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Looking for advice on my DIY framing project

Afroblanco — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 12:32:57 -0800

I have a number of unframed art prints and posters, and would like to do the framing myself. What advice do you have for me? I'm not looking to do anything fancy -- just simple black frames and plexiglass. In the past, I've gone to frame shops for this, but they're always really expensive, and this seems like a DIY-able task. I've never done any framing before, so I would appreciate any advice you have to offer. This could include :

1) Basic knowledge and instructions (and good places to find such)
2) Tricks, hints, protips, "wish-I-would-have-knowns"
3) Recommendations on materials and tools
4) Good places to buy materials and tools. I'm open to buying online or in-person. I live in San Fransisco, if that makes a difference.
5) ... anything else you might think of!

Thanks!

Carpentry -- making the perfect window cutout

antipasta_explosion — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 19:41:37 -0800

Carpentry puzzle: Imagine that you have a wood-framed window opening (example). Exterior sheathing completely covers the frame. How exactly do you cut through the sheathing? This has long vexed me as one of the more complicated carpentry problems I've run across.

I'm guessing that instead of trying to cut from the inside that it's better to cut from outside. I would go inside, drill a hole in the 4 corners of the window frame through the sheathing, go outside, draw lines connecting all the holes, and cut along this exterior line.

OK, but here's the proble: how do you start the cut? A circular saw sounds like a bad idea, especially since you'd have to hold the blade guard open. Any kickback and you'd be toast. You can't start a jigsaw into solid wood either. So what tool is needed here?

I'm guessing to do the line cuts, I'd want a jigsaw. Circular saws are dangerous IMHO on vertical planes.

Then, how would you clean up the sheathing edges to conform to the frame? I'm thinking an electric planer would do the job.

Commands and any alternative ideas to this problem would be appreciated.

where can I find the right frames for these large pictures?

krautland — Tue, 01 May 2007 13:17:52 -0800

where can I find the right frames for these large pictures? I have a few rather large prints (1,2,3) that I just can't seem to find the right frames for.

I like simple dark ones, like the center one in this picture (not the silver ones). dark wood frames with a couple inches separating the actual print from the border. the only shop who had the right frames wanted around $150 per frame, which I didn't think was appropriate for these.

I am in chicago but am willing to order online, if necessary.

the prints are 22"x28" and 26" wide by 33.1" high.

Framed!

josh — Fri, 25 Jun 2004 22:15:54 -0800

Framed! I'm moving into a new apartment, and I have about three dozen pictures, posters, and prints that I'd like to frame. Has anybody discovered an inexpensive way to frame pictures? Is it possible to frame them yourself, by, say, getting glass cut at the hardware store? The last picture I got framed cost nearly $90, which was way too expensive.