How to Cut a Picture Frame Molding
You can cut wood picture frame molding any of three different ways. The first is by using a professional picture frame chopper, an expensive piece of equipment. It is less expensive to take your molding to a frame shop and pay a fee to have them chop the molding for you. The other two methods can easily be done at home, using a simple miter box to cut the molding or using an electric miter or "chop" saw. If you are uneasy operating a power saw, then manually cutting your picture frame is the best choice.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Challenging
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- Picture molding
- Miter box and saw
- Electric drill
- Drill bit
- Countersink drill bit
- Screwdriver
- Safety goggles
- Electric miter saw
- Pencil
- 3-foot metal ruler
- Ear protectors
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How To Cut Molding Using a Simple Miter Box and Saw
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Purchase an inexpensive miter box and saw. The base is made of wood. Set up the miter box by screwing it to the surface of a wood work table. Drill two holes all the way through the miter box into the table top. Countersink the holes and screw in two wood screws.
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2
Take a strip of picture molding and slide it onto the miter box, past the far right 45-degree slot. Insert the miter saw. Grip the molding tight and hold the side of it tightly against the outer fence of the miter box.
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3
Do not allow the molding to tip down. It must stay up, resting only on the narrow strip of wood on the backside of the face of the molding.
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4
Set the saw into the far right 45-degree angle slots and start sawing all the way through the molding. Saw slowly and steadily.
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5
Determine the length of the finished cut frame strip. Slide the molding in the miter box to the right. Take the miter saw and set it in the far left 45-degree angle slots. Hold the edge of the molding tightly to the fence of the miter box and saw all the way through. Repeat all the process for the remaining three strips of molding required to build the picture frame.
How To Cut Picture Molding Using an Electric Miter Saw
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1
Loosen the lock on the electric miter saw and swivel it to the right. Set it at the 45-degree angle mark and tighten the lock.
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2
Slide the wood picture molding onto the bed of the saw. Make sure the molding is upright on the thin strip of wood underneath the face of the molding.
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3
Put on your safety goggles. Push the molding straight back until the inside edge is tight against the back fence. Hold it in place with the left hand. With the right hand, squeeze the trigger on the saw. Get it up to speed and slowly pull it down until the molding is cut all the way through. Lift the saw up and release the trigger to stop the saw.
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4
Wait for the saw blade to stop rotating completely before unlocking the saw and swiveling it to the left. Lock it in at the 45-degree angle mark on the bed of the saw.
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5
Mark the length of your molding. Slide it along the back fence. Line the saw blade up with the pencil mark. Hold the molding as you did for the first cut. This time, however, with the other hand, press the trigger of the saw to start the blade rotating. When it is up to speed, slowly pull it down, cutting all the way through the molding. Repeat all steps for the remaining three strips of molding required to build the picture frame.
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Tips & Warnings
The two matching strips of picture frame molding must be precisely the same length. A variation of even 1/16 inch can throw off the 45-degree miter joints. Make absolutely accurate measurements and cuts.
A countersink is a type of drill bit. After drilling a hole, put the countersink into the electric drill. Put the tip in the center of the drilled hole and start drilling. Drill down far enough with the countersink to create a shallow basin that will allow the head of a screw to be seated below the surface of the wood.
Keep hands well away from a moving electric miter saw blade. Always wait for the blade to stop completely before moving molding on or off the bed of the saw.
Never operate an electric miter saw when you are tired. That is when accidents are apt to happen.
