The PW18-2 Picture Frame Right Angle Flex Clip (SKU S08) is one of the most specialised clips in XKY Framing’s professional range. Its 90° body geometry — where the mounting plate and spring plate are perpendicular rather than coplanar — allows it to mount on the inner vertical wall of a deep frame rabbet, retaining the glass panel and content stack from the side in frames where standard back-mounted clips cannot reach.
Understanding the 90° Body of the PW18-2 Picture Frame Right Angle Flex Clip
In a standard spring clip, both the mounting foot and the spring body lie in roughly the same horizontal plane when installed. The PW18-2 Picture Frame Right Angle Flex Clip breaks this convention: its mounting plate is oriented vertically (attached to the inner rabbet wall with a screw through the oval slot) while the spring plate extends horizontally, pressing down on the top surface of the glass panel or mat board. This 90° relationship between mounting surface and spring surface allows the clip to function effectively in deep frame channels where horizontal back-mounting is impractical.
This design is the solution to a persistent problem in professional framing: deeply rebated frame profiles — used in shadow boxes, conservation frames, and antique-style thick-profile mouldings — often have inner walls tall enough that the glass sits far below the back opening, out of reach of conventional spring clips. The PW18-2’s side-wall mounting bridges this gap elegantly.
Specifications
Material: 0.5 mm stainless steel | Total length: 27 mm | Width: 14 mm | Height: 14 mm | Mounting slot: 6×13 mm (oval, adjustable) | Foot plate: 13×27 mm | Weight: 2 g.
At 2 g, the S08 is the heaviest clip in this section of the XKY Framing range, reflecting the additional steel required for its two-plate 90° geometry. The bright silver stainless steel finish is consistent with all other clips in the range.
Installation of the PW18-2 Right Angle Flex Clip
With the frame face-down, load the glass, mat, artwork and backing board. Insert a small screw (not included; use a 2.5 mm diameter countersunk screw) through the oval slot into the inner rabbet wall — do not fully tighten yet. Slide the clip up or down through the slot range to position the spring plate just above the glass surface. Tighten the screw to lock position. The spring plate will press down on the glass, holding the content stack.
Adjusting for Content Stack Height
The 13 mm long oval slot provides approximately 7 mm of vertical adjustment range, accommodating content stacks from standard single-mat height to deep double-mat assemblies without requiring a different clip size. This adjustability is a significant practical advantage in professional framing where every frame’s exact content stack height varies.
Number of Clips Required
For a 30×40 cm frame with deep rabbet: 2–3 PW18-2 clips per long side, 1–2 per short side. Because the clip mounts to the inner wall and can be positioned precisely over the glass, fewer clips are needed compared to back-mounted options for equivalent holding force.
PW18-2 vs. Standard Back-Mounted Spring Clips
For standard frames with shallow rabbets (under 10 mm depth), the PW20 (S01) or PW17 (S06) back-mounted clips are simpler and more economical. The PW18-2 Picture Frame Right Angle Flex Clip is the specialist solution specifically for deep-rabbet frames where back-mounted clips physically cannot reach the content stack. It should be the default choice whenever the rabbet inner wall height exceeds 12 mm.
Add the PW18-2 Picture Frame Right Angle Flex Clip to your professional framing toolkit today from XKY Framing and solve the deep-rabbet retention challenge definitively.
