Twisted Moulding

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FrameMakers

FrameMakers

PFG, Picture Framing God
Joined
Mar 20, 2001
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Powell, OH
I have a 30x19 job that I am framing. I got 18' of moulding in to do the job. The bundle had a 2' marked allowance. So I cut around the flaws but didn't notice that the moulding had a slight twist to it. When I was joining it I surely noticed it since on corner sits 1" higher than the other three when I set it flat on the table. If I try to force it, it wants to pop the other corners.

So I will have to get a replacement for this frame. My question is who should be responsible for covering the cost of the replacement frame?

Yes, it is carp moulding, but I should have probably noticed this before cutting, but I was focused on finding and cutting around the flaws.
 
I don't know who the supplier of your moulding is, but when this has happened to me, the supplier will always replace the bad moulding, even when cut.
They might just chop the bad legs for you or replace the whole thing.
I've never had an argument from the suppliers about replacement.
 
As Neil said, supplier needs to make this right. Mine do. Otherwise they are no longer my supplier. I am blessed with good vendors and sales reps.
 
Nope, moulding was picked up earlier in the week. I am just getting tired of fighting frames as it seems that more and more mouldings are coming in warped and twisted these days.
 
FrameMakers said:
Nope, moulding was picked up earlier in the week. I am just getting tired of fighting frames as it seems that more and more mouldings are coming in warped and twisted these days.
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Warped moulding can happen on occasion. And as fast as we produce it and get it packed, it can be missed. But I know I have always replaced the moulding for my customers if something like that happens. Only thing we require is either a sample of the warped moulding or pictures showing it.

I hope your supplier helps you get it resolved.
 
I had a similar issue a couple of weeks ago. The moulding was missing small beaded designs in some areas, which I didn't notice until after I cut it. When I called the vendor I was told I should have inspected before cutting. I didn't argue, I just don't show customers their mouldings anymore.
 
I took the frame in this morning and laid it on their counter, I got a replacement n/c and didn't even have to ask.

I will try to be more careful in the future.
 
Moulding suppliers could inspect ever inch of every length before packing and dispatching. But that would make it more expensive. Far better to send it out regardless and wait for complaints. No doubt they have worked out just how much is likely to be rejected and factored that into the costings. Bit of a pain for the user, but that's how it crumbles. A twisty bit here and there is expected and not worth moaning about. It's when you get a high proportion in a batch. Then you get a replacement.
 
I have had a problem recently with some moulding defects. My distributor said that I should inspect it before I cut, because it makes it easier for them to get it replaced, but they still replaced it.


If you have a good supplier / distributor, they will certainly take care of you.
 
prospero said:
Moulding suppliers could inspect ever inch of every length before packing and dispatching. But that would make it more expensive. Far better to send it out regardless and wait for complaints. No doubt they have worked out just how much is likely to be rejected and factored that into the costings. Bit of a pain for the user, but that's how it crumbles. A twisty bit here and there is expected and not worth moaning about. It's when you get a high proportion in a batch. Then you get a replacement.
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That's what I've been experiencing with Omega these days. No inspection, no quality control, no foot allowances. I usually order 50 feet at a time of any profile for the discount, since I use 40-50 styles from them consistently. And when I get the 50 feet, I immediatley urwrap all the sticks now to check for defects, twisting, etc.
 
Funny thing about twisty moulding.... Sometimes you get a stick that seems dead flat. You make a frame with it and it's out of skew. :( And then you get a stick that is obviously twisted and you think "What the heck" and chop it anyway. Pin it up and it's dead flat. :) My theory is that sometimes one twist counteracts a similar twist on the opposite side.
Sometimes the twist is very localised and you can easily cut round it with no-too-much waste.
Sometimes if you pick up a stick and it feels heavy, it's likely to be twisted. Whereas a light stick is likely to be straight. Bit on the snotwood side, but straight.
Then there are bends. The stick will be flat in that the two ends are parallel, but bows out in the middle. This is usually a fault found with softwoods - piney stuff. I once had some really nice rustic pine about 2" wide. It was perfect for an odd job I had and I had just enough. One rail was bent. Deflected about half an inch along a 2 foot length. I got round this by drilling lots holes in the back to weaken it. Kept trying to bend it straight. Eventually I heard a crack and miraculously it was straight. The crack wasn't very wide and only showed on the back. Filled the crack with sawdust and glue an the job was a good'un. Bit of a PITA to do on a regular basis, but it was one of those things where I was not going to be defeated.
So far I have never found a way to un-twist a moulding. :icon21:
 
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