Building Your Own Picture Frames

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If you are the type of person who really enjoys photography but hates to purchase frames for them because the frames are so bloody expensive, then you should consider making your own mats and frames. Believe it or not with the correct material making your own frames really isn’t that hard and it can save you a buck or two.

Molding that you can purchase in the store can make great frames if you learn how to do it correctly. You will need to measure the picture you wish to frame. Chair rail is very decorative and works great as a frame. When you have picked out the board you wish to use, you will need to take a router and cut out a notch along the entire length of the board. This is the notch the glass lays into, once the frame is complete.

Once you have that complete you will need to cut a 45 degree angle from both ends with a miter box and saw. This will give your frames that great mitered look on the edges. Once you have that completed you can mock up the frame to make sure it is the correct size. If you need to make adjustments, this is the time to fix them before the frame is put together.

With some wood glud and a picture frame miter clamp, you can put the frame together. This will keep the frame together as the glue dries. You can also get a small set of finishing nails to help stabilize the joints at this time also.

Then you will need to measure the dimensions of the area you notched out for the glass to sit. This will give you an exact measurement of how to cut the glass. You can simply cut your glass with a glasscutting tool, or if you don't feel comfortable there are a number of shops which will do it as well. Once this is done put the glass and your picture into the frame. Cut a piece of cardboard out to the same size as the glass and place over the picture to make a sandwich between the glass and the cardboard. The last step is to put the nails around the inside edges to keep the picture in place.