Article #17: Tips for Selecting the Right Frame Joiner

Basically, V-Nailing is the driving of a V-shaped nail into the wood at the back of a frame so that the two wings imbed themselves on either side of the seam that is created when the two miters are p 3: JOIN ressed together forming the frame's corner. The nail holds the corner together, assembling the frame. V-Nailing has an advantage over traditional side-nailing in that the nail is driven behind the frame, eliminating the need to cosmetically cover up the nail head. It is both quicker and easier. V-Nails are not specific as to brand, meaning that any V-Nails will fit into any V-Nail tool you may have - you don't have to have a specific V-Nail for a specific brand.

The least expensive tool for V-Nailing is the FrameCo PushMaster Kit. The pin at the nose of the PushMaster is a magnet that holds the V-Nail. The pin is housed in a hole within which sits a spring so that pressure applied to the pin by exerting downward pressure on the nose causes the pin to retract into the hole and the collar to press down on the V-Nail, driving it into the wood. The PushMaster relies on hand pressure to drive the nail which may be adequate for soft and medium woods but is problematic when it comes to driving hardwoods such as oak and maple.

It's worth noting that most frame moldings that do not specify the type of wood in their descriptions are soft/medium basswood, but if you prefer pricey, high quality moldings you may have problems with the PushMaster.

The PushMaster is marketed as a "kit" because it includes points and brads for securing the contents of a frame and has a socket at one end that can be used to turn screweyes (so it also includes 3/4" screweyes). In addition, it comes with an assortment of V-Nails, usually 125 each 1/4" medium/soft and 125 each 3/8" medium soft. The size of a V-Nail is the depth to which it sinks into the wood and ideally the nail should sink into just over half the thickness of the molding.

The PushMaster requires the frame to be strapped together prior to driving the V-Nail so you must have a strap clamp to use it. The strap clamp is not included in the kit and must be purchased separately. The best clamp for this purpose is the Pony Brand Strap Clamp.

If you want a V-Nailing system that includes a clamp, the least expensive option is the Logan Studio Joiner. This combination press and driving head comes with a corner clamp for holding the miters together while the nail is driven. It operates in much the same manner as the PushMaster, utilizing a magnetic nose that holds the V-nail and retracts into a spring loaded hole as the collar presses down on the nail, but it provides additional driving force by way of a lever handle and is therefore reliable for driving hard woods as well as soft and medium woods.

The beam that holds the driving head can be adjusted up and down on parallel posts to allow for superior driving power on different thicknesses of molding. It comes with an assortment of about 50 hard and soft wood V-Nails in 3/8" size. But the Logan Studio Joiner has one notable drawback. The distance between the driving posts does not allow frames wider than 2½" to be joined. While this is rarely an issue for those framing photography or art on paper (which seldom involves using a frame wider than 2½"), it could be a concern for those framing oil paintings or larger works demanding ornate mouldings.

For them the best value can be found with the Framing4Yourself Elite Joiner, an expanded version of the Studio Joiner with the posts set further apart, allowing frames up to 3½" wide to be joined. As with the Studio Joiner, the Elite Joiner is easy to operate and versatile, capable of driving soft and hard woods. But unlike the Studio Joiner, the Elite Joiner includes a band clamp for the same low price which makes it possible to drive wider frames. When it comes to value and versatility, it's hard to beat the Elite Joiner.

Yet the Studio Joiner Plus includes only a corner clamp, and corner clamping, as opposed to strap clamping, has one drawback buyers should be aware of. Corner clamping does not allow the user to see all four corners of the frame fitted securely against each other prior to nailing. Only when all four corners of a frame are fitted together can one make a thorough examination of the seams to be sure no sanding is required. Logan's suggested method of aligning the sections and running a finger over the miter surfaces prior to placing them in the corner clamp is serviceable but not as sure-fire as pre-clamping with a quality high-tension strap clamp like the Pony Clamp. Savvy customers have made a smart move by buying both the Logan Studio Joiner Plus and the Pony Strap Clamp and solving the problem at a very reasonable price.

Yet even being able to secure the frame does not solve another problem inherent in laying the frame on its face for nailing: potential damage to the delicate surfaces of highly ornamented frames or those constructed of fragile adornments in compo. For these frames the nail must be driven up from under, a process called "under-pinning". Logan's Pro Joiner is an underpinner.

In the Logan Pro Joiner the frame is clamped face up and adjusted for nail placement and drive force. By pressing the lever, the clamped frame is lowered down to meet the V-Nails which are held in a magnetic cartridge. The cartridge drives two v-nails simultaneously into the wood as the lever is pressed down. The Pro Joiner easily penetrates hard or medium/soft woods and comes with an assortment of V-Nails. The corner clamp is built right into the press.

At the top of the line is the Framing4Yourself Professional Underpinner. This machine is a heavy duty foot operated underpinner that can accommodate any width of moulding from 1/8" wide and up. It includes a wide non-skid support deck for ample support of long arms so you can make large frames without the awkwardness associated with smaller joiners. Moreover, its angle fences are adjustable to correct the joining
angle if the miter cut of the moulding is not exactly 45°. If you
are a framer who intends to grow your framing business or a
craftsperson who wants the best tool for the job, the
Framing4Yourself Professional Underpinner is for you.

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