Why Thickness Is Important

There are three measurements that are important to insure that the frame you order is properly sized for your collectible. They are the height, width and thickness.

The first two are pretty self explanitory. If you are framing a 12x22" newspaper and order an 8x10" frame it is obvious that the newspaper won't fit in the frame.

The importance of thickness is less obvious and is the focus of this page. If you order a frame that is not the right size for your frame, your item won't fit into the frame.

Each moulding has a physical limit on the thickness that it can accomodate. The depth of each frame is called it's 'rabbit'. As shown in the image on the right, it is the distance from the lip of the frame to the back of the moulding.

The two profiles shown above are for mouldings #660 and #311. The first is has a rabbit depth of 9/16" and the second has a rabbit depth of 1". I will be using these two mouldings in the example below. The page for each moulding shows the maximim thickness that it can support. There are different maximums shown for Changeable and Value Frames.

The frame has to accomodate the thickness of the glazing, the backing and your item. For a Changeable frame it also has to accomdate the thickness of the mats.

The glazing, mats and backing are each roughly 1/8" thick. That means that for a Value Frame, 1/4" (3/8" for a Changeable Frame) of the rabbit is taken before you add your item. For the two mouldings above that leaves 5/16" for moulding #660 and 3/4" for moulding #311. This is for a Value Frame. Another 1/8" is used for the mats in a Changeable Frame.

We start with two magaziness. The first is a 1/2" thick Playboy and the second is a 1/8" thick Rolling Stone.

We see the difference in thickness here.

The Playboy measures 1/2" thick.

The Rolling Stone measures 1/8" thick.

Here is everything that will go into the frame; the glazing, the Rolling Stone and the backing.

Here are the two mouldings; #660 on the left and #311 on the left.

Here are all the parts for the Rolling Stone going into moulding #660. Everything fits fine.

Here are all the parts for the Playboy going into moulding #660. Whoops. You can see that this magazine is way too thick for this frame.

Here are all the parts for the Playboy going into moulding #311. Everything fits fine.

Here are all the parts for the Rolling Stone going into moulding #311. Everything fits fine in the thicker frame. Youn can always use a thicker frame for thinner items.

All the above pictures are for a Value Frame but the same holds true for a Changeable Frame. It will require an additional 1/8" for the thickness of the mats.