're looking down on the stack of mat board, from your eye down is 8,8, and 4-ply being the "mat". which in that shot does not have the "skirting" attached that also lines the inside of the liner's rabit and is all wrapped in the Lineco.

BTW: I tested the basswood liner with ph paper . . . 7 . . . all four sides.
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Makes you wonder why I ever screwed around with a rag fillet?

As I told Mar, 'cuz I could. :D
 
Thanks Baer,
I can see it now,nice job.

Mick
-------------------------
The impossible I can do today,
Miracles take a little longer
 
So, Baer - you never told me this - how did you go from a beveled bunch of mats to a smooth rounded fillet? How ever did you manage to sand everything so smooth - especially in the corners?

And tell us about the bird picture - is it a needlework? How is it mounted/stretched? Is there glass between the outer frame and the liner? (I certainly HOPE so!)

You are SUCH a dedicated framer, Baer - and one heck of a nice fellow, too, IMHO!
 
This is beautiful. I still don't quite understand exactly how you did it, but that doesn't matter. Thanks for taking the time to post your pics, too.
 
Mar: It's a needlepoint that the owner stretched over 8-ply rag with a polyester layer for that cushie look. Then they correctly and painstakingly stitched the back, museum style that same as any MCPF would do. Very nice job, I might add.

Jana: traded some framing with a very competent caligrapher.

Sammyjpjm: It isn't exactly nosey to ask how many man hours... except the caliger was a woman. :D The frame itself was only 14 hours. Then liner was custom shaved and therefore took an hour. (this is the frame everyone sees in photo #1. It's upside down.)
The fillet took a total of 17.3 hours to cut, shape, and lay on 15 coats of shaping gesso and boul. The gold leafing took about 12 minutes... the coffee pot was slow that day...
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The glass is TV Museum.
 
Dang Bear, My labor alone would be $1878.00!

P.S. It looks great!
 
Baer,
I get it.
You used the gesso to get that great mellow shape. And stacked up the mat boards to get it to fit the liner rabbet as a fillet would. Neat!

What did you tone the gold with? Yes, I want to know your toning secrets! And any special ink for the calligraphy?

That is an absolutely righteous way to frame needlework. Beats a crappyass paper mat anytime. Truly gorgeous!

edie the outoftheclosetneedleworker goddess
 
Edie, glad you liked the tone on the leaf. Next door to us is a Antique Schwin bicycle shop....

When you ride a bike about 100 miles then let it sit in the basement for another 35 years.... the axle grease is just great for toning gold leaf.... :D

I just knew you would laugh your bicycle seat off...

If I was a smartass and not so lazy, I would have used my old reciepe of ground up black walnut shells, soaked for 30 days in diesle fuel added to vinigar and simmered for 19.5 hours over a low electric burner not to exceed 4.87356" across...

But now I'm old and lazy and need to make some money when I do something, (I'm ignoring you Rogatory David), so lets see if I can remember:

a bit of raw umber,
a little more of burnt sienna,
a hint of ocre,
a dot of lamp black,
a splash or six of water
and a teaspoon shot of Frank's Fabric Adhesive for grip.

Blot on liberally, then blot back off untill density is acheved. Then brush out with a dry oil brush untill translucent. Let dry. Under tone always. Less is more, and if it is to transparent when dry, you can do more.

I have absolutely no idea what the calligraphy is.

I think it's an old saying thats been kicking around for a while... several people have said that they recognize it, but can't place where...
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Thanks, at last a trick of yours that I am capable of grasping! (Although I used some of my left-over silk yesterday to wrap a cove mat!)

Learn something new every day - or just start making stuff up! (sorry Captain English!)
 
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