Do we do "rush picture framing? " This is a popular, yet slightly, oxymoronic customer question to which, the self-evident answer is obviously, yes, but only if we can . And the
reason why 99% of picture framers cannot always drop everything to do that urgent picture frame a customer wants is that they are busy making picture frames for the other customers that came ahead in the work queue. This is a similar work flow to other trades. Most mechanics aren't idle and waiting for a car to be brought in to be repaired. Normally they're .. busy working on somebody else's' car.
They'll ask you to leave your car and to come back when it's ready. It's much the same with picture framers. Another question that we often get asked is: "Can you frame it while I wait?". Again, and in most cases, the answer is no the picture framer is most likely working on other customers' picture frames, probably due for completion in the morning.
However if customers come in for a quick picture frame re-glaze or the re-stringing picture frames or the re-fitting of photo frames stands, in many cases picture framers are able to do this service on the spot. But perhaps, a more pragmatic issue to consider, is that the rush picture framing problems can bring later and unseen problems. For instance, quick printing jobs can turn sour because the ink prints haven't dried for long enough.
We've read of a U.S. picture framer who had to re-work several, finished picture frames because the undried inks were fogging up the inside of the glass. Many printer manufacturers state that printed work must dry for at least 24 hours, Yet several picture framers have complained that the inks are still off gassing during that period and cannot be framed. This seem to be particular true with dark-coloured areas and not so much with light-coloured area.
The sum of all this is that a framer can't really print and frame a poster or photo on the same day, the ink won't have cured enough and it'll fog up or dirty the inside of the glass while doing so. Yet another problem is the structural strength of picture frames with rush jobs. Many customers don't realize that what holds the four wooden sections of the picture frame together is woodworking glue. At least one well-known P.V.A. woodworking glue manufacturer states that its glue must dry for at least 24 hours before usage and at least 36 hours for maximum strength.
In other words, a rush picture frame, might spring open up at the corners if not carefully handled. This is because the glue at the two joined, mitred ends, may still be curing and unable to hold a given load, will fail . And if hung it will almost certainly do so because of the added weight and perpendicular stress put on the vertical sections of the frame by the hanging chain or cord. For information on same-day framing of rush jobs visit our Picture Framing Services page.
I ran an art school and we used to get done lots of picture framing done. While the picture framers could not make the picture frames for us on the spot as we waited they could do other stuff. Most framers can cut you a piece of glass for your broken photo frames oe re-string a picture frames with loose or broken string onthe spot as that does not take much time. We got told anyway that the main reason why on-the-spot picture framing can’t be done is because the glue which is put on all 4 corners of any freshly-made frame has to dry first. If a picture framer cuts and joins a picture frame and gives it to you straight away without letting it dry first, the frame could open up at the corners and then it has to be done all over again. So that’s the main reason.
Well there are picture framers and picture framers and it also depends if they’re very busy or not, I’m a gallery owner and get a get a lot art framed. We use four picture framers to make our picture frames and sometimes, small special, photo frames. Our main framer is cheap but he takes four week. The other back-up framer is very fast but he’s expensive, about 50% more of the prices of the first one, but they CAN frame artwork for me on the SAME day. The other two picture framers are specialists. One does very large work, like 2 metres work on paper, and the last oen, a lady, does special conservation work for the high-end lithographs, limited edition prints, etc. So my advice is for people to ring around if they want something framed the same day but be prepared to buy a fair bit more for that fast picture frame.
This blog is pretty much right. A while back I had a large picture frame mirror done. It was a rush job because I was having a friend’s wedding photo-shoot and the big mirror was a key prop. I ordered the frame in the morning and picked it up in the afternoon. It was also expensive at $615. Anyway, in the evening, during the photography, we moved the frame around a bit and the corners opened up so that there were large gaps in the corners. But when I picked up the frame the joins were nice and tight. After we finished the photo-shoot I went back to the picture framer who made the picture frame and complained about this wanting the frame fixed. Well, you won’t believe this but the framer said that we had "mishandled" the frame during the glue-drying process and this had voided the warranty. But no-one had told me or warned me about this!!! It’s not fair !! By the way, I’m taking the picture framer to Small claims.