Pictures frames are EXPENSIVE! Help!

[ProUser]

I have 2 *huge* walls in my house that I need to put picture frames on. So I went "poster" shopping this weekend. I found 2 prints that I really like, one is like 60 inches by 48 inches, the other is 60 inches by 28 inches. (yes, big walls). The prints were like $50-$70 each. About what I expected.

And then I looked at the cost to frame them. My $50 print turned into a $400 masterpiece if I wanted it framed. The smaller one was $300.

Is this insane? I checked like 3 places, and they all wanted like $300 for the frame, glass, matting for each picture.

Anyone have any advice, suggestions? $700 is a lot more then I want to spend on 2 pictures on my wall.. especially when the prints only cost me around $100.

 

[HokieESM]

Yeah, I've run into this too. "Custom" framing is very, very expensive. Especially if you want actual glass. The only thing I know to try is to see if it will "mat" to a "standard" size--those frames are MUCH MUCH cheaper.

The other alternative is to see if you know a woodworker. Picture frames are not terribly hard to make, unless you want incredibly fancy ones. One thing that CAN hurt you is glass. Especially the 60" x 48" piece--glass comes in 4' x 8' sheets, and isn't terribly square sometimes... so they may have to use an XL sheet to cut you a piece.

Or, sometimes you can find a 50% off coupon for framing from Michaels (if they have those where you live).... I managed to get a poster framed this way for
"only" $100.

Best of luck to you.... if you find a cheaper way, let me know!!!

 

[sciencetoy]

sandwich: piece of masonite backing, poster, sheet of plexiglass (use thin, quality plexi and don't handle it much)

use clamps to hold them together. I work with a few NYC galleries and they do that kind of thing.

 

[BigSmooth]

Yup, framing is expensive. I've tried to do it myself and it definitely looked amateurish - unless you are very skilled with arts 'n' crafts you have to have it done professionally.
Only advice I can give is to check around at as many places as possible. I've been able to find some discount places that are quite a bit cheaper than some of the initial quotes I got. They still do a good job in my experience.

 

[Brutuskend]

Goodwill

 

[vi edit]

Here's a thought too - I've found that if I look around, I can find prints WITH frames cheaper than the frames themselves. So, you buy the framed print, rip out the picture, and put your own in.

Instead of paying $300 for a custom frame, I pay $120 for the same exact frame + some ugly print that I throw away. Don't know why they do it, but I'm not complaining.