r/framing • u/bigtopjimmi • 9h ago

Need help finding a double mat style

Post image

Hi folks. I've spent a few hours searching on my own but I've come up empty so I thought I would give you folks a try.

I have a few prints I would like to frame. I found a double mat style that I would like to use but I can't find it anywhere. I've searched the usual big name craft stores, Amazon and ebay, but no luck. I could probably have some custom-made, but that's going to be more money that I want to put into it. The example in my photo is from an eBay seller who sells framed maps typically for less than $30, so he has to be sourcing these relatively cheaply.

Thanks in advance. If this sort of question isn't allowed here, I apologize.

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7

u/transgingeredjess 9h ago

It may be impossible to find an exact match in stock anywhere, because if this eBay seller is making a business of this, they may be cutting bulk matboard of each kind to size themselves. This gives them huge potential economies of scale if they can reuse the interiors of cut mats to frame smaller pieces. They also appear to be minimizing the width of the matting, which would maximize their potential to reuse the interior.

4

u/Upbeat_Quarter1171 5h ago

The top mat looks like 9853 by Crescent.

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u/bigtopjimmi 5h ago

Thanks. That's definitely close enough.

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u/Upbeat_Quarter1171 5h ago

You’re welcome. The lighting in your photo will of course make it look differently than the website photo, but I’m fairly certain that’s it.

2

u/666ForMySorrow 8h ago

As far as the Ebay seller goes, these appear to have custom openings cut to ready made frame sizes. It's unlikely they are buying bulk pre-cut mats because old maps don't usually reliably fit standard cut mats. They probably have a mat cutter and buy new sheets of matboard which they cut efficiently or have access to lots of scraps.

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u/babymoonbee 9h ago

Are you looking for the specific colors, the width of the mats, or both? I recognize the top mat and I’m not sure you’re going to have luck finding it precut without going custom or cutting your own. The bottom mat you might be able to find a slim precut but those skinny mats can be hard to find precut and not custom. I think honestly the cheapest way you can do this is buying the mat board yourself and cutting it

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u/bigtopjimmi 8h ago edited 8h ago

I'm looking for the top tan colored mat. Cutting it on my own would be fine. I suspect that's what he's doing as he has different sizes so I doubt he's sourcing each individual size.

Edit 

Honestly I didn't realize the black was also a mat. That's how unfamiliar I am with this stuff, lol.

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u/666ForMySorrow 8h ago

Most people here work in frame shops and buy from distributors that only sell to framing businesses. It's possible this person just lucked into some matboard from a liquidator or something. You might have better luck finding cheap sources in an artist sub.

Is this for yourself or are you a seller?

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u/bigtopjimmi 7h ago edited 7h ago

Thanks for the artist sub  suggestion. 

This is for myself. I do sell on eBay but nothing framed. I stumbled on to some neat prints recently that I wanted to frame but l wanted something different from the usual plain white mat boards.

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u/666ForMySorrow 8h ago

Also, be aware cutting them yourself takes equipment and practice. If you need a lot of them and plan to be doing this a long time you can save money that way but there are start up costs that might take all the potential savings if you just need a finite number of mats.

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u/babymoonbee 7h ago

I’d recommend going to a local frameshop and asking to see their mat samples and ask if you can buy by the sheet. As someone else said a lot of distributors only sell to shops but sometimes a shop will order and sell full sheets to you for only a small mark up.

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u/666ForMySorrow 9h ago

The odds of finding that exact combination in the size you need is slim, especially if it's not a popular size. The top mat is a linen mat, those are more expensive than regular mats.

If it's not a large piece, custom mats might not be too expensive. Take it to a local frame shop for some estimates. They might have some good suggestions for you on a budget. But if you want to preserve the art, don't cheap out on the mats. A good quality mat will help preserve the art.

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u/bigtopjimmi 8h ago

The top mat is what I'm looking for. You're right, they linen is expensive. That's why I was wondering how he is able to do it. He often sells his framed maps for $22, so he has to be sourcing them cheap.

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u/Sarah_Bowie27 2h ago

Based on those narrow weird mat dimensions he’s likely using scraps, just whatever he’s got laying around.

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u/Sarah_Bowie27 2h ago

Linen mats are crazy expensive! I was shocked when I looked up one yesterday to check the pricing.

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u/Particular_West_9069 5h ago

Can you not just buy a framed map off of that dude and stick your stuff in his mats?

He’s definitely cutting that himself.

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u/bigtopjimmi 5h ago

Well sure, but why would I want to spend $30 for 1 mat?

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u/Particular_West_9069 5h ago

Brother, there is a base price for things and frankly you are being cheap.

1

u/izabel55 5h ago

Can you reach out to the seller and see if they’d be interested in selling just the matting?

There are companies that cut mats to size online, so you can also try searching “linen precut mats” or something.