Metal Frames

What kinds of metal are being used to make metal frames? They are made of Silver, Brass, Gold or Steel. There are also Gold Plated or Gilded frames, Silver Plated and Silver Pearl frames and frames that are made of a Steel/Nickel Alloy. (These aren’t very expensive to manufacture.)

What about custom Engraved Frames, are they metal too? Yes, for the most part they are. While you can engrave a wood frame, it isn’t as easy as engraving a metal frame. Engravers use special machinery to do their customer’s special orders. I’ll discuss this in more detail later.

Why choose a metal frame over a wood or plastic frame? Which type of frame you choose is totally up to you. What will be around the frame? Are there children and/or pets in your home? How often will the framed item be knocked down or knocked off the wall? Do you want a frame that has a glass mat on it? These are all things that you need to think about when you’re choosing a frame. To answer your question about choosing metal over wood or plastic; it all comes down to personal choice. Some metal frames do look better than either wood or plastic.

Are metal frames more durable or longer lasting than either wood or plastic? That all depends upon the factors I’ve already spoken of. Absolutely Nothing Lasts Forever! Metal frames can be dented, bent or broken if they are mistreated… just like any other item.

I’ve heard that only metal frames can be or are antiqued, is this truth? Pretty much, though I have seen some antique wood frames too. Antique frames are usually metal.

What sizes are available?  Metal frames are available in the same range of sizes that wood frames are; ranging from 4 in by 6 in all the way up to 22 in by 28 in.

Do all metal frames have that glass matting? Yes, most of the time. There are some metal frames that do not have that piece of protective glass. That glass protects whatever is being displayed from fading out over time. This is especially important if the frame will be sitting in direct sunlight.

How can I tell if a frame is Gold or Brass? If a frame is Gold it will have a stamp on it that says something like 10K or 14K or 24K Plated. Brass is an alloy, that is a mixture of Copper and Zinc in variable (different) proportions. You won’t find too many gold frames just sitting around a store’s shelves. This simply is not a good business practice, with gold being as valuable as it is currently.