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by Judy Lehmberg
There are many different techniques for framing flies. The
following method is one that I have evolved over the last 20 or so years of
fly framing using relatively inexpensive equipment. The photo below is a composite
of the equipment I use.
In my opinion these are the best tools for framing inexpensively. If you are going to frame just a few flies you may not wish to invest in everything shown here, such as the adhesive transfer tool and the Fletcher point driver, however they are both real time savers that I think are worth the money.
Before you go out and buy all of your framing materials I suggest you read through the following steps and decide if you really want to do it.
| Step 1 - Selecting the Frame and Mats - The size of your frame depends on the size and numbers of your flies. I suggest you start simply so these instructions will assume you are using a 5" x 7" frame to frame a single fly. I always use a double mat system, an off-white color for the front mat and a darker color, that matches the frame, or some dominant color in your fly, for the back mat. The second light colored mat will be used to mount the fly and should be at least 5.5" x 7.5". The exact size will be determined by the size of the frame and will be discussed in more detail later. |  |
| Step 2 - Cutting the Mats and Preparing for Cutting the Oval Holes in the Mats - Using a X-acto knife and a metal straight edge cut two 7" x 5" mats, one from the light color and one from the dark. Draw lines on the light color mat for placing the oval mat cutter. The lines should form a cross shape with the two lines intersecting each other. Draw lightly so you can erase any lines that are too long. The lines should be just a little longer than the length and width of the oval mat cutter as shown below. |  |
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Step 3 - Cutting the Oval Holes in the Mats - Instructions come with the oval mat cutter that explain how to set it up for exact ratios from a circle to variously shaped ovals. Read the instructions, decide on the shape and size you like, adjust the cutter, and practice on cardboard to make sure you have it right. Don't forget to put in a blade. The size of the off-white mat oval should be 1/4" to 1/3" larger on all edges of the oval than the darker mat. In other words, once you have the two mats together, between 1/4" to 1/3" of the darker mat should be visible from behind the off-white front mat.
Adjust the matt cutter's scale arm adjustment block so that the small arrow on its top is pointed next to between 3 1/2" and 4" on the scale arm. Place the oval mat cutter on the off-white mat so that the small white lines on the oval match up to the pencil marks. Two of the white lines are indicated in the photo to the upper right but there are white lines on all four sides of the oval. There are four sharp points on the underside of the oval. Once the oval has been positioned to exactly match up to the pencil lines, use a hammer to force the oval down in firm contact with the mat. Be sure it is all the way down.