Making Picture Frames?

[kmmcrafts]

Anyone making their own picture frames to frame their portrait style cutting in? 

What do you use for glass? Buy cut glass? Plexi Glass? No glass? LOL

Wouldn't mind seeing some of the frames you make.. if you have any pictures to share.. 

What's your favorite material for making frames?

I made a frame years ago but bought a routed piece of oak molding and just cut the miters on my miter saw.. Thought I was going to save money making my own.. but the material and time involved proved me to just buy cheep frames.. I had a different outlook back then on prices and quality.. Now looking at it.. a nice solid wood frame isn't cheap to buy like the one I made.. Now I own a palm router and think I could probably route some rabbit edges etc.. Not wanting to make something crazy.. just something basic..

After you pro's give me some tips and advice.. I might just decide to buy the frame,    

[oldhudson]

I make picture frames, however, they've not been for scroll projects. I don't do portraiture scrolling.  I'm more of a general woodworker than a master scroller like so many of you. Still I consider picture frames to be something fundamental to woodworking. The frame should not 'steal' the show but should direct the viewer to looking at the framed object, whatever it is. And the frame should project the object, if needed. And it should blend in with the colors and styles where it will hang.

Here's a couple I've done.  The first is cherry with maple splines, for Swedish lace with two pieces of glass suspending the lace. The second, brush painted poplar, with acrylic over water color . A larger frame (about 30" x 50") of an oil painting, the frame is walnut and the inner portion is covered by fabric (mod podged onto the walnut) no cover, it's oil. A red oak and maple frame over a litho print, glass cover. Finally painted pine frame over a large photographic print with a glass cover.

I generally route a profile and then use a miter jig to cut the corners. I've posted about it at some point.

Edited February 25, 2018 by oldhudson

[Scrappile]

I have only put glass on the last picture I made.  I really liked the glass, but I am not a good glass cutter and to have to buy it cut to size can get expensive.  I want to learn to cut my own glass, need to watch some videos.....

I do make frames, the wood I use is usually scrape wood especially if I am painting them.  I have not made any fancy ones, would like to get some router bits for that purpose.  I made these jigs: clamping jig:it works good but does take come fiddling to get it set up for the size frame being made.  Cutting jig, works very well.

[MTCowpoke22]

I've made my own before. Mostly out of whatever excess wood I have around. I usually try to pick a contrasting color if possible. It usually ends up being oak, or walnut. No Glass. I do add the cost of the frame to the price. For the most part, I have a hard time putting cheap dollar store frame on something nice. I don't know if the frame has helped sales or not. Most of these I did before I was trying to sell things. I've donated a few to fundraisers, and maybe sold one or two that were framed. The rest continue to go to the annual craftshows I do. Sorry, the pictures aren't the greatest.

[WayneMahler]

I get my glass from a local hardware store. It is one of those Mom and Pop places that's been around for generations. He does a great job and charges very little. As for using glass, it depends on the project, I have found that a lot of people prefer the glass though. Making frames isn't too bad, I have to be in the right frame of mind to do it. Most of it ( simple ones ) can be done on a table saw. You can also use a router for more shapes and styles of frames. 

[jerry1939]

I don't frame many.  Give away all my work.  We have 3 Goodwill stores to choose from.  Easily find frames in excellent condition for a few dollars apiece.

jerry

[ike]

I am like Jerry on frames, I do sell but not pictures and the frames are better than I can make and a lot chieper.

IKE

[kmmcrafts]

Wow! You guys make some beautiful frames..

I've been selling them "un-framed.. and back when I did sell in frames. I was just buying low priced frames from Michael's.. I did a small survey and asked if people prefer to pick out their own frame or have it framed already.. Most at that time said they'd rather purchase their own.  I just think maybe i'd be nice to showcase them on my site in a frame.. Years ago when I was selling framed I also put in the listing that they could be purchased un-framed.. Now I can set it up to be two prices framed or un-framed..

Thought about making a few frames and giving options of different ones with their portrait if they choose to buy a frame.. 

But anyway.. I'm just kicking some ideas around as I'd like to do some more portrait type work.. 

Thanks everyone for your input.. and showing some of your frames.

 

[stoney]

I don't have any pictures to show you right now Kevin but I have made a lot of red oak frames like the one Tim ( MTCowpoke22) is showing with the cutting of Jesus.   I don't know if you have ever heard of V nails but they are a great product for mitered joint frames.  I use them along with wood glue to make a fantastic joint.

Edited February 25, 2018 by stoney

[Rockytime]

What is a V nail? I remember when I was 16 I knew everything. But now not so much.

[OCtoolguy]

5 hours ago, WayneMahler said:

I get my glass from a local hardware store. It is one of those Mom and Pop places that's been around for generations. He does a great job and charges very little. As for using glass, it depends on the project, I have found that a lot of people prefer the glass though. Making frames isn't too bad, I have to be in the right frame of mind to do it. Most of it ( simple ones ) can be done on a table saw. You can also use a router for more shapes and styles of frames. 

Right frame of mind! Ha Ha!

 

[Sparkey]

I use plexiglass. I bought a v-nailer from work when they shut the doors real cheap.

 

[stoney]

1 hour ago, Rockytime said:

What is a V nail? I remember when I was 16 I knew everything. But now not so much.

Les a V nail is a v shaped piece of thin metal that is driven into the back side of a 45 degree miter joint to strengthen the joint.  

[kmmcrafts]

Yeah I've seen V nails before.. but never used them before.. I bought some sort of strap clamp that was for gluing angles etc. but it was a pain in the you know what to use..  while I did finally get it set up glued and clamped.. I half wonder if by the time i finally got it clamped f the glue was dry LOL.. The frame turned out ok.. but what a pain that was.. I have a few different methods I've seen to give me some better assembly ideas on youtube.

  

[Rockytime]

18 minutes ago, stoney said:

Les a V nail is a v shaped piece of thin metal that is driven into the back side of a 45 degree miter joint to strengthen the joint.  

Thank you. I just googled it and see Rockler has a hand device to drive them in. Does not strike me as very good. Another on Amazon was $169. Guess I won't be making frames any time soon.

[Scrappile]

More than one way to skin a cat.  The have a device called a hammer...  or glue joint then drive a brad ir staple in through one side or a dowel or a spline, etc...

[oldhudson]

8 hours ago, MTCowpoke22 said:

I've made my own before. Mostly out of whatever excess wood I have around. I usually try to pick a contrasting color if possible. It usually ends up being oak, or walnut. No Glass. I do add the cost of the frame to the price. For the most part, I have a hard time putting cheap dollar store frame on something nice. I don't know if the frame has helped sales or not. Most of these I did before I was trying to sell things. I've donated a few to fundraisers, and maybe sold one or two that were framed. The rest continue to go to the annual craftshows I do. Sorry, the pictures aren't the greatest.

I really like those first two. Perfect frames for the subject and I'd wager they fit very neatly into the style homes in Montana.

[Gonzo]

Nice frames everyone. 

[RangerJay]

Got to admit that I've never been a big fan of mitred frames - but after seeing some of the pictures posted above I might have to rethink that - some really great looking work here.  Having said that here area some frames that I've kinda gravitated to in my effort to avoid mitred frames.

 

.

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

The sky is the limit along with your own imagination. There are so many examples on the net. Those shown here are very well done and fit the objects placed in them well. Many times a frame just makes a piece stand out more so. Many examples of that here. Yes there is added work hours but charge more. People pay big money if buying custom frames. 

[NC Scroller]

I use a v-nail tool I got from Lee Valley:

http://www.leevalley.com/us/wood/page.aspx?p=52113&cat=1,43293,52113

 

To square up my frames I use a Merle Clamp:

https://www.amazon.com/MLCS-9012-Woodworking-Exclusive-Multi-Corner/dp/B000FNKXIG

[stoney]

V nails can be held with needle nose pliers and driven in with a hammer.   Just saying for the occasional frame maker that doesn't want to spend the money for a specific tool. 

[tomsteve]

i typically make my own frames.i usually dont like to add glass, mainly because of the glare. what material do i like to use for frames? thats hard saying. quite a bot of that depends on the project. i dont like to get too elegant to subtract from the work that its framing, but some projects i like to do something fancy, like the serenity prayer- that frame is made from 4 different profiles stacked.

[Bill WIlson]

I like to make frames for the pictures I've cut.  That way I can make them any size I need.  I don't use glass, but I have occasionally matted them.  As mentioned, there is no limit to the variety of styles and types of frames you can make.  You can combine a few simple router bits to make all sorts of different profiles.  I sometimes make frames out of 2 or 3 pieces of wood, glued together, which can really add depth to the frame and give you more edges to profile and create all sorts of different looks. 

I've used contrasting splines to add strength to the miter before.  They also add an additional decorative element to the frame.  Sometimes I just use a 23 ga pin nailer and shoot a pin or two in each corner.  The pins are headless and the holes are so small that they are practically invisible.  You can also add strength by attaching the picture & backer board directly to the frame with glue/nails.  If I do this, I'll make the rabbet a little wider, to give me more area to bond to.  There are all sorts of options.  As shown above, you don't even have to worry about trying to make perfect miters, because there are lots of ways to join the corners that don't require miters.

[Scrappile]

3 hours ago, NC Scroller said:

I use a v-nail tool I got from Lee Valley:

http://www.leevalley.com/us/wood/page.aspx?p=52113&cat=1,43293,52113

 

To square up my frames I use a Merle Clamp:

https://www.amazon.com/MLCS-9012-Woodworking-Exclusive-Multi-Corner/dp/B000FNKXIG

Can you explain a little how that v-nailer works, do you just push them in or is it spring loaded?