NEW Framing Tools

Its 
time 
to let 
the tools 
out of the BAG!

V Nail Press
4 Way Speed Clamp
Nobex Professional Mitre
Makita Sheet Palm Sander

'WHY DON'T you just CALL LEE VALLEY, they will help you out'...so I did, and within a couple of days, my WINGNUT & washer arrived by delivery, and it fits! GREAT service with Lee Valley! This experience reinforced the sense of community and support in our artistic endeavors.

Ziggy & I are happy to announce that fine art framing services
are now offered at ArtGirlGallery!

'Sanctuary' is a soft pastel painting, 
custom framed and assembled by Minaz Jantz

Nobex Professional Miter Box with Ikeda Blade

The Nobex Professional Miter Box with Ikeda Blade was recommended by Al Pauley, who is passionate about woodworking and recommends Lee Valley as a reputable source for high-quality tools. He gave me lots of tips and encouragement to take the next step to make my own frames. I did not want to be set up with LARGE power tools because my working space is limited, and everything in it has to be movable to get out of the way for the following creative action.

Building the Nobex Miter Box was a puzzle to figure out, and since I have never made or used anything like this saw, it was, let's say... FUN to put together. The drafted drawings are for an older model, and they are drafted upside down, starting with the legs of the saw. I would have preferred the drafted drawings to be of the miter saw box right side up, where all the parts join. Call me crazy? Despite the poor instructions from NOBEX, I managed to get it together with my mechanical abilities!...until a wingnut halted my enthusiasm for using the miter saw box that very day...The wingnut and washer clearly did not fit the rod, which is the top part of the saw. It's a .25 cent part that makes the WHOLE THING unusable...so no problem, I say optimistically, I have a 'MAGIC TIN' that is filled with found pickings of bolts, nails, widgets, U NAME IT, I got it going on in this tin can...sure thing... I found several WINGNUTS, but hey, here in Canada we got both metric and standard parts, soooo not my lucky day with the MAGIC TIN. I went to and phoned several stores, BUT NO METRIC 6 mm wingnut to be found without having to go to wholesalers and buy a shipment of WINGNUTS. 

One of the fellows in the store said to me WHY DON'T you just CALL LEE VALLEY? They will help you out... so I did, and within a couple of days, my Wingnut & washer arrived by delivery, and it fits! GREAT service with Lee Valley!

V Nail Press

V Nail Press is used for the corner assembly to secure the corner after gluing the corners. It works very simply and easily with relative pressure and strain on my hands.

4 Way Speed Clamp

4 Way Speed Clamp: What a handy-dandy tool! Once I figured it out, I can say it is excellent for frames of custom sizes, ranging from small to large. I will get LOTS of use out of this tool!

On YOUTUBE, my sister Colleen filmed her man, Al Pauley, who demonstrates how to use the Veritas 4 Way Speed Clamp. Thanks!

Makita Sheet Palm Sander 1/4 inch

The Makita Sheet Palm Sander, 1/4 inch, is the perfect size for what I want to sand. I have bought the Shapely Sanders with their custom sandpaper shapes, but I grew tired of trying to find replacements for the sandpapers. So, I wanted a sander that fits in my hand and can use regular sandpaper, which can be bought anywhere, for any era of woodworking. I like the Makita Sander as it also sucks up some of the sawdust and has an easy-to-clean bag. This tool will also receive a lot of use! I bought it at Busy Bee in Dartmouth and found the store employees to be helpful and friendly. I will be back!

Al Pauley's video on using his handmade wood squaring device, which he made for me to use for framing. When I am making a series of frames with whole-number measurements, this is another tool I can use to square off my frames with the preliminary glue stage and to get the corners tight. I am looking forward to using his handmade tool soon. Awesome AL!

1946 Mercury 2 Door Coupe with British Columbia Plates visiting Nova Scotia!

 Singing OUTLOUD the song, 'Just Like A Virgin' by Madonna, I cut my first mitered frame EVER just like a virgin, with the help of Larry Rouchert who traveled across Canada from British Columbia to Nova Scotia, in his NEW OLD 1946 Mercury with his fine lady Elke, to come celebrate LIFE and just in time to demonstrate for me how to use the miter saw! Thanks, Larry!

1946 Mercury & Eric Clapton Green
photo by Minaz Jantz
& car restorer & builder Larry Rouchert!

Pine Frame finished with rubbed oil varnish.

I bought some 1"x 2" to try out my first framing on the saw. The softer Pine Wood was easy to cut and V staple with the new tools. I was going to paint the frame Black Marine Enamel for a shiny, modern finish, but I preferred the natural wood look and used Wipe-On Poly by Minwax, which left the wood surface with a more natural, matte finish. 

Pine frame finished with Wipe-On Poly by Miniwax, keeping the natural wood color. The canvas is gallery-wrapped with a thick edge and finished with a varnish. 

Mitered corner of Pine Frame
for painting 'Sunflower Diptych'.

Lori is heading back home to Toronto
to find the perfect spot to hang the
new oil painting, 'Sunflower Diptych'.
 Read more about the step-by-step 
stages of this oil painting!

MORE FLOWER PAINTINGS to view here.

Colleen Gibson is heading home to Vancouver to find the perfect spot on her walls for the new painting 'Sanctuary' (it is of a favorite walking place she goes regularly with Sophie's dog and mate Al Pauley!)

'Sanctuary' is a soft pastel
 frame cut and assembled 
by Minaz Jantz

VIEW MORE landscape paintings here...

More learning curves are ahead for me with framing, and I look forward to offering my art collectors custom framing for their artworks....

Be Square!... Minaz Jantz