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06/17/2006 01:45:53 PM · #26 |
Originally posted by micknewton:
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
The cheapest way would be to buy a molding machine and mill your own frame stock from rough lumber and cut that into pieces to make the frame sizes you need. You'd have to make a lot of frames to make that worthwhile.
Seriously though, I don't think you were in the least bit overcharged. |
You can make very nice picture frames from inexpensive wood molding stock and a few simple hand tools. Unfinished wood molding stock is available at most hardware stores or lumber yards for 1-2 dollars two per foot. Fancy carved and pre-finished picture frame molding is available from several importers and speciality stores and can cost several dollars per foot. I made my first frames from cheap casement molding using a hacksaw and a wooden miter box. All you really need is something to cut the stock to length at the correct angle.
With a table saw or router you can turn rough lumber into just about any shape of frame stock imaginable.
Table saws can be had fairly cheaply from several suppliersâ€Â¦
4 inch "Mighty-Mite" Table Saw $29.99
An adjustable moulding head cutter for a table saw can be had for less than the price of a single custom framing jobâ€Â¦
Single-bladed molding head cutter
Of course if you're the type that doesn't like to get your hands dirty, or you can't walk and chew gum at the same time, then you may want to pay someone else to do it for you. I just wanted to point out that a DIY'er can frame a photo very inexpensively. |
You'd be better off with a good hand miter saw than one of those cheapy table saws. The one you linked to would never drive a moulding head through anything harder than styrofoam even if you could get the cutter mounted to the spindle. You need some HP to remove the kind of stock to make frame moulding. A cabinet saw would be best, and those are a lot more than $30.
If you've ever run a molding head on a table saw, you gotta know how scary they can be. A moulding cutter is a much safer and effective way to cut such things.
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06/17/2006 01:57:55 PM · #27 |
i think a good matte cutter is worth its weight in gold
just picked up two frames 11x14 & 16x16, no matte, for ~50$ &
matte board 6$
& volla ... I use off colors for backing
been thinking ofthe DIY route ..
i have the miter saw ..
looked at a high end Logan braider today ..300$ ouch !!
(real pretty though ;)
think i will do a less expensive method
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06/18/2006 12:36:41 AM · #28 |
I have experimented with some inexpensive miter saws with terrible results. You need a good power saw and you need a carbide tipped blade with 110 or 120 teeth to make smooth cuts on most frame moulding.
Building your own frames is more difficult than it sounds. Those cuts need to be clean or the joints don't look good when they are put together. You need to stain those joints and then putty them after they are nailed together. A V-nailer is a great solution because your nails don't show. I believe that you need to spend between $300 and $400 in hardware before you can cut frames that are going to look good when they go together.
If you are building antique looking frames out of old barn wood, the quality of the joints don't matter as much...
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