Graz Makes: a Reclaimed Picture Frame

In this project, I will show you how I made a picture frame from reclaimed wood taken out of a dumpster! so sit back, grab a drink and lets begin!

Find Some Wood That Would Make a Good Frame

For me, there was a dumpster full of old wood being thrown away at my shop. this wood looked perfect to reclaim for my photo.

Messure the Size of the Picture You Want to Frame

The first thing I had to do was measure the size of the photograph, luckily it was square so it made making repeat cuts easy. Always remember to watch your fingers.

Mark the Cuts With a Template and Cut the Wood Down to a More Manageable Size

So the next thing I did was to make a temple with the 45 degree angles cut on it and mark out where all the cut where going to be, and then cut the piece down to a more manageable size.

Use a Router and a Rabbet Bit to Cut the Wood

Next I clamped down the piece of wood to my work table and slowly ran the router with a 1/4 inch rabbet bit in it down the length of one edge.

Cut the Wood at 45 Degrees on a Miter Saw

The next step was to follow the marks I drew with the template and cut each piece at 45 degrees.

Once the Wood Is Cut, Mark the Back of the Frame So You'll Know How to Glue It Up

I drew some guide marks on the back of the frame just so i knew where the pieces lines up when i glued them all together.

Glue the Miter Cuts With Wood Glue and Use a Staple Gun and Staple Each Cut for Reinforcement

Time to glue the miter cuts with wood glue and the staple gun and staple 1-2 staples on each miter cut for better reinforcement. If necessary, use a hammer and gently hit the staples down so they are flush with the wood.

Use Some Weights on the Frame So the Glue Drys Evenly and the Frame Is Flat

And finally I lay some heavy weights on the frame so all the pieces will be nice and flat when the glue drys.

Go to a the Hardware Store and Get Some Plexiglass

I grabbed some plexiglass at the hardware store. this will go in front of the photo to protect it from the elements.

Cutting the Plexiglass on a Table Saw and Do a Test Fit on the Frame

Use a tablesaw for a clean, straight cut with the plexiglass. Once the plexiglass is cut, I do a test fitting to make sure everything fits properly.

Gluing the Plexiglass and Cleaning It.

Here I just use a little bit of glue around the entire piece of plexiglass just to make sure it doesn’t fall out in the future. After that, I use some glass cleaner and clean off both sides of the plexiglass and Im careful to not smudge the inside.

Backing It With Cardboard and Using the Glue Gun to Adhere to To the Back of the Frame

I cut a piece of cardboard and glued it to the backside of the frame to protect the picture from shop dust.

Cutting and Stapling Frame Wire to the Back of the Frame

I next grabbed some frame wire and cut it to length. I then used my staple gun to staple it securely to the wood on the back of the frame. use a hammer if necessary to hit the staples down flush to the wood.

All Done!

And you're done! A nice reclaimed rustic picture frame!

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