S03-PW009 Picture Frame Offset Spring Clip

The PW009 Offset Picture Frame Spring Clip (SKU S03) is XKY Framing’s specialist solution for frames with thicker content stacks. Its uniquely offset body and wide 17 mm head allow it to bridge deeper assemblies — double mats, archival spacers, foam board backing — that a standard PW20 clip cannot adequately retain. Stamped from 0.5 mm stainless steel and weighing just 0.7 g, it brings professional-grade content retention to complex framing configurations.

The Offset Design of the PW009 Offset Picture Frame Spring Clip

What distinguishes the PW009 Offset Picture Frame Spring Clip from standard spring clips is its offset body geometry. Rather than lying flat from head to foot, the clip body is formed in a stepped or angled profile that creates a vertical gap between the clip head’s gripping surface and the plane of the rabbet bottom. This gap — effectively the clip’s accommodation zone — allows thicker content assemblies to occupy the rabbet depth while the clip still generates downward spring force to hold everything securely.

The 17 mm wide head provides almost triple the contact area of a standard PW20 clip head (6–7 mm wide), distributing the holding force across a broader surface. This reduces the risk of backing board deformation under clip pressure, important for archival framing where backing board integrity protects the artwork.

Key Dimensions and Specifications

The S03 measures 21 mm in total length with a 16 mm body width — significantly wider than the PW20 family. The head slot is 9 mm long and 7 mm wide, accommodating rabbet lips of various heights. The clip foot is 6 mm wide and 9 mm tall. Material thickness is 0.5 mm and the clip weighs 0.7 g — slightly heavier than the PW20 due to the wider body.

Installation of the PW009 Offset Picture Frame Spring Clip

Load the content stack into the frame rabbet with the frame face-down. Position the S03 clip over the rabbet edge with the slot aligned to the rabbet lip. Apply downward pressure to the clip body — the offset spring geometry will flex, then snap the clip foot under the rabbet lip. The wide head will press evenly across the backing board surface, distributing holding force broadly.

Recommended Applications

The PW009 Offset Picture Frame Spring Clip is the professional choice for: conservation framing with archival spacers; double or triple mat configurations; shadowbox frames with raised content; canvas floater frames with deep profiles; and any frame where the content stack depth exceeds the capacity of a standard clip’s slot depth.

Clip Quantity Guidelines for Deep-Stack Frames

Due to the wider body of the S03, fewer clips per side are needed compared to PW20 clips. For a standard 30×40 cm frame with a deep content stack, typically 3–4 S03 clips per long side and 2–3 per short side provide sufficient retention.

PW009 vs PW20 Small Clip: Choosing the Right Clip

If your frame has a standard single-mat or unmated content stack with total depth under 6 mm, the PW20 small clip (S01) is the more economical choice. If your content stack exceeds 6 mm or you require the broader contact area that the PW009’s 17 mm head provides, the S03 is the correct selection. Combining both in a single frame is also practical — PW009 at the long sides, PW20 at the short sides — for optimised retention across different rabbet lengths.

Shop the PW009 Offset Picture Frame Spring Clip from XKY Framing today and ensure your complex framing assemblies are held with the precision and reliability that your artwork deserves.