Chop Service FAQs

We cut the frame to the ‘glass size’. We can’t work out your frame size for you. If you’re not an experienced framer, have a look at our ‘New to Framing’ section for information on where to find training.

This is the inner measurement you give us when ordering. It’s the dimensions of the piece of acrylic/glass that will eventually drop into the frame. This will be smaller than the outside dimensions of the finished frame.

To allow a little wriggle room for the glass, mount and backing board, we automatically add 2mm Fitting Tolerance to the Glass Size you give us. This allows 1mm all round between glazing and frame.

If for some reason you don’t want us to add fitting tolerance, just check the box for ‘Do not add 2mm fitting tolerance’.

We can’t vary the amount of tolerance we add - if you want more or less than 2mm select ‘Do not add fitting tolerance’ and then add your preferred tolerance to the glass size.

Give us the internal measurements of the tray frame you want to make. This would be the size of the canvas plus any shadow gap you want to create between the canvas and the frame.

No, we don’t offer a frame joining service. To join the four pieces into a frame, you will need an underpinner to insert v-nails. You can’t just bang them in with a hammer! Some hand-operated underpinners will also require a band clamp or vice to hold the pieces together while you insert the v-nails.

If you’ll be joining the frame with a hand-operated underpinner, avoid harder woods such as oak and ash, and also more ornate / shaped mouldings – you’ll need commercial framing equipment to work with these.

No, we don’t cut glass and backing board to size. You can order 1200mm x 800mm sheets of styrene glazing and backing board on our Mixed Sheet Despatch service and cut them to size.

No, we don’t sell glass as we can’t despatch it with our carriers. You can order sheets of 1200mm x 800mm styrene glazing on our Mixed Sheet Despatch service, or try a local glass supplier.

The chop price includes a labour element for cutting the frame, and also the wastage.

Click here for FAQs relating to our delivery service and other frequently asked questions.

We cut to the inside edge of the rebate. Calculate the Glass Size of the finished frame by working out the size of the artwork plus any window mount.

• If you want to stack two mouldings to make one frame. 1. Inner Frame: Order the Glass Size. 2. Outer Frame: Order Glass Size + 2 x (Width - Rebate).

• We recommend you choose to add Fitting Tolerance to both inner and outer frame.

• For the rebate size check your chevron. If you don’t have a chevron you can work on the basis the rebate is 6 - 7mm.

• We cannot cut frames to the outside size.

• We cut to the back edge of the profile.

• We recommend you choose to add Fitting Tolerance to both spacer and outer frame.

• We cut to the back edge of the profile.

• We recommend that you select ‘Do Not Add Fitting Tolerance’ to slips as they should fit snugly into the outer frame.

• We recommend you choose to add Fitting Tolerance to both slip and outer frame.

We cut to the inside edge of the rebate.

• These profiles are designed to make a Tray Frame for a stretched canvas. We cut to the inside edge.

• Calculate or measure the dimensions of the stretched canvas.

• Most framers add a ‘Shadow Gap’ between the canvas and the frame as it looks better than the frame being tight to the canvas.

• A 10mm shadow gap is most popular - so add 20mm to each dimension of your canvas.

• These stepped profiles can be used to make tray frames for different depths of canvas. The stepped shape automatically creates a shadow gap.

• When ordering online you can choose whether to have the frame cut with either the tall or the short side surrounding the frame.

• We cut to the back edge of the profile.

• Order the finished size of the canvas you are stretching.

• We cut to the inside edge of the profile.

• Measure the panel.

• Panels should fit snugly into this profile but we recommend adding Fitting Tolerance to give you a bit of wiggle room.

• We cut to the inside edge of the profile.

• Measure the panel then add 2 x shadow gap – up to 7mm for L2544 and L2545, up to 10mm for L2989 and L2990.

• Do not add tolerance to ensure that your shadow gap is accurate.

• We cut to the inside edge of the profile.

• Calculate the Glass Size of the finished frame by working out the size of the artwork plus any window mount.

Aluminium Frame Hardware

• Make sure you’ve ordered your aluminium frame hardware, either as a single frame kit from the Chop Service page or separately in bulk.

• If any side of the frame is over 1000mm we recommend choosing 9772 Aluminium Frame Hardware Large.

• We cut to the inside edge of the profile.

• Add a shadow gap of up to 15mm to the size of the panel you’re framing.

Aluminium Frame Hardware

• Make sure you’ve ordered your aluminium frame hardware, either as a single frame kit from the Chop Service page or separately in bulk.

• If any side of the frame is over 1000mm we recommend choosing 9772 Aluminium Frame Hardware Large.

• We cut to the back edge of the profile.

• Subtract 2 x your desired overhang from the size of the panel you’re mounting. The overhang is usually around 25mm all round.

Sub Frame Hardware

• Sub Frame is square cut, and joined with moulding plastic push in corners. Select a hardware kit from the Chop Service page.