Framing Service Joins Workmanship and Competitive Prices

The folks at Framex guarantee that they will save you money on framing. Just bring in your last four or five invoices, and they’ll beat the price. If you don’t have previous invoices, bring in a current ad or coupon or flyer from a competitor, and they’ll beat that price. And if you don’t have either, bring a written price quote from another store and Framex will beat the price shown.

When we checked into the framing done at Framex these days, we were impressed. It uses a double miter saw from Italy that slices simultaneously through any wood or metal moldings (even five-inch ones), creating perfect corners. Owner-manager Stan Neville tells us that this is the first saw made expressly for the picture-frame trade and that Framex is the only framer on the West Coast to have it.

The frames are joined by shooting special nails into their backs, where they are hidden by dust covers.

Framex is not just for low-end framing but for every facet of archival or museum framing, and will use acid-free mats and glues at competitive prices. Its customers include some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry: Disney, CBS and MCA.

The average consumer can find some excellent deals, many at 50% less than at most stores, starting with 5,000 to 6,000 posters that are sold at cost if you get one framed here. Framex’s price for a 27- by 40-inch movie poster in a good quality metal frame is $46.90. The price for a complete framing in black, gold or silver metal runs $8.40 for a 5- by 7-inch to $49 for a 32- by 40-inch frame, which represents a savings of anywhere from 40% to 60% off many chains.

This is the best deal, but you have to stick to these colors--black, gold or silver--which is hard to do when there’s a choice of 700 variations of wood, lacquer, shadow boxes, plexiboxes (shadow boxes made of plexiglass) and even perma-plaque. Designer colors are about 30% less, and wood, lacquer and plexi about 20% less than at most places.

Framex used to be a jungle of bargain hunters on Mondays. That was Free Mat Day, meaning that you got a custom-cut mat for each picture framed. That must have worked well--now every day is One Penny Mat Day, meaning that you buy one at the regular price (a 16- by 20-inch would be $12.60) and get the second one for a penny.

So you black-belt shoppers can take in ALL unframed photos, posters, oils--whatever is tucked away--any day of the week, select black, gold or silver metal frames and realize hefty savings.

Stan’s the man in charge here, and he seems to take a lot of pride in his operation. I’ve had lots of good feedback on the workmanship and the service here, as well as on the prices.

Framex, 4054 Laurel Canyon Blvd., Studio City, (818) 509-0700. Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays.