I have recently started framing with reasonable success but my problem is that, while the making and mounting of the picture is satsifactory, I am experiencing problems in the final fixing of the back board. On looking into this and talking to various people, I have found that there is a special gun that can be used for firing in pins to hold the back board in place. I cannot find any retail outlet that has heard of this gun, let alone a shop that sells one. Can you help?

Pam Powell replies: There are several types of gun for this purpose, a brad gun probably being the easiest to obtain. A good hardware shop that advertises framing materials should be able to help you. If they don't stock such guns, they may be able to order one for you. However, if you still have no luck, small panel pins hammered in are an aceeptable alternative, if a little slower.