I'm looking for a reliable source of pre-cut 4/8 ply archival mat boards, but all such services seem to be US-based. Could anybody recommend an Old World supplier?
Here in Dublin there is no such thing as 'reasonable price' for any service I'm afraid ;-) Will neet to ask anyway, I guess... Perhaps I'll end up buying the mats online and cutting them here. I just wonder if they have equipment for the 8ply....
Lodima Archival Materials ships mat board overseas all the time. We have 4-ply and 8-ply and can cut custom sizes at no extra charge. And we can cut overmats with our computerized mat cutter. There are no minimum quantities.
I think there was a minimum order of 50, (all the same size) but they did a great job and very well priced. I can't remember the price, but was supplied with 16x20 cut mounts and backing boards of the same archival mount board. I've also used a company in Glasgow called Picturemounts a while back back can't find a reference for them.
Another good UK supplier is Lion Picture Framing Supplies in Birmingham, I've used them for around 25 years, they are a trade wholesaler so extremely competitive in price.
I've found the only reliable way to make mounts is to cut them myself. It's not difficult with something like a Logan cutter, much cheaper if you can track down a picture frame supplier (mouldings, glass, board etc) A sheet of conservation board is approx £3. The advantage of these big sheets is there is the board left for a smaller mount from the cutout of a bigger one.