i want to say thank you for this clear and simple video! i'm a painter and i started making float frames as a result of watching this. it's a game changer. i hope your family is still enjoying art and painting today!
MANNNN ... My dad and I are making a shadow box. We could not figure out the 45 degree angles. Many videos later, this literally saved our lives! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!
Thank you so much for this video and the others! I am an artist and making my own frames is going to save me money as well as create a finished product to present at shows! You're videos are straightforward (no unnecessary chatter which is great) and easy to follow! I appreciate that you are an artist yourself! My father was a finish carpenter and always taught me that I can do these things! I have my new miter saw and nail gun and I am super excited with my results so far! Thank you thank you thank you!
OMG, this is exactly what I was looking for! I already made a frame, I just needed to figure out how to make a picture sit in it. A float frame is perfect! THANK YOU!!!!
This video came out at the perfect time, I bought a painted picture yesterday and my wife asked me to make a float frame for it. Now I know how to make it. Thanks Jon!
Thanks for the video Jon! I replaced the hideous 5” gold-painted dental crown moulding on a large oil painting using your method. To save time and effort (I’m lazy), I joined the backing strips to the moulding at a right angle, nailed and glued, and then mitered them to the final size. This is the first place I look when I need ideas… Thanks again!
Great clip, certainly for those of us who don’t have a table saw. I don’t have a mitre saw, but that is something I can accommodate in my somewhat overstuffed garage…….. By the way……at 76, I’m ok with 13/16” rather than metric. Some folks aren’t, apparently………..something about ‘old dogs and new tricks’…………..
Right, the more times you do something the better you do!, It's not a joke, Jon, it's a confirmation. An ingenious idea, this one of double molding, is the door to a multitude of frame configurations using the internal molding on the front of the frame. Thank you for sharing your work, that provides a lot of enjoyment to us. The Internet is a beautiful tool!. ¡Cierto, cuantas más veces haces algo mejor lo haces!, no es una broma Juan, es una confirmación. Una idea ingeniosa, ésta de la doble moldura, es la puerta de multitud de configuraciones de marcos utilizando la moldura interna en el frente del marco. Gracias por compartir tu trabajo, qué tanto disfrute nos proporciona. ¡Internet es una hermosa herramienta!.
I’m curious to know what your thoughts would be on translating this method to a painting made on stretched canvas instead of a panel, and how it might effect the long-term stability of the painting?
This is awesome!!!! I can not thank you enough for this video!!! I made an art piece for my son and have decided to frame it myself however I’m not quite comfortable with my table saw just yet so this is a huge help, thank you 🙏🏼!
You are a God-send. This is exactly the type of frame I am looking for. You answered all my questions Sir. Now all of my beauties will come with a frame attached to their behind.
Nice job building the frame and your instructions are very clear. I'll be adding the sacrificial fence to my mitre saw. Lastly, there is no need to mitre the inside frame. You can do that with butt joints and biscuits, pocket screws or just the glue. You can also use pocket screws to attach the inside frame to the outside frame so you don't have to tack it together from the outside. Nail holes are almost always visible, even after you fill them.
This looks great BUT How do you deal with the nail marks on the small frame you worked on? You mention that they are there when talking about the large frame
Good video. Might I recommend using a square or something to check to make sure your frame is square before you let the glue set. If you arent using a frame joiner, and are doing it by hand, its VERY easy for it to get out of square and make it difficult to fit to the painting :D
Quick question. Your video you said cutting two sizes one size at 10.25 and another 8.25". but then you cut them all at the 10.25". Please clarify, and what is the angle did you use. Didn't see it on the video. Love the video by the way.. Thanks
Trouble is there's no edit undo on that nail gun. I'm new to this and I think I'll clamp the corners and then use a nail gun as a separate step so I can use both hands. Great video thank you
I've only built a few of these and am learning a lot from you. I normally glue the strainer to the frame board before makeing my miters. I'm basically dealing with an "L" shaped board at that point. My thought process was then I only need to make a single set of miter cuts rather than having to make perfect fitting miters to fit the strainer in the frame. I thought I was saving myself work and making it easier but now I wonder if I'm setting myself up for problems later or actually making more work. Hope I explained my process well enough. Thoughts?
this is the way. hes setting himself up for more work. also , using brad nails is for armatures. learn to spline and you wont have to use wood filler to hide the holes.
I understand that the pin nails at the mitre joints serve to drive the glued mitre joint together, but how significant are the pin nails in adding strength to the glued mitre joint?
Thanks for all of your great videos, Jon. One question on the float frame... How would you fasten the corners and the stringer if you didn't want to nail through the outside of the frame? I'd like to leave my frames unpainted and don't want nail holes or wood putty showing on the outside but I do not have the equipment (or the skill) to do splined or dowel joined miters, etc. Thanks again!
Thanks that’s great to hear. You might be able to simply glue and clamp the parts together… If that’s difficult, try a 23 gauge pin nailer, the pin nails, leave such a small hole that they are barely noticeable, and can be filled with a little sawdust and wood glue. On my most recent furniture, build the walnut sideboard I attached the molding with pin nails. It did not fill the holes and no one has noticed.
Not sure if you'll see this question on an old video, but I'm curious where you attach hanging hardware on the large frame? On the inside edges of the strainer? Also super appreciate these videos, as someone with some tools but not a table saw! Exactly what I was looking for as an artist who can't afford professional framing.
Beautiful. So glad you used common sizes. I’ve watched some other vids and have been looking for that sized moulding pieces with zero luck. I am certain I can find the size you used.
Love this. There are so many videos/tutorials on making these frames that are just way over-engineered. I like this simple approach, it still results in a really nice frame but without the excessively-complex process that so many others use.
How much does it cost to have a floating frame made. I bought a very nice oil painting from Italy last summer (28 x 33). It still in the tubing. I could still smell the paint. help!
I have paintings on masonite that I don't want to damage with screws. How about using wood glue to attach the artwork to the frame instead of screws? Thank you!
Can I use a hand saw for this instead? Do you have a video tutorial with you making a frame with a glass cover? I would love to see you make a digital picture frame!!
Question.. on the larger frame when nailing the strainer to outside frame from inside to outside, do you use the same type of nail gun? and what size nail? I may try this sometime but im not a carpenter. just like to build things and would like to save some money on framing for sure.
Just a question, I assume the answer is yes, but do you always use the "frame-in-frame" method even for the larger frames? I'm just starting out making float frames for my wife's paintings and have looked at frames she's got from a framer, but they seem to use L-channel wood and join that together all in one. Attempting to replicate this however by creating the L-channel sections from two straight sections is more work than I thought it would be... your frame-in-frame method might solve this for me :)
Thank you Jon.... I have had a terrible time with miter frames. Measuring 1" from the inside corner then adding 1" to the length has been my problem. Your daughter's painting is charming, the larger pictures were interesting. It will be interesting to see them installed.
I have a question.. did you have to prep the poplar wood (get rid of rounded edges and cut them to exact size .5" and 1.5") or did it come with clean edges and already in that size? Thanks for sharing this video btw.
I love the painting and the frame, of course. I want to make a floating frame for one of my paintings the only problem I have is that my miter saw never cuts the 45 degree joints the same. They always come out skewed and not flush, and I always end up filling the gaps with wood filler. I tried balancing the blade and other adjustments but nothing helps. Maybe I need a new miter saw. Thanks for the video.
The issue could be in the dial settings. Maybe it shows 45 degrees but its not exact. Try experimenting with slight variations ( like say a 44.5) and see if that works.
The best video I've seen on making floating frames, and just what I need. BUT can you explain how to nail trough the strainer from the inside for larger frames? You mention that you do that, but don't show an example. Are you nailing through the width of the strainer pieces? Or are you nailing at an angle? (Both of which seem tricky). Wish you could demo that. Thanks!
I don't have room for an electric mitre saw (chop saw as you call it) can't I use a manual mitre box? it's easy for me to store and when I get a proper area to use a saw so that it doesn't get all over my art in a studio, I will definitely get a proper 'chop saw' or electric mitre saw. I hope to hear from you, I'm so frustrated paying outrageous prices for frames on my art that people toss away once they buy the art
Thank your for this video, I just wish I could have found it before I actually did a floating frame with another video. I like how you did the strainer and the frame in 2 parts, some other videos they attach them first and then cut, but not everybody has those big saws in their houses. I did used poplar, but my only question is, how can I achieve a good quality finish painting job on the frame, im trying to achieve a golden color that kinda matches our other frames. I want a fine, smooth golden color finish. any reccomendations?
Hi, about two years ago I bought such a cheap miter saw, but here in the Netherlands they come with a blade with very few teeth. That gives not so nice cuts. So I bought a blade with many teeth which was actually more expensive than the saw. But the cuts are now perfect. Maybe you could tell something about that some time? I like this video.
I appreciate the video, but I do have a small complaint. Aren't you supposed to wait for the blade to stop spinning before lifting it? For safety and such?
Thank you for sharing these videos. I heard you say that poplar is good for painted projects, but do you ever leave your poplar frames natural or maybe stain them?
I’m confused. You said to add half an inch to the measurement then cut at quarter inch. 10.25 not 10.5. What am I missing? That only leaves an air gap of 1/8th inch on each side.
i want to say thank you for this clear and simple video! i'm a painter and i started making float frames as a result of watching this. it's a game changer. i hope your family is still enjoying art and painting today!
This is the best instruction for beginners. Simple, easy without drawing everything out by over instructing. Thank you love it!!
MANNNN ... My dad and I are making a shadow box. We could not figure out the 45 degree angles. Many videos later, this literally saved our lives! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!
You have a few videos on this but without a table saw this is the one!! Really makes a canvas look museum quality 🙌
This is the perfect video I was looking for 🙏🏼 clearly explained and demonstrated
Thank you so much for this video and the others! I am an artist and making my own frames is going to save me money as well as create a finished product to present at shows! You're videos are straightforward (no unnecessary chatter which is great) and easy to follow! I appreciate that you are an artist yourself! My father was a finish carpenter and always taught me that I can do these things! I have my new miter saw and nail gun and I am super excited with my results so far! Thank you thank you thank you!
OMG, this is exactly what I was looking for! I already made a frame, I just needed to figure out how to make a picture sit in it. A float frame is perfect! THANK YOU!!!!
This video came out at the perfect time, I bought a painted picture yesterday and my wife asked me to make a float frame for it. Now I know how to make it. Thanks Jon!
Good instructions for a beginner, thanks! I just watched another super complicated float frame video (for skilled woodworkers) and thought...no way.
wow this was just wat i am looking for, just for my wooden art pannels ,, thank you hilde from belgium
Thanks for the video Jon! I replaced the hideous 5” gold-painted dental crown moulding on a large oil painting using your method. To save time and effort (I’m lazy), I joined the backing strips to the moulding at a right angle, nailed and glued, and then mitered them to the final size. This is the first place I look when I need ideas… Thanks again!
Of all the videos I looked at this was the one that taught me how to build a frame. Thank you sir.
Great clip, certainly for those of us who don’t have a table saw. I don’t have a mitre saw, but that is something I can accommodate in my somewhat overstuffed garage……..
By the way……at 76, I’m ok with 13/16” rather than metric. Some folks aren’t, apparently………..something about ‘old dogs and new tricks’…………..
Thanks 👍
Right, the more times you do something the better you do!, It's not a joke, Jon, it's a confirmation.
An ingenious idea, this one of double molding, is the door to a multitude of frame configurations using the internal molding on the front of the frame.
Thank you for sharing your work, that provides a lot of enjoyment to us.
The Internet is a beautiful tool!.
¡Cierto, cuantas más veces haces algo mejor lo haces!, no es una broma Juan, es una confirmación.
Una idea ingeniosa, ésta de la doble moldura, es la puerta de multitud de configuraciones de marcos utilizando la moldura interna en el frente del marco.
Gracias por compartir tu trabajo, qué tanto disfrute nos proporciona.
¡Internet es una hermosa herramienta!.
I’m curious to know what your thoughts would be on translating this method to a painting made on stretched canvas instead of a panel, and how it might effect the long-term stability of the painting?
Great instructions. Now I know how to make this for a friend of mine. It will be my first but I will try it.
This is awesome!!!! I can not thank you enough for this video!!! I made an art piece for my son and have decided to frame it myself however I’m not quite comfortable with my table saw just yet so this is a huge help, thank you 🙏🏼!
Glad I could help!
Why not glue outer frame and strainer together in full lengths and then miter through both for corners. Keep up the excellent work Jon.
You are a God-send. This is exactly the type of frame I am looking for. You answered all my questions Sir. Now all of my beauties will come with a frame attached to their behind.
great video, I always new there had to be a very simple way to do this and your video demonstrated that very well, thank you!
Glad I could help!
Being a novice artist I need to make the floating frames and this video is a tremendous help! Thanks Jon!
Happy to hear it, Thanks!
@@JonPetersArtHome you’re very welcome! Happy New Year
If you’re a novice check your fingers. Never put themin front of the nailer. NEVER…
I love when my daughters color and paint for me . Good work again Jon!
Thanks Richard, yeah kids always make the best art.
This was very informative and easy to follow. Thank you!
Best video I’ve found to make floating frame. Thanks so much.
Thank you, for your great process & explanation. I took what I learn & I have now successfully build a pic frame(8X8), GodBless
Thanks Ralph
great video - I'm looking for a simple way to make shadow boxes, that would have glass in them, hoping to adjust this to do that.
How are you centering the painting into the frame? Do you use spacers or just eyeballing it?
Nice job building the frame and your instructions are very clear. I'll be adding the sacrificial fence to my mitre saw. Lastly, there is no need to mitre the inside frame. You can do that with butt joints and biscuits, pocket screws or just the glue. You can also use pocket screws to attach the inside frame to the outside frame so you don't have to tack it together from the outside. Nail holes are almost always visible, even after you fill them.
"We're not going to use a table saw"
Okay I'm listening
"We're going to use a chop saw"
Bro wtf i thought we were on the same page
Misleading as always. Another one betrays us.
seriously I live in an apartment downtown in a major city, we need something for the guys that don't have dedicated workshops or garages
Miter saw (hand tool) with miter box should work ...
I mean technically, he's not using a table saw.
This is the most helpful video I've seen today. Thank you!!
Thanks for all of these videos. I'm always sending people your way when they ask me how I make my frames. Really appreciate what you're doing. Thanks!
This looks great BUT How do you deal with the nail marks on the small frame you worked on? You mention that they are there when talking about the large frame
Thanks for your clear, simple to follow instructions. Just what I was looking for.
Good video. Might I recommend using a square or something to check to make sure your frame is square before you let the glue set. If you arent using a frame joiner, and are doing it by hand, its VERY easy for it to get out of square and make it difficult to fit to the painting :D
I appreciate you so much! Thank you for taking the time to put this video together.
Thank you very much for this sharing and this tutorial so well filmed and explained. Everything is clear and precise, really a huge thank you.
Quick question. Your video you said cutting two sizes one size at 10.25 and another 8.25". but then you cut them all at the 10.25". Please clarify, and what is the angle did you use. Didn't see it on the video. Love the video by the way.. Thanks
how do i get the nail out of my hand after i fire a nail in there by accident?
Thank you so much for sharing the video. I did my first floater frame today..!!
This is very helpful. Came here after messing up my bevel cuts and getting frustrated haha
Thank you so much! The way you explain how is easy to understand. I can't wait to try it.
I’m glad to hear it! Thanks
Trouble is there's no edit undo on that nail gun. I'm new to this and I think I'll clamp the corners and then use a nail gun as a separate step so I can use both hands. Great video thank you
Thanks so much, fantastic guidance for a beginner, worked perfectly!
I see your daughter is taking after you in artistic talent. Nice simple method for a float frame. Thanks for the instruction!
Thanks Bruce
I've only built a few of these and am learning a lot from you. I normally glue the strainer to the frame board before makeing my miters. I'm basically dealing with an "L" shaped board at that point. My thought process was then I only need to make a single set of miter cuts rather than having to make perfect fitting miters to fit the strainer in the frame. I thought I was saving myself work and making it easier but now I wonder if I'm setting myself up for problems later or actually making more work. Hope I explained my process well enough. Thoughts?
this is the way. hes setting himself up for more work. also , using brad nails is for armatures. learn to spline and you wont have to use wood filler to hide the holes.
Hi, which wood are you using? Also what blade is best for perfect cut? I always get splinters coming off
I understand that the pin nails at the mitre joints serve to drive the glued mitre joint together, but how significant are the pin nails in adding strength to the glued mitre joint?
Thanks for all of your great videos, Jon. One question on the float frame... How would you fasten the corners and the stringer if you didn't want to nail through the outside of the frame? I'd like to leave my frames unpainted and don't want nail holes or wood putty showing on the outside but I do not have the equipment (or the skill) to do splined or dowel joined miters, etc. Thanks again!
Thanks that’s great to hear. You might be able to simply glue and clamp the parts together… If that’s difficult, try a 23 gauge pin nailer, the pin nails, leave such a small hole that they are barely noticeable, and can be filled with a little sawdust and wood glue. On my most recent furniture, build the walnut sideboard I attached the molding with pin nails. It did not fill the holes and no one has noticed.
Not sure if you'll see this question on an old video, but I'm curious where you attach hanging hardware on the large frame? On the inside edges of the strainer? Also super appreciate these videos, as someone with some tools but not a table saw! Exactly what I was looking for as an artist who can't afford professional framing.
Thanks, I like to attach to the stretcher , but you can attach to the back of the frame too
Best, while simplest diy frame, so far.
Great video. Thank you.
And yes, just as you've confessed, you are great in making floating frames! 😂
Can you do a similar video building a pocket hole frame with a 1/4" rabbit for art?
Simple and straight to the point
Hi Jon. Any tips for completing this project if you don't have a nail gun to hand?
This was the best tutorial. So easy to understand. Thanks!
That's a great video, Jon - the most succinct and also the easiest to follow in terms of both instruction and supplies required.
Beautiful. So glad you used common sizes. I’ve watched some other vids and have been looking for that sized moulding pieces with zero luck. I am certain I can find the size you used.
Love this. There are so many videos/tutorials on making these frames that are just way over-engineered. I like this simple approach, it still results in a really nice frame but without the excessively-complex process that so many others use.
How much does it cost to have a floating frame made. I bought a very nice oil painting from Italy last summer (28 x 33). It still in the tubing. I could still smell the paint. help!
I have paintings on masonite that I don't want to damage with screws. How about using wood glue to attach the artwork to the frame instead of screws? Thank you!
very very nice and perfect. Great job done. Sharif from pakistan.
Cool, simple frame. I believe I can find many uses for these. Thanks for the video Jon.
Can I use a hand saw for this instead? Do you have a video tutorial with you making a frame with a glass cover? I would love to see you make a digital picture frame!!
Wow. Amazing. Like the artwork too.
Question.. on the larger frame when nailing the strainer to outside frame from inside to outside, do you use the same type of nail gun? and what size nail? I may try this sometime but im not a carpenter. just like to build things and would like to save some money on framing for sure.
Is there a con to building the strainer separately (on the small frame) and then nailing it in as one unit?
Thank you for your video! Very informative and clear. I wonder what miter saw blade would you recommend for such work?
A good 60 tooth cross cut blade will work great.
Great video! It really simplifies how to do this. Thank you!
Thank u for up date Jon peter
Hello Jon, a nice frame and a really nice video with good tricks. Thanks a lot for showing! Have a nice time. Best regards! Rudi from Bremen, Germany
Just a question, I assume the answer is yes, but do you always use the "frame-in-frame" method even for the larger frames? I'm just starting out making float frames for my wife's paintings and have looked at frames she's got from a framer, but they seem to use L-channel wood and join that together all in one. Attempting to replicate this however by creating the L-channel sections from two straight sections is more work than I thought it would be... your frame-in-frame method might solve this for me :)
Yes, just works good for me 👍
Question: Why would the interior frame have to be cut at 45°?
Great video! Saves me from buying a table saw for now. Really like the paintings!
Thanks very nice method to teach
If I want to do this with thinner wood, what type of blade do I need? Even with tape my blade keeps ripping the wood 😢
Be careful cutting thin wood it can be very dangerous.
Thank you for sharing. Great useful video
Thank you Jon.... I have had a terrible time with miter frames. Measuring 1" from the inside corner then adding 1" to the length has been my problem. Your daughter's painting is charming, the larger pictures were interesting. It will be interesting to see them installed.
I have a question.. did you have to prep the poplar wood (get rid of rounded edges and cut them to exact size .5" and 1.5") or did it come with clean edges and already in that size? Thanks for sharing this video btw.
Thank you Jon for your instructions. May the Lord Bless you and your family.
I love the painting and the frame, of course. I want to make a floating frame for one of my paintings the only problem I have is that my miter saw never cuts the 45 degree joints the same. They always come out skewed and not flush, and I always end up filling the gaps with wood filler. I tried balancing the blade and other adjustments but nothing helps. Maybe I need a new miter saw. Thanks for the video.
Ivon Lopez I have the same issue my saw is old and probably wasn’t the best quality when it was new.
The issue could be in the dial settings. Maybe it shows 45 degrees but its not exact. Try experimenting with slight variations ( like say a 44.5) and see if that works.
Awesome video man. This is exactly what I needed. Thank you! 🙂
The best video I've seen on making floating frames, and just what I need. BUT can you explain how to nail trough the strainer from the inside for larger frames? You mention that you do that, but don't show an example. Are you nailing through the width of the strainer pieces? Or are you nailing at an angle? (Both of which seem tricky). Wish you could demo that. Thanks!
Can you teach how to make the jig on the saw?
Great info. I live in Longview Wa. I would like to see more of your work if we are close.
Thank You!
I don't have room for an electric mitre saw (chop saw as you call it) can't I use a manual mitre box? it's easy for me to store and when I get a proper area to use a saw so that it doesn't get all over my art in a studio, I will definitely get a proper 'chop saw' or electric mitre saw. I hope to hear from you, I'm so frustrated paying outrageous prices for frames on my art that people toss away once they buy the art
This video is super helpful! Thank you for creating this!
Amazing frame ❤️❤️✨✨👍
Excellent explanation John, the secret of a beautiful painting is undoubtedly a good finish, thanks for the class, haha!
Really clear instructions - thank you
Thank your for this video, I just wish I could have found it before I actually did a floating frame with another video. I like how you did the strainer and the frame in 2 parts, some other videos they attach them first and then cut, but not everybody has those big saws in their houses. I did used poplar, but my only question is, how can I achieve a good quality finish painting job on the frame, im trying to achieve a golden color that kinda matches our other frames. I want a fine, smooth golden color finish. any reccomendations?
Hi, about two years ago I bought such a cheap miter saw, but here in the Netherlands they come with a blade with very few teeth. That gives not so nice cuts. So I bought a blade with many teeth which was actually more expensive than the saw. But the cuts are now perfect. Maybe you could tell something about that some time? I like this video.
Good idea thanks
Good video, Jon, as always. Appreciate your common sense approach to your projects.
I appreciate the video, but I do have a small complaint. Aren't you supposed to wait for the blade to stop spinning before lifting it? For safety and such?
Thanks and no ... that’s what the blade guard is for 👍
Very well presented. I like the way you explained it. Thank you.
Great presentation
Nice painting. Thank you!
Excellent 100% helpful... Jon keep up the good work!
Thank you for sharing these videos. I heard you say that poplar is good for painted projects, but do you ever leave your poplar frames natural or maybe stain them?
Useful tutorial, thank you
Glad it was helpful!
Very helpful! thank you for sharing
Glad to hear it, thanks for the comment!
I’m confused. You said to add half an inch to the measurement then cut at quarter inch. 10.25 not 10.5. What am I missing? That only leaves an air gap of 1/8th inch on each side.