To the oft-asked question "Is it safe to use glass to frame big posters?" we answer, yes, and we'll also blog about this because we've come across it a few times in the last few months or so. It generally goes like
this: a Customer rings us wanting to frame a "big" picture or print with Perspex instead of glass. We query if the picture frame is for a hospital, a children's environment, an aged care home or a high-traffic area. No the customer says. It's just that they have a "really big" picture and he or she has been told to use plastic or perspex instead of glass. They've been told that either a glass sheets of that size isn't available, or, a glass that size would be "too heavy" and "too dangerous" ..... to use.
When asked how big does the frame needs to be, the customer tells us that it's "really big", about a 1x1m or "really massive" like 1.5 x 1m or so. At this point we reassure the customer that a) yes, we can get picture framing glass for that size with no problems b) it's quite safe to use when handled properly and, c) plastic or perspex, being a lot dearer, are not required. So we usually get the job.
But we have to ask, why do some picture framers give potential customers incorrect advice? We've talked to some picture framing glass suppliers about this and, so far as we can tell, there are a couple of likely reason as to why this happens. In the first instance, some picture framers operate from small stores or workshops. They don't actually have the room or storage space to stock big, oversize glass sheets.
They can only stock the smaller, 3'x4', glass sheets and so they tell customers that anything bigger than 3'x4' has to be perpsex. In the second instance, a picture frame may have the room and space to stock r oversize sheets but they aren't confident of handling and cutting these big sheets. So they too only stock only the smaller size glass sheets and they too tell customers the same thing.
To be fair to these picture framers, it does take skill, experience and confidence to lift, carry, score, polish and fit glass panes cut from 6'x'4 sheets. However, and so far as we are concerned, we can glaze big picture frames up to 153x122cms and customers don't need to to the extra expense of buying specially cut-to-size perspex. You can visit our page Picture Framing Glass which has additional information on glass and glazing materials. Thank you for reading this post "Is it safe to use glass to frame big posters like 36"x48" (122x92cms) or bigger?.
This is exactly what happened to me!!! I bought a large Gustav Klimt poster 154x100cms from a US site which I really, really liked and desperately wanted framed for my new apartment. The first framer I went to in a shopping centre told me that it was too big for them to frame and that I’d have go to a specialist picture framer. I then went to a big Prahran framer and they told me that it was a really big challenging job, that it would take 3 people to make that they’d have get special perspex cut for me an that it’d cost me $1,550 !!!!!! I thought that was absolutely crazy for a $149 poster so I started searching online. Eventually I googled http://www.pictureframe.com.au and spoke to a picture framer about my issues. No problem he said !! He does posters that size with glass all the time !!! When I told him that every other framer said that it couldn’t be done with glass and that it was either too big or dangerous he laughed !! He sent me photos of posters bigger than mine to prove his point. Anyway, I went to see him, left him the poster and picked it up fully framed -with glass- 2 weeks later. And the cost ? $365 !!! I couldn’t believe it !!! This picture framer has been framing for 40 years and works in a factory in Ebden St Moorabbin. You can easily Google him !! It goes to show that it pays to Google around and ask questions !!
I had a very similar experience up here in Brisbane. I had a 50"x36" English poster I wanted to have picture framed and a couple of picture framers told me that they would have to use "special" and quite expensive Lucite sheets because they reckoned that picture framing glass isn’t sold in sheets bigger than 48"x36". But that’s not true because I later found out that picture framers can get even 8’x6′ if they want it as is as it definitely available. Like the post says, small, shopping centre stores can’t get large glass sheets inside their shops so they tell customers untruths, if not downright lies.