How to Build Wooden Frames

The concept of a frame is the same whether you're talking about the window and door frames in your home, the picture frames on your wall, or any other situation in which you want to create a border of wood or other material. Architectural framing for doors and windows is generally mounted in pieces, but if you're putting together a frame for some other reason--pictures, art projects, decorating--you may need to use a self-contained design. Neat mitered corners are as easy to create as square ones if you have the proper tools.

Things You'll Need

• 1x4 board long enough for all four sides of the frame you want
• Power miter saw
• Tape measure
• Pencil
• Flat metal L-brackets for attaching corners
• Wood screws to fit the brackets, no more than 3/8 inches long

Instructions

1. Set your miter saw to a 45-degree angle. Set your 1x4 on the saw and cut off one end at the angle.

2. Mark how long you want the inside of the frame to be on one side, measuring from the shortest point of the miter cut and putting a pencil mark on the side of the board that's facing the fence of the saw. Swivel the saw to 45 degrees in the opposite direction from your first setting, move the board so the mark is under the blade, and make the cut.

3. Repeat the process three more times, so you have four miter-cut pieces.

4. Lay the four pieces with their faces sides down and their corners lined up. On one corner, set your flat L-bracket on the wood a half inch in from the outer edge, with the corner of the bracket on the miter. Affix one side of the bracket to the wood with your screws and screwgun, then affix the other side.

5. Repeat for the three other brackets on the three other corners.

Tips & Warnings

• If all four sides are going to be the same size, then you can use your first cut piece as a template to mark on the board for the rest of the cuts instead of re-measuring each time.

• Wear eye protection when using power tools.

References

• Easy picture frames.