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Focus on framing equipment
12 November 2020
Every framer knows how important it is to get the right equipment, and it can be daunting trying to sift through the vast array of products available to find the best machine for you. But fear not, we’ve spoken to Peter Stanlick from Framers Equipment, who has decades of experience in the framing equipment industry and is a well-known expert.
Equipment is one of the most important purchases a framer makes and there is a lot to consider before coming to a conclusion on the right equipment for your business. Here, Peter has provided a handy list of things to think about before buying!
- The nature of your business: The equipment required for bespoke framing will be entirely different to the equipment needed for production framing.
- Location: The equipment you will need depends on whether your business is home-based, a shop, a gallery or an industrial unit.
- Available workshop space: Space dictates which machines you are able to purchase and the services you are able to offer.
- Material: The machines you purchase must work well with the materials you will be using.
- Buy the best and most versatile machine you can afford to save future expenses.
Peter added, “It is always worth considering in advance whether the machinery can meet your very specific needs. Must it be able to cut a greater array of materials, including larger profile mouldings, natural hardwoods, and plastics for example? Photographers handling large format work may also require digital printers, a hot or cold roller laminator or a multi-material cutter.”
Increasingly now, a customer’s first port of call is the internet and other online selling platforms advertising used equipment. Unfortunately, the equipment often has missing parts, is damaged, or is no longer supported by the manufacturer – therefore beyond repair. Framers should be extremely careful and consider their time and money before purchasing or seek professional advice.
Here are Peter’s top six equipment recommendations:
- Morso Mitre Guillotine, or Cassese Saw: A Cassese Saw, either manual or automated, will allow you to achieve a consistent quality of mitre cuts and gain the trust of your customers.
- Cassese Underpinner, manual or automated: A Cassese underpinner provides a strong clamp, allowing you to consistently create quality joints. This is easy to set up regardless of the profile of your business but is particularly important for bespoke framers using glue.
- Mountcutter, manual or computerised: with the ability to cut regular and thick mountboard if you like to work creatively and follow fashionable trends. We recommend the Fletcher or Keencut mountcutters.
- Wall Mounted Multi Material Cutter: This equipment will enable you to cut glass, acrylic, backing boards and mountboards, and will possibly save you more time and space than any other piece of equipment in the workshop! Again, we recommend the Fletcher or Keencut material cutter.
- Bambi or Hydrovane Compressor: Air tools such as the compressor will speed up production and make your life considerably easier long term. For additional security, we would recommend allowing for extra air capacity to avoid additional expense at a later date.
- Hot or Cold Roller Laminator: The ideal machine for photographers and framers, providing permanent and non-reversible artwork lamination.
“It’s important that you get the best out of your machine,” Peter says, “and to avoid damaging your equipment, you must maintain it as per the manufacturer’s instructions on a regular basis. If you are not mechanically minded, you need to consider service training or an annual service visit to avoid machine breakdowns and loss of production. The simplest way to do this is to have the jobs listed in a diary to carry out on a regular basis.”
In addition to selling equipment, Framers Equipment also runs accredited training courses covering a wide range of subjects including ‘Basic Training: Box Framing & Memorabilia’ and ‘Textiles: Conservation & Museum’ – both following the Fine Art Trade Guild Framing Standards.
Their next available training courses are the Basic Framing Course: 21st November and Textile Framing Course: 5th December. Both are available to book here.
Framers Equipment was founded in 19XX by Peter and his father Tony Stanlick GCF. Peter’s brother Jan Stanlick GCF (APF) also joined the company early on – and continues to run the training side of the business.
For more information go to www.framersequipment.co.uk
