IPOH: Chai Min Chak could have long put down his tools, but after more than six decades of crafting wooden photo frames, the trade remains a part of his life.
At 82, he still has no plans to retire, turning up at his workshop daily, determined to keep the tradition alive for as long as he can.
Chai started making frames at 18 after learning the craft from his elder brother, now 90 and runs a wood factory.
“I still rely heavily on hand tools,” he said, adding that machines are also used alongside traditional techniques to cut, shape and assemble the timber.
Chai said he prefers jelutong wood for its light weight.
After decades of practice, the work comes naturally to him, with a typical frame taking about an hour to make, depending on its size and design, while larger ones can take between five and six hours.
Chai said his customers were usually families looking for special frames for photographs of their children, weddings and other family occasions.
Other business owners also seek him out for frames to display images of landscapes or religious events, he said.
Unlike mass-produced frames sold in standard dimensions, his products are cut to size, with options for flat or raised profiles.
Despite the availability of ready-made products, he said many people still preferred frames made to specific sizes.
“Customers can order frames in different sizes and designs according to their requirements.
“We can make them big or small, depending on what they need,” he said when met at his shop here.
He also produces glazing for photo frames, as well as ordinary mirrors.
Chai, who has two children, continues to work at the workshop on his own, while his children run the factory business with his brother.
Despite his advancing age, Chai remains determined to continue his craft.
“This is what I have known and loved for most of my life,” he said with a smile.
