How To: Make a Picture Frame

What is art? Critics and theorists are free to debate the concern constantly,but we believe it’s quite simple: If there’s a frame around it,then it’s art! Less simple– but not so intricate that you shouldn’t give it a try– is developing your own picture frame. Starting woodworkers like this job,and for numerous others it can be a terrific money-saver. Within only a weekend,supplied you have access to a few fundamental tools,you can make a picture frame frame sealing tape to keep for the rest of your life.

TOOLS & PRODUCTS

Table sawMiter sawWood routerMeasuring tapeWood glueHammerBrad nailsSandpaperPaintWood stainLinseed oil

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The following actions use in a general method no matter what type of wood you want to use (or occur to have on hand),or what size you would like the picture frame to be. But for the sake of simplicity in this tutorial,we’ll presume that you intend to construct an 11 ″ x 14 ″ picture frame from a 1 ″ x 4 ″ maple board that determines 4 feet long.

Action 1

Setting the table saw at 1-1/2 ″ (from the blade to the fence) bear claw picture hangers,rip the wood board into two 4-foot-long pieces. These need to be precisely the very same width,so pass the wider of the two through the table saw a second time. (Obviously,if you ‘d desired the frame wider or narrower,you would have set the table saw accordingly.)

Action 2.

With a router,cut a 1/2 ″ x 1/2 ″ rabbet– that is,a rectilinear groove– along among the long sides of each of the two pieces. The picture is going to lie against the rabbet,so if you expect to frame an product (or to use a mat) of significant thickness,accommodate it by developing a more generous rabbet.

Action 3.

Use a miter saw to cut one end of both boards at a 45-degree angle,being careful to make sure that the rabbet runs along what is to become the within the frame. To put it simply,once you have actually completed cutting an angle into each board,the rabbeted edges should be opposite the longer (and pointier) side.

Step 4.

Step the longer side of the picture you are going to frame; add 1/16 ″ to that measurement. Then choose among the two boards and move that total measurement to its rabbeted side,marking the distance. Here,cut a 45-degree angle,this time in the direction opposite to the initial angled cut. Next,place the second board over the one into which you have actually just now cut a second angle. Mark the second board,then cut it so that you have a set of identical pieces. On the two leftover pieces,repeat the process of measuring,marking,and cutting,this time utilizing as a guide the much shorter side of the picture to be framed. Make sure you’re keeping the rabbeted side to the within the frame.

Step 5.

Put together the 4 pieces into a rectangular shape,remembering always to position the rabbet groove to the inside. Dab wood glue onto each joint,then attach the pieces together by means of brad nails. 2 nails close to each outdoors corner should suffice. Clean away any excess glue immediately. Let dry over night.

Action 6.

Sand the picture frame for hanging art securely in hotels and museums,then clean away any sawdust with a damp cloth. When you have actually permitted sufficient time for the wood to dry entirely,it’s safe to use your option of surface. (If you’re developing with appealing lumber,I advise finishing with linseed oil.) Having actually completed the piece,flip it over so the back (rabbeted) side is dealing with up. Fit a piece of cut-to-size glass into the frame,then lay the picture face down on the glass and place a support over it. You have numerous alternatives for securing everything in place,consisting of glazing points or brads.

Congratulations,you’ve created a work of art: You might even choose to leave the picture out entirely,due to the fact that the frame itself is such a work of art!