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Fastening corners of picture frames can be challenging. There are a number ways to accomplish this task and some are better than others. When you are manufacturing picture frames it becomes more and more important that the corners of the frame be held fast as the frames get bigger and bigger. It becomes even more important when glass is used in the picture frame.
There are many options for fastening corners. The first and easiest (note I did not say 'best”) is to use some kind of a mechanical fastener like nails, staples, steel straps, headless pins or screws. Each one of these mechanical connectors has it own problems. Small finishing nails that are driven in with a hammer tend to loosen joints. Screws need to be pre-drilled and look ugly, staples also have to be hammered and using an air nailer and 18 or 23 gauge pins may not be sufficient for larger frames.
The best way to fasten the sides of a picture frame is to glue “splines” into the corners. Yes, it is more more, but the splines look more professional and are unquestionably the best option. They hold the corners firm, they are permanent and they add a nice detail to the frames. To see how to make splines in the corners of your frames … read on.
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Many of you have requested information on how to make the picture frame clamping device so we have finally decided to publish our own information on this device. Before we get into the building of the device a word of safety. This clamping device uses a few small pieces which can be somewhat challenging to cut on some power tool equipment. We recommend making the smaller components on a band saw. If you do not own a band saw or are not familiar with it's use we recommend cutting them by hand with a hand saw using a bench vice to hold the work.
For the list of materials and the methodology, please see the following section.
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OK, Now that you know how to cut picture frame material and make the angle cuts, now you need to put it all together. Gluing up smaller picture frames can be done with something a simple as black electrical tape wrapped around the picture frame after glue-up. The pressure of the tape will keep the corners together long enough to allow the frame to become rigid. Larger picture frames are another story ... the black electrical tape trick doesn't work so well.
In this case it is better to have some sort of a picture framing glue-up jig. The one shown in the video can be made quite easily, the plans are easy to find on the Internet and it doesn't take long to put it together. As usual ... there are some tricks. I decided to offset the center block so it makes it easier to use, AND I added wing-nuts to the ready bar so that the whole jig can be tightened up around the frame quickly and easily ... you don't want to fussing around too much glues like Titebond lll, it will start harding up on you (especially in warm weather) in minutes.
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There is one thing you should keep in mind, if you are planning on staining your wooden frames, the staining shoulld be done BEFORE the glue-up. The reason for this is that ofen glue will squeeze out of the joints and onto the face of the frames. No matter what you do there always seems to be a bit of glue on the face of the frames. When this glue dries it is often hard to to see as it is translucent and a will not allow stains to penetrate the wood. This means you get nicely stained frames with blotches of natural wood showing through at some corners.
If you are painting the frames, it doesn't matter if a bit of glues gets on to the face of the frames.
Other than that .. it's all good, give it a try and you will be making excellent picture frames for cheap in no time!!!
copyright - Colin Knecht
woodworkweb.com