Q&A

How to make a wooden frame?

How to make a wooden frame?

Prep the Timber. The wood I chose for this frame was a length of a very dense,red coloured hard wood.

  • Keep Prepping the Timber… Now I don’t have a thicknesser,jointer or even a decent handplane so my options were limited for this step.
  • Make the Cuts. I placed each length on my table saw mitre sled and made the angled cuts.
  • Glue Up. I cheated here and used a single kreg pocket hole screw in each corner (with glue) to help hold the frame together.
  • Nearing the End. Once it was all dry,I measured the inside dimensions and cut a 3mm board of MDF and plexiglass to fit.
  • The Finish. Looking around my garage,the only clear coat varnish I had on hand was this one by Feast Watson…so that’s what I used.

    • What is the best wood for picture frames?

    Pine and Poplar. When starting out with woodworking and framing it makes sense to begin with cheaper wood that is easy to get. Just being cheap at this point qualifies for THE best woods for picture frames. Pine and poplar both fit the bill. Pine is a soft wood (needles) while poplar is a hard wood.

    How to paint wood frames?

    1) Select a latex or an oil based paint for a beautiful finish. 2) Apply a layer of primer to the frame so your paint will stick better. 3) Open the paint cans and gently stir the paint to mix it. 4) Put a small amount of paint on the frame and let it dry. 5) Brush the paint onto the frame in even strokes in the same direction. 6) Allow the paint to dry completely before adding a second coat (if needed). 7) Clean your brushes with the right solvent before putting them away. A good paint brush can last for a long time if you take care of it.

    How to build wood picture frames?

    Install an 80-tooth carbide blade in your power saw. Most power saws come with a 40-tooth blade. You need 80-teeth or more to cut picture frame moulding.

  • Press the moulding against the back of the fence with the ornamented side up and the rabbet (in-cut) side of the frame facing toward you.
  • Slide the moulding down the fence extension to the point on the scale that denotes the size you want to reduce it to.
  • Lower the spinning blade through the moulding to make a mitered (45° angle) cut.
  • Test the pairs of frame sections for exact length by laying the frames on their backs and lining up the miters.
  • Put a dot of wood glue on the miter face. (Do not use Gorilla Glue). Then clamp two mitered moulding sections into a corner clamp.
  • A V-Nail is a V-shaped staple with a sharpened edge. Place it on the nose of the frame joiner sharpened edge down.
  • The nose of the frame joiner is a magnetic pin protruding from a black cylinder. The V-Nail with cling to it.
  • Turn the clamp over so the moulding is ornamented side down. Slide the moulding under the magnetic nose of the joiner (red arrow).
  • Arrange the V-Nail so the wings are on either side of the seam and press down on the lever.
  • The V-Nail sinks into the wood until it is flush.