Happy Wednesday, Friends! I’ve started to blog about 5 times today and keep getting sidetracked! I ran out today and found a few frames at the thrift store and finally decided what I wanted to share today. My point driver! If you are a DIY type of person, you NEED this in your tool box!
In Doylestown we have a great little frame shop called Frame Factory & Gallery located on Main Street. They will allow you to use their tables and equipment for a minimal fee. They will help you cut a mat for a project, cut a piece of glass to your specifications and assist you in the entire assembly process. Or, they will also completely frame a project for you if you prefer. And they are the nicest folks. My older son and I framed a ton of things there for his first post-college apartment. This was where I learned about this neat tool!
I believe the frame shop called it a “glazing gun”. It was such a handy tool I decided to buy one for myself. I found online they are called Point Drivers. It is very similar to a staple gun. But instead of shooting a staple out of the bottom of the gun, this one shoots small metal points straight out to secure your artwork, glass, mirror or backer board into the back of a frame. I admit I have a thing for frames….
This point driver by Logan is around $50 on Amazon. It’s called a dual-drive elite and can shoot both rigid and flexible points. The set comes with 50 of each metal points. I like to use the rigid ones as they seem to hold my projects in place best. Lots of times I’m dealing with old vintage frames and it works great! Naturally there are other types of point drivers for more or less but I’ve had great luck with this brand.
Today I bought a frame at the thrift store for $10. I love the nice shape and the dark color of the wood. I’m using it for something for the bridal shower and this was the perfect size for my needs! The frame came with only a piece of glass and a thin cardboard back so I needed to add a little extra bulk. I had a few extra pieces of cardboard from another project and was the perfect thickness to fill the back of the frame. See how nicely the silver points hold the cardboard in place? Usually two or three points on each side will securely hold the glass and picture in place.
So simple, thanks to my handy little yellow tool! (Make sure you wear safety glasses and be careful. The points are very sharp!) Just aim and shoot! Oh, and don’t press down too hard because you can accidentally break the glass. I’ve done that too. Oops.
I found three frames at the thrift store today. Frames are one of the things I always look for when I’m shopping. Even if I don’t know what I’ll use it for right away, if I see a unique frame for a great price, I snag it. You never know when it will come in handy! I bought all of these frames for less than $30.
My tip? Buy a great frame if you find one for a great price! Trust me, you’ll be mad at yourself it you pass up a really cool one.
Thank you for stopping by! What’s your favorite tool or gadget for projects? This is just one of my favorites! Hope you have a wonderful day. Enjoy the rain! xoxo Dell