How I Make My Frames.
By Steven Kenny
![](https://creativepinellas.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/frame-gold-detail-1-547x1024.jpg)
Many people may not know that I’ve been making most of my own frames for many years. In the begin I would cobble them together using store-bought wood moldings from Home Depot or Lowes. That all changed when I discovered that I could design molding profiles myself and have them milled at the local lumber yard.
![](https://creativepinellas.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/frame-molding-300x286.jpg)
Following this schematic diagram, the lumber yard makes four separate steel blades, one to cut each side of the frame profile. Those blades get fitted into a large machine that mills the rough 4 x 4 inch wood stock. I always use poplar which is relatively knot-free “soft” hardwood. The individual milled wood sections are often 10 – 12 feet long. I them cut these to length depending on the size of each painting.
![](https://creativepinellas.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/0808201034-300x169.jpg)
Once the four sides of the frame are cut to length, I then need to cut biscuit slots. Biscuits are wooden inserts that, when glued, hold the corners together without having to use nails.
![](https://creativepinellas.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/0808201033-300x169.jpg)
A special tool called a biscuit joiner is required.
![](https://creativepinellas.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/0808201033a-scaled-e1597075276430-195x300.jpg)
Now it’s time to glue the four frame sections together with wood glue.
![](https://creativepinellas.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/0808201101-scaled-e1597075412492-300x232.jpg)
I use a band clamp to hold the frame tightly together while the glue is setting.
![](https://creativepinellas.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/0808201102-scaled-e1597075563793-214x300.jpg)
Once the glue is dry the frame is ready to be sanded and painted or gilded.