The age old dimension dilemma

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Framar

Framar

WOW Framer
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Jul 24, 2001
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Buffalo, New York, USA/Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada
You need a 16x20 board. You have a full sheet.

How do you cut it and why?

Do you take the 20" from the long side or the short side?

Do you end up with the possibility of having three more 16x20 sheets (or one 16x20 and one 20x32), or do you have one piece 12x16 and one much larger piece 24x32?

I ask this because every time I am faced with this problem I moan and groan and pace and ponder and invariably make the wrong decision.
 
If I were cutting it out of full sheet, I would cut it so I had a 12x16 + 24x32 left over.
 
I normally would cut it so I had an extra 16 x 20 and a 20 x 32.

:icon11:
 
That is how I did the last one - now I am sitting here waiting to take an order for three 16x20 mats of the same color.

It is like biting into a peanut butter sandwich and having the phone ring.

Inevitable.
 
If I don't know what I'll next need out of the same board I'll cut it to leave the largest piece possible. Standard sized boards are 44x32 here too and one manufacturer does 47x32 - bet that would do your head in!
 
Cut the short from the long. In other words, cut the short dimension of the board needed from the long dimension of the materials on hand. This maximizes the size of the materials left.

Doing this will give you the 16x20 you need for the order, plus one piece 24x32 and one piece 12x16. I can definitely make good use of the 24x32, and maybe the 12x16 for a readymade or something. Otherwise you would have one 16x20 and a 20x32. Granted, not a huge difference but it’s the kind of thing that can add up over time. And what are the odds you’ll need three more 16x20s of the same color anyway?
 
This is a Chicken vs. Egg kind of question and you could really argue it both ways simply because 16 x 20 is such a common size that there is a high likelihood you can get 100% usage at some point. However, I wouldn't lose sleep over it either way as long as you make sure you charged enough for the mat you sold.
 
I think part of the answer depends on what sizes you will probably be more apt to use. For me, I do more smaller pieces of art, with the shortest dimension of the mat typically between 10 to 13 inches. And most of my mats are less than 20 x 32 and very few over 27 x 32.

So, if it something I think I might use again, or if it is out of the mats I inventory, if possible I try to cut to a dimension equal to 1/6, 1/4, 1/2, 2/3 of a mat (eg 13 x 16; 16 x 20; 20 x 32; 27 x 32), So basically this means my smallest cut ideally, is 13 inches.

So, for example, if I have someone that wants a 8 x 10-1/2 mat I don't inventory, and I think I might use it again, I would cut a 13 x 32, then cut the 13 x 32 into a 13 x 24 and a 8 x 13 piece which would be used for the 8 x 10-1/2. If I cut the 8" strip out I know I would have to throw away an 8 x 21" piece, because I would probably never use it. And by having it cut to a 13 inch "scrap", I know I have a much better chance of using at least part of it.

So, to answer your question, for me, I would cut it 16 x 20. And, I would only charge a percentage of the total mat price, i but I would make sure I covered my mat cost.
 
I'm confused. When do we get our strawberry shortcake?
 
P.S. I'd trim to wind up with a 12 x 16 and a 24 x 32.
 
I do what David and others do, so it leaves a piece 24" x 32". I would have more chance of using that size. The other bit would go to the recycle bin!

In my business there is a lot of waste and all sorts of leftover sizes hang around for years and years, then I get ruthless and throw a lot of them out. I recover the entire cost of a sheet when I sell an 11 x 14 approx. I don't fret too much about leftovers these days. It's not worth stressing about it.
 
Is this one of the questions on the certification test?

:o
 
Short measure from long side, then when putting away the leftovers I would find 3 16X20s of the same color in the scrap bin turned the wrong way so I thought they were white.
 
What sizes do you use most?
Is it a top mat or under mat?
White or a typically used color or is it a special ordered odd color?
Is the dropout a useful size?
How much room is in your mat storage? :)

I cut the board so I'd get 4 16x20's. I can use them easiest. If it is an oft used color then iit won't be wasted and if too small then I have more in the rack.. If a special order and likely to be used later then cut so extra is 24x32. If a special order and lkely to take up rack space then I'd cut it and use one of the extras as the backing board. No sense saving it in the rack as it will just be taking up space a usrful mat could fill. And if it sits in the rack too long it will be scuffed or mar the mats next to it. So use it or get rid of it as fadt as possible.

I am tired of swimming in mat scraps and am re-evaluating cuts so that useful is saved and useless is used up asap.
 
wpfay said:
Short measure from long side, then when putting away the leftovers I would find 3 16X20s of the same color in the scrap bin turned the wrong way so I thought they were white.
Click to expand...

LOL - this has happened to me more than once! (And not because of mats being backwards in the bin, but swallowed up and sucked to the back.)
 
Just to further my reasoning for going with the 24x32 + 12x16. The 24x32 will still get me 2 16x20s but could also be used for a larger job. Once you have cut to the 20x32, you are more limited.
 
shayla said:
I'm confused. When do we get our strawberry shortcake?
Click to expand...

Yes, sometimes I do get a little anal.

I use the method I described so I always know what I'm going to so I don't have to think about it. I always do it the same way.

And I use 13 x 16 [vs 12 x 16] because I do lots of 4 x 6 to 5-1/4 x 7-1/4, and with 3-1/2 margins, bottom weighted 1/2 inch, I need 13".
 
I think this whole issue is a Republican / Democrat issue.

Republicans like a bigger piece of the pie and Democrats see more use in equal distribution.

B-)
 
Sorta like the Canada/US situation:

Americans just get the frikkin' job done. Hoo Kares?

Canadians apologize for separating one piece from the totality.
 
Cup of coffee, a bagel or a nice danish could be required prior to making this call, hum..thinking, thinking....

Truth is...there is no correct answer that will be able to fit every scenario.

I'd cut a 20 x 32" & 2 - 16 x 20" all kidding aside and then the next job that came in for that Mat would a 21 x 33" so there ya go!

And that is the way it is!
 
Even though this thread has degraded from the start, into the silly......

The fact remains.... this is a good reason to know what your sales are,
and what you will have need/use for down the road.

The larger 24x32 will always grant you more flexibility in use going forward....
but does it matter when that huge chunk is "Come Freak Me Fast Fusha" . . ?

For some, this may be a staple mat color..... but for others - - it could still be
waiting for use in 2054.
The good news is.... if you only use rag or Alpha mats..... all of it is sub-strait for
fabric wrap or paint.
We now find that we have more of a standing order for a mixed box of duds in
2- 4- & 8-ply neutral rag..... we were worried going into Christmas when we realized
that we had only 5-6 sheets.... and would have to start flipping colored mats over
to paint or wrap.
 
Baer Charlton said:
Even though this thread has degraded from the start, into the silly......

The fact remains.... this is a good reason to know what your sales are,
and what you will have need/use for down the road.
.....
We now find that we have more of a standing order for a mixed box of duds in
2- 4- & 8-ply neutral rag..... we were worried going into Christmas when we realized
that we had only 5-6 sheets.... and would have to start flipping colored mats over
to paint or wrap.
Click to expand...

And, Baer, it seems that every Christmas my suppliers are always low/ out of stock / on some of the 4 and 8 ply neutral rags, so I now have learned to temporarily increase my safety stock on these items after Halloween.
 
We also have a short list of fabrics we will stock this fall 5-8yds each..... total
instant goto.

the flex fillet stock will be bulked out as well. I have a 5 sku list that covers every thing.
 
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