How to Make a Picture Frame for Large Photos

Large picture frames can be very expensive and hard to find. If you like woodworking, then you probably already have enough wood scraps around your house to make your own frame. By making it yourself, you can customize the frame to any size or design. Picture frames are not hard to make, but they take some time to match your corners up perfectly.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Wood molding Wood glue Clamps Pin nailer Router Miter saw Fine sandpaper Paint, stain or Tung oil Cardboard Utility knife Glass Frame clips Wall hanger

Make a Picture Frame for Large Photos

1. Measure your picture. Mark your wood molding so the opening when it is put together will show your entire picture. Cut the wood with a miter saw at a 45-degree angle to make the corners. The marks should be on the inside of the corners. Chair rail molding works well for picture frames.

2. Router a groove on the back inside edge of the molding 1/8 inch deep and 1/4 inch wide. This will hold the picture and glass in the frame. Router from the edge of that groove to 1/2 inch from the outside edge. This will hold the cardboard to the back of the frame.

3. Glue the frame together with some wood glue, matching up the decorative edges of the molding. Clamp the corners to hold them in place while the glue dries. Pin nail the corners while the frame is in the clamps so it doesn't move while you're nailing.

4. Sand the wood and finish it with paint, stain and sealer, or tung oil. Allow the frame to dry completely.

5. Temporarily set the cardboard in the outside groove on the back of the frame. From the front, draw a line around the cardboard marking the inside lines of the frame. Using a utility knife, cut the cardboard across the top and both sides. Leave the bottom intact. Attach frame clips and wall hanger hardware. The clips should be attached above the cut so that when they are up, you can open the inside part of the cardboard and when they are down, they hold the cardboard shut. The hangers should be attached to the wood at the top of the frame.

6. Glue the cardboard to the back of the frame, inside the outside edge with the cut side facing up. Allow the glue to dry for at least 2 hours. Insert glass, photo and smaller pieces of cardboard, if needed, to hold the photo tight against the glass by pulling the inside piece of cardboard down where you cut it in the previous step. Pull the cut piece back up and secure the cardboard section shut with the clips. You can buy glass and have it cut to size at any glass shop.