×

framing experts

Do you know how a real frame is made? Well, thought so! We paid a visit to frame maker Ramverkstan, to learn about all the steps of a handmade, high quality frame. The most important lesson we learnt? That it's quite an impressive craft, which takes time.

This is Jonas and Robert who work at Ramverkstan. Both of them started working with frames in the eighties, and that really shows. All the movements of frame making seem programmed in their hands and they work extremely fast, even with the most delicate task. Still, it takes quite a while to finish a frame, due to the amount of work that has to be done. About 10-15 different steps have to be carried out. In this article we've tried to document the whole process to elucidate what a handmade frame is, why it costs what it costs and, above all, why it looks so much better! We've followed the process of making a wooden box frame and a metal frame with a mount.

Welcome to Ramverkstan's basement! This is the wood and metal workshop where all frame material is cut. We're starting out by making our wooden frame. 

The size of the frame is established and now the batten is cut in four pieces with the help of a special machine.

Was it a good cut? Well, yes, so now the four pieces can be assembled. 

But first any unevenness in the wood around the edges must be cut off with a sharp knife.

A dab of glue on the end, and the pieces are joined. Many frame makers use a special kind of nailer gun, but Ramverkstan nail by hand with two nails in each corner. The result is more satisfactory and the corners more "tight" according to Robert. The nailer gun shoots its brads into the frame from below, which can cause the joint to be less tight, whereas the hammer enters the nail from the side, which helps the two pieces of batten to join together even tighter.

Fancy trying to join two pieces of wood at home? This is where craftsmanship really shows its true face. In a minute or so, Robert has made a perfectly square frame with the joints barely visible.

At the same time, the metal batten is cut with a saw. You need to cover your ears because this sure makes a lot of sound!

Four finished pieces, ready to make a frame. 

We're now leaving the basement and the Skagen painters...

…because we're going upstairs to cut glass. 

Frame makers used to use a diamond cutter but today a special kind of roller is used. It can cut both straight and curved lines and is a great tool to use, according to Robert.

Measuring is of course of utmost importance, then just a quick line with the roller and it's done.

Cutting the mount has been the headache of generations of frame makers, causing aches in many old frame maker thumbs. Ramverkstan has invested in a digital tool which is connected to an automatic mount cutter. But the measurements still have to be calculated by the frame maker by hand.

The measurements are entered in the computer and after some adjusting, the machine cuts the cardboard into a perfect mount with a nice square hole in the middle. How many mounts they've cut since they bought the machine? Just about 32,199! 

In box frames, no mount is used but instead a batten is glued into the frame to create the space inside the frame, between the artwork and the glass - the box itself. 

The four pieces have to be cut and glued into the frame. At Ramverkstan, Robert and Jonas use cardboard so that the tone of colour can match the backing cardboard. Otherwise, wooden battens are commonly used.

Each piece gets its dab of glue...

…and is tightly secured in the frame and left to dry.

Meanwhile, Jonas is finishing the mount frame. The mount is joined with a backing cardboard with acid free adhesive tape. 

The artwork is put in the "folder", secured with a weight to lay still and carefully, small pieces of adhesive tape in the upper corners fastens it to the cardboard.

The metal frame is assembled using special mounting.

The glass is cleaned very carefully. Evidently, it's extra important that no dirt is left on what is going to be the inside of the frame. 

The glass is placed on top of the mounted artwork and it is all slid into the metal frame, which is not yet fully assembled.

The last piece is mounted.

In order for everything to stay in place, little metal bows are placed inside of the frame, pushing the cardboard against the glass.

It's time for mountings and wire, so that the artworks can hang!

Tadaa! A work of art is ready to be picked up by a happy frame customer (this little print by Stina Wirsén is however not sold by ed. art).

What about the box frame? It's mounted on a cardboard with the same acid free adhesive tape. Robert measures carefully so that the artwork is perfectly positioned on the cardboard, both centered and, of course, straight.

Weights on, so that the artwork doesn't move, and the Robert secures the position with small pieces of tape on the back. 

Here, it is Annette Hammarén's ”Vinter” lying very still.

It's time for the suspension batten. If you want the frame to hang evenly on the wall, without the upper edge hanging out from it and only the lower edge touching the wall, a good way to go about is using a batten on the back instead of fastening the hanging wire directly onto the frame. First of all, Robert cuts the batten with a small saw.

Then he fastens the loops. 

Glue again, the frame maker's best friend. 

And the batten is fastened on the back of the cardboard with the help of the weights (the second best friend of the frame maker?). 

All is set for the final mounting of the frame. The glass is cut, the frame assembled, the special box frame battens glued into the frame, the artwork mounted on a cardboard, the suspension batten glued to another cardboard. 

But first one of the most important steps! The soft "baby brush" removes all dust and dirt. Even the smallest speck can show inside the frame so it needs to be totally clean.

The artwork and the cardboard are placed within the wooden frame and brads are shot into the frame to hold everything in place. 

This is what it looks like when it's done. 

Now, the only thing remaining is another round of adhesive tape to secure the brads in their positions.

And to sand away any splinters in the wood.

The finished back.

And this is the front!

That's all from our visit. We hope that you learnt as much as we did about what makes a high quality frame and what kind of work effort it takes to make one! If you have questions about frames, don't hesitate to contact us and we'll pass on all complicated issues to Robert and Jonas. If you live in Stockholm, you're most welcome to pay them a visit on Birger jarlsgatan 99.