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Joan Breckwoldt · 02-01-2003, 12:39 AM

Thank you for your reply Steven. I guess when I tackle about a 33" x 28" portrait I should probably use the heavy duty stretcher bars? I hadn't really thought of that until I read your post.

I once tried to use an existing frame by making my own stretcher bars to fit the frame. I just glued them and nailed them together at the corners, I used 1"x2" wood and cut it to exactly what would fit in the frame. I stretched the canvas and put the sizing on. Then it stre-e-e-e-tched very tight and my home-made frame sort of twisted as the canvas tightened. Oops.

Is there a way to make a frame for a specific sized frame if the frame opening is not in whole numbered inches, e.g., 33 1/2"? I suppose there is some machine out there that allows one to make their own French mitered corners, but that's not for me.

I'm asking because I often see beautiful old frames that were custom made to fit who-knows-what and I can just see a portrait in the frames. Not being sure how to fill the frames doesn't stop me from buying them, and I have quite a collection now!

You mentioned making your own frame. That interests me. That may be a subject for a whole new thread, but I would like to hear about that. I am getting ready to do a simple painting/portrait for my son's room and it's 30"x40". A simple black frame would look great around it but I haven't thought much past that point. I used to frame my own pictures at the old U-Frame-It stores here in Houston, but they've done away with those. I suppose with a miter saw I could make a frame - I'm talking about a simple frame for my son's room, nothing fancy.

Thanks,
Joan

P.S. I would love to see that landscape. I'll bet the clients were pretty upset that they ruined their frame. What a mess.

02-01-2003, 12:39 AM	#4
Joan Breckwoldt Associate Member Joined: Nov 2001 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 504	Frames Thank you for your reply Steven. I guess when I tackle about a 33" x 28" portrait I should probably use the heavy duty stretcher bars? I hadn't really thought of that until I read your post. I once tried to use an existing frame by making my own stretcher bars to fit the frame. I just glued them and nailed them together at the corners, I used 1"x2" wood and cut it to exactly what would fit in the frame. I stretched the canvas and put the sizing on. Then it stre-e-e-e-tched very tight and my home-made frame sort of twisted as the canvas tightened. Oops. Is there a way to make a frame for a specific sized frame if the frame opening is not in whole numbered inches, e.g., 33 1/2"? I suppose there is some machine out there that allows one to make their own French mitered corners, but that's not for me. I'm asking because I often see beautiful old frames that were custom made to fit who-knows-what and I can just see a portrait in the frames. Not being sure how to fill the frames doesn't stop me from buying them, and I have quite a collection now! You mentioned making your own frame. That interests me. That may be a subject for a whole new thread, but I would like to hear about that. I am getting ready to do a simple painting/portrait for my son's room and it's 30"x40". A simple black frame would look great around it but I haven't thought much past that point. I used to frame my own pictures at the old U-Frame-It stores here in Houston, but they've done away with those. I suppose with a miter saw I could make a frame - I'm talking about a simple frame for my son's room, nothing fancy. Thanks, Joan P.S. I would love to see that landscape. I'll bet the clients were pretty upset that they ruined their frame. What a mess.