Training your framers?

[Andrew Lenz Jr.]

I'm curious, has anyone developed their own formal training system for their framers?

Larson-Juhl has their picture framing training manual (binder), which seems to be decent, though I haven't read completely through it myself. (In doing so would be to write my own additions to the text for my framers to read.)

We've got a checklist that I've developed, but the thing is, framing is quite complicated. Really. There are things you only see or have to figure out every five years or so.

Basic framing is pretty easy. Cut glass, cut backing, cut mat, cut and assemble frame, fit the picture.

The tricky stuff is someone coming in with an old silk scarf that they want to see both sides, for instance.

(On the other hand, it'd all be easy if you were a hack framer!)

How to you take your framers to "the next level" in education? Yes, I could have them read the books as if they were studying for the CPF . . . but even then, there are holes.

To a certain extent, there is no substitute for experience.

How to you tackle the problem?

Andrew

 

[Jim Miller MCPF GCF]

Since there are so many variables in framing applications, it would be impossible to teach every possible technique. What works is to focus on fundamentals that guide the framer to make the right choices and, perhaps more important, to avoid serious mistakes. Here are a few random examples:

1. Do not rely on pressure sensitive adhesives under stress or to support weight.

2. Attachments should provide adequate support for the item considering the forces of gravity, ambient conditions, normal handling, and some anticipated hazards. For example, a fragile document needs overall support, but a heavy firearm needs multiple point supports.

3 Attachments should be as reversible and as non-invasive as possible. Non-adhesive mounts are generally more desirable than adhesive mounts.

4. A properly-fitted frame is a closed environment, which reduces the rate of environmental changes inside the frame.

5. All kinds of materials expand and contract in cycles, but at different rates, in response to changes of temperature and humidity. Exp/Con cycles are most harmful to fibrous materials. Reducing the rate of change reduces the severity of the cycles and thereby reduces deterioration.

6. Acid and invasive chemicals can migrate out of and into hygroscopic materials.

When one begins to study fundamentals, everything seems theoretical. The value of experience is to add clear understanding to those theoretical fundamentals, and the learning eventually gets down to finite details. Here and there, our base of knowledge expands into a specialty, and then two specialties, then three, and so on.

Learning never provides all of the answers, but if you're doing it right, only brings up more questions. Learning is an endless journey, not a destination. In my opinion, the trick of being a good teacher is to make it a pleasant journey.

 

[Cathy Coggins]

Andrew, HI. I am Cathy, also studying for 'passing' my CPF. AKA i-m-chickie on the Grumble.

You know, the more I frame, the more I study the books for the CPF, the more I work with other framers, the more I network with them on PPFA stuff or how to do this job or that, the more I talk with suppliers or distributors , the more I am AMAZED.
Amazed at the work framers do, the crazy ideas, the enterprising thoughts and concepts, the sense of integrity and hard work, the more I am amazed at even myself as I stand beside them. We are a rarity. We are an industry of more or less mom and pop shops. We don't really have a direct advertising to huge market consumers. We (the framers) are the focus of the bigger budgeted suppliers' (TV and LJ etc) ad revenue . And we are still holding are own against the BBs as they subtly undermine us by planting the idea that we are so overpriced and thus they need to market 40, 50, 60, even 70 percent off to the consumer.
Yet, as a front line to consumers, I believe all that crazy enterprising has keep us a field going, even doing well. All that, "how do I do this?", "how do I make it great, make a customer happy, preserve a precious whatnot, and keep bread on the table?", has been done by a rare group of entrepreneurs that are doing quite a lot.

There are holes in our knowledge banks. No one framer can know and specialize in everything. And training employees in a day and age where integrity, honor and hard-work are becoming less human traits as a diminishing idea. But, there is a thread on the G right now creating a wee bit of a kerfuffle on compensation and skill sets in and with employees. I think that empowerment is key to a reciprocal and edifying relationship with staff. I know I used to work for the company I now own.

PPFA is trying to hold as much knowledge as we as individual framers are trying to take in. There is too much. Many hands make the load light. Industry leaders are perceiving and responding to queries, ask them. Your voice matters. And I perceive too that others will step up in expounding further on issues, as more ask the right questions
The information age is making all sorts of information available, which then creates bigger problems. That is a rather larger discussion.
I am finding as I reread books I read 3, 5 or even more years ago, I am seeing with different eyes, I am sure you'll agree.

I look forward to more.