Source for narrow black wood frame for black and white print

logan2z

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I had a print of mine framed professionally a few years ago and the frame I used was very thin - 3/8" when viewed head on. The framer did a great job, but the cost was very high. Since I've got a few more prints I'd like to frame and hang I'm looking for a more economical solution. I've checked all of the usual online custom frame makers and I can't find anything in the 3/8"-1/2" width. The narrowest I have come across is 3/4" which is too wide.

Does anyone know a source for good quality, hardwood frames in the 3/8"-1/2" range?
 
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logan2z

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jeffreyg said:
Check out americanframe.com
Click to expand...

Thanks, I looked there before. The smallest simple (square profile), black frame they have is 3/4" wide. I figured I might be overlooking a frame like that in 1/2" width but I spoke to them and they confirmed that 3/4" is the smallest.

I assumed I'd be able to buy such a frame almost anywhere, but it seems to be nearly impossible to find.
 

Don_ih

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With a frame that narrow, the joinery has to be particularly strong to hold the weight of the glass and the photo backing. The standard ways of joining the corners would not be easy (or in some cases, possible). I'd cut keys in such a corner to strengthen it.
In other words, it would be expensive to get. It's not the sort of thing a factory would generally turn out.
 
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logan2z

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That may be the case. I'm curious now what the frame shop I used did for my frame. Maybe they made it in-house. It's holding an 11x14" print and I used an acrylic glazing so the whole package isn't very big/heavy. They did a great job, but charged a small fortune so I was looking for something a bit more economical. Maybe that's simply not possible.
 

MattKing

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You may be able to achieve this with a metal frame.
3/8 inch thick wood stock isn't normally very strong - particularly if you are trying to hang something on a wall.
 
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logan2z

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MattKing said:
You may be able to achieve this with a metal frame.
3/8 inch thick wood stock isn't normally very strong - particularly if you are trying to hang something on a wall.
Click to expand...

But I want wood

The framer I used before used a 3/8" wood frame and I haven't had any issues with it. She frames for Fraenkel Gallery and others so she knows what she's doing, but charges prices commensurate with her expertise.
 

nmp

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Long time ago I had picked up some 1/2" width frames from Michaels (or A C Moore, I forget - which no longer exists.) Not completely square but slightly curved. May be you can find something there. Otherwise your best bet would be to get metal frames which can be as low as 1/4" and square. (But you want wood, I know...)

:Niranjan.
 
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logan2z

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Pieter12 said:
You didn't state the size or depth you need. I have found that Ikea frames sometimes work quite nicely.
Click to expand...

My current frame is about 18"x14"x1" (WxHxD) and that works well for the size of prints I make. I'll check Ikea, I didn't even think to look there.
 

MattKing

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One caution with IKEA frames. In some cases, they fit slightly different than standard sized mats.
Their line seems to have gone less durable recently.
 

Pieter12

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logan2z said:
It looks like they're not hardwood, which I guess isn't surprising given their low price. Only available in fixed sizes too. Thanks to @Pieter12 for the suggestion, but I think I'll keep looking...
Click to expand...
Apart from the sometimes odd sizing (European, maybe?), durability for such a small, thin frame isn't an issue for me. I'll end up getting tired of the print before the frames shows signs of deterioration. But it is possible that the materials could affect long-term permanence of a silver gelatin print--at Ikea's prices, I doubt it is made of archival sealed hardwood. But the majority of frames on the market aren't either.

Have you considered black aluminum frames? They tend to be slimmer than wooden ones.
 

Patrick Robert James

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You could try art stores like Dick Blick. A quick 30 second search found these- https://www.dickblick.com/products/blick-wood-gallery-frames/

Back in the day when people actually bought photographs I used to get wood frames from Light Impressions. Who knows if they still have them or if they are even around anymore. They were gorgeous frames though. My favorite was Cherry.

If you want more than a couple it would probably be cheaper/easier to make them yourself if you have any access to anyone with woodworking machines. Frames are pretty simple to make.
 

foc

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The heaviest part of any frame is the glass. With narrow frames, the bigger it is, the less strength of the frame. The backing can help with rigidity.

I have seen large narrow frames "belly out" when hung. (the frame distorts with the weight of the glass and the glass tries to pull away from the frame)

Of course, using plexiglass, this isn't a problem.
 
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Don_ih

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logan2z said:
Thanks, that's exactly what I'm looking for!
Click to expand...

Those frames have keyed corners, which helps reinforce. Them 3/8" thick hardwood is easily strong enough for a relatively large frame - the joints need to be strong. Another problem with thin wood frames, however, especially as the size increases, is the tendency for the wood to not want to stay straight.
 
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logan2z

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Roger Thoms said:
Yes, I think some people are missing the fact you want a very thin profile. I didn’t have any luck finding 3/8”.

Roger
Click to expand...

1/2" is close enough.

Thanks again for the suggestion. I'm going to order one of their 1/2" frames and see how it goes.
 

MTGseattle

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I can't remember the various trade names for it, but if you have a Tap plastics near you, they can cut you the museum grade acrylic sheet. There are a few versions (UV blocking, anti-reflective, and combinations of both). If you ask a frame shop to use it, it costs a lot.
 
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