Building Picture Frames

Build a specialized tablesaw sled and two beautiful picture frames

Anyone who has ever had art or photography custom framed knows how expensive it can be. It doesn't have to be, however. Anyone with basic shop skills is capable of building beautiful frames with super-tight miter joints. The key lay in how to get those miters air-tight.

A quality picture frame requires two basic things: tight miters with no gaps, and opposing sides that are of exactly the same length. In this video series, Fine Woodworking managing editor Mark Schofield shows you how to acheive both.

By watching this video series, you'll learn how to build an ingenious tablesaw sled that yields perfect miters of consistent lengths. Then you'll use your new sled to assemble two beautiful picture frames using moldings cut on a router table. Finally, you'll learn how to professionally mount your art in an archival manner that will preserve it for generations to come.

Produced by: Ed Pirnik Video by: John Ross, Editing by: Tom Olivares

Tablesaw Sled for Precision Miters

Build a tablesaw sled that's tailor-made for picture framing.

For a picture frame to be built properly, two requirements must be met: the miters need to be air-tight, and the opposing sides need to be of exactly the same length.

In this episode, you'll learn how to build a speciality tablesaw sled that yields both.

The key to this sled are the two quartersawn white oak runners attached to the bottom. For the sled to cut accurate miters, these runners need to be placed at precisely 45-degrees to the face of the sled. Once you've accomplished this and made the appropriate kerf cut in the sled blank, you'll continue by building the two fences that allow for accurate frame measurements and cuts.

The first, smaller fence, is used to make the initial cut on your stock. This cut doesn't require any measurement. The second, longer fence, is used to make the final, measured cut and uses a stop block riding along the fence to yield repeatable cuts.

Once you've got the sled assembled, you'll be ready to put it to work making frame-after-frame.

Produced by: Ed Pirnik Video by: John Ross, Editing by: Tom Olivares

Router Table Moldings

Use your router table to create two beautiful picture frame moldings.

With your tablesaw sled complete, you're ready to begin building picture frame moldings.

In this episode, Mark Schofield shows you how to build two different styles of molding. His quartersawn white oak molding features beautiful ray fleck patterns and a simple, understated accent rabbet along the front face of the frame. The second molding, of sipo mahogany, features an ogee profile along the interior perimeter and a striking curly maple inlay that runs along the frame's entire face.

Both moldings are built almost entirely at the router table using only three common bits.

Produced by: Ed Pirnik, Video by: John Ross, Editing by: Tom Olivares

Using Your Miter Sled

Use your miter sled to cut and assemble your picture frame moldings.

With your picture frame moldings complete, you're ready to start assembling the final frames.

In this episode, Mark Schofield shows you how to properly use the specialized tablesaw sled to produce super-tight miter joints and frame sides that are precisely measured and cut. Then, you'll assemble your two picture frames.

The assembly process relies on a simple 90-degree corner clamp and just a bit of glue. You'll also learn some great tips on how to more effectively glue end grain as Mark uses a sizing technique that ensures a more solid glue-up. You're only one step away from mounting your art and hanging it on the wall!

Produced by: Gina Eide Video by Gary Junken, Editing by: Tom Olivares

Mount Your Art

Learn how to professionaly mount your art and protect it for generations to come.

With your picture frames complete, you're ready to mount your art and get your frames up on a wall.

Before you can mount your art however, you'll need to purchase a piece of glass and a matt with backer board. There are a few considerations to take into account. If your art is liable to be exposed to a lot of light, or if the art is particularly light sensitive (photographs certainly fall under this category), consider having your local art shop cut you a piece of UV glass.UV glass is routinely used by museums and conservators since it protects art from harmful ultraviolet light.

When it comes to having your work matted, you have two choices. You can have your local art supply store cut you a custom matt, or if you want to save a few dollars, you can often find pre-cut matts in standard sizes like 8-in. x 10-in., 11-in. x 14-in., etc.While it costs a bit more money, having your artwork custom-matted gives you the opportunity to choose from among dozens of different matt board thickness and colors.

Produced by: Gina Eide Video by: Ed Pirnik, Editing by: Tom Olivares