Picture Frame Profiles, design and cutting

[Gary386]

I need some resources or advice on cutting profiles in wood to make picture frames.

I have a couple of hand held routers and a large router mounted on a lift with a large table and fence. I have the basic bits, but not any fancy molding bits. Also I have a table saw, thickness planner, and jointer.

I would like some diagrams of some modern, clean, tailored profiles. Simple or complex is good.

Publications, web sites, or your personal drawings would be appreciated.

[handi]

I wrote an article for Woodcraft Magazine some years back on making complex moldings by stacking simple profiles together.

Download the article for free from my website.

Ralph

[Phydeaux]

Here's a frame I made with a profile I designed and cut. I did it on my router table with the two ordinary bits in the picture: a round nose and a round over. I set up the round over to leave a square edge at the base of the round.

[fishhh4]

under picture frames
Lots of them could be cut in multiple passes with a router.

[jteneyck]

Woodsmith has included making moldings with the router table in many articles, probably even one dedicated to the subject at some point. They often show how simple moldings can be combined. There are a whole slew of related articles here.

John

[K. L. McReynolds]

I make a lot of picture frames using the following molding cutter on my table saw.



Now, the first time I used it, I was so distrustful the thing would stay together, I actually knelt down below the surface of my saw, to protect myself from flying debris.

It does make the most evil hum I have ever heard from a machine.

After many tests and many frames, I am confident of it's ability to operate well, but I am still very mindful of the dangers if misused.

Small increments when cutting, holddowns when appropriate, slow feed rates, and big(shop made from 2x4 lumber) push blocks.

I also use a router table, but find the molding head cutters faster and easier to use.

For cutting the miters, I use an Incra V27 miter gauge and a Ultra fine cut Freud 80 tooth blade on the table saw.

I have two sizes of picture framing clamps(X shaped , adjustable models), but find strap clamps are also good. However, keeping the four sections of the frqames together to clamp were often a problem and wound up being a huge PITA.

Answer? Mini sized biscuits in R1, R2, and R3 sizes cut and inserted in the miters with the glus will hold the 4 miters together much better and assist in clamping.

The machine:

[Cooler]

I was a picture framer for many years and I would not make my moldings. There are thousands of profiles in hundreds of finishes all available at reasonable costs.

You do need a highly accurate miter saw and a very fine blade as these are pre-finished and you cannot cover up a lousy miter with a nice finish. Some of these online vendors will also custom cut mats, which protects the art and gives a much more impressive presentation.

[Cooler]

A picture framing vise allows accurate clamping and cross pinning. A micro pinner works well.

Here is a picture framing vise: http://www.qy1.de/img/gehrungsschraubstock1.jpg

My framing saw has 120 teeth and cuts on opposite sides of the blade so the complimentary angles always add up to exactly 90 degrees. The angle is fixed and highly accurate. A Lion Miter trimmer will also trim a miter to perfection: http://assets.rockler.com/media/catalog/...447-01-1000.jpg

If you are only doing a few frames cross pinning works best.

There is a special miter glue called "corner weld". I tested it when it first came out and it was substantially stronger than anything available. The newer PVAs might be equal. But it is the standard for picture framers. On the miters I tested the wood broke and the glue did not fail. I was sold. I still keep a bottle around for when I have butt joints.

http://online-framing-supplies.com/shop/...-glue.html

This is the saw I have for mitering picture frames: http://www.skylinepictures.com/Frame_Mou...ney_NC.jpg

[K. L. McReynolds]

I have this size and one about three times larger.



I also use:

[Malix]

I have been making some arts and crafts frames for our home. So far I have 3 done. Will make many more as we would like to fill up a wall in our hallway with pictures.

The first few have been time consuming. I have had to make a shooting board and learn how to use it properly to get perfect 45 degree miters. I have made a sled to cut the slots in the frames for the splines. made corner blocks to allow me to clamp up the frames with a ratcheting tie down. As well as mill up poplar test pieces to practice on. So far I have used the table saw, router table, and even my power jointer without the fence to help make the profiles I have so far. I suggest finding images of frames you like online. then practicing on scrap wood till you figure out how to mill up the profiles you like. In my case I have been working with Quarter sawn white oak. finished with dye then varnish. And rubbed out with steel wool and finished with a nearly black wax to make the pores stand out.

Good luck!!


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