How to Picture Frame
A Nine Step Tutorial
 

Step Three: Getting What You Need

First some terminology.  "Supplies" are the items you will use on only one frame job or over the course of several frame jobs and buy frequently.  "Equipment" is the stuff you will use over and over and buy only once.  Framing4Yourself has a wide variety of supplies and equipment, pretty much everything you need.  In the way of supplies, for example, you will need matboard, foamboard, a frame, and glass or acrylic (a glass substitute) for glazing, as well as  tape for mounting the artwork, adhesive tape for assembling double mats, and hardware for hanging.
 

Illustration 1	The first time you frame for yourself you can expect your supplies to set you back about $40.  The next time you frame, your supplies will cost you about $15, because most of the supplies you’ll need you’ll already have.  From then on your supplies will average around $10- $30 a frame job, but could be higher depending on how ambitious a project you're undertaking.  Framing4Yourself has put together a package of essential supplies to get you started.  With the EZ Start Supply Kit you can complete two 11"x14" frame jobs with plenty leftover for future projects. Click here to learn more about it.
Illustration 2	There is only one piece of equipment you will absolutely need and that’s a mat cutter.  Good quality mat cutters (the only kind worth buying) range from around $80 for a 32” system (Illus. 1)  to $399 for a top end 40 ½” system with a squaring arm and production capability.  Framing4Yourself offers an in-depth article that will walk you through the various types of mat cutters and highlight the differences between them so you can make an informed decision.  Click here to read it
Illustration 3	Other equipment such as an adhesive transfer gun (Illus. 2) and a point driver (Illus. 3) make for fast, easy framing, but they’re not absolutely essential.  However, when you get rolling, you’re going to want them, so consider buying them at once with a mat cutter in a reduced price package from our Package Deals Page.
Illustration 4	Some folks prefer to take the process in small bites, becoming competent at mat cutting before taking on frame making.  They may use sectional frames (Illus. 4) in the meantime.  Sectional frames are frames that have been pre-cut in the size you specify.  They come outfitted with a peg and notch system so you can join them quickly with wood glue and by pushing a peg into a slot.  To purchase sectional frames go to the picture frames section of this website, choose the style you like from the frame gallery, go to the collection you've selected and click on the sectional calculator button to enter the dimensions of the size you want.  The calculator will come back with a price for the size and style of frame you've selected.  Then just add it to the shopping cart.
Illustration 5	If you will be focusing on the mat cutting and mounting parts of the process first and leaving frame making until later, you will want the ability to select mat colors, reduce full size sheets of matboard, foamboard and glass, cut windows in mats, assemble double mats, mount artwork, attach hanging hardware and hold the contents securely in the frame.  The Complete Studio Package provides all the equipment and tools you will need in a single low-priced package.  In addition to a full featured mat cutter, you will receive a point driver, a tape applicator gun, glass cleaning supplies, mounting tape and much, much more.  Click Here to Learn More.
Illustration 6	On the other hand, some folks will want to take the plunge into frame making at the same time they take on mat cutting, and will want to enjoy the savings to be had when the full range of key equipment items are purchased together in a reduced price package (Illus. 6).  Framing4Yourself offers a variety of comprehensive packages at different price points.  For those looking forward to making a business of their framing The Business Start-Up Package is a great choice.  And to acquire the full complement of key equipment in a single package, The All-Inclusive Package, is the way to go. Click here to view the full range of reduced price package deals.
Illustration 7	If you will be purchasing your frame making equipment separately, the first item you'll need is a good quality miter saw with a fence extension scaled at 45-degrees.  A good low priced option is the Logan Pro Saw, which is manually operated.  As manual saws go it is the cream of the crop, but for a higher degree of speed and accuracy nothing beats a power miter saw like the Framing4Yourself 10" Compound Miter Saw and Fence Extension (Illus. 7).  But what if you already own a miter saw and really just need a way to measure moulding accurately?  Well, how about the Framing4Yourself Saw Fence Extension and Scale which attaches to any power miter saw and gives you the ability to measure picture frame moulding right on.
Illustration 8	Yet even with the best saws minor inaccuracies in frame cutting are not uncommon.  Problem is, even the slightest inaccuracy in cutting can mean your frame corners won't join neatly.  For this reason, many smart framers purchase a rotary sander to correct any flaws that may occur prior to joining.  The Logan Sander  is an affordable and worthwhile addition to any framing workshop (Illus 8).
Illustration 9	After miter cutting and sanding your four frame sections, you will be ready to join them to make a frame.  The modern method of frame joining is called V-Nailing (Illus. 9) and framing for yourself offers a number of manually operated V-Nail joining machines at affordable prices ($89.99-$305.99) Framing4Yourself also offers an in-depth article that will walk you through the various V-Nail joiners and highlight the differences between them so you can make an informed decision.  Click here to read it.
Illustration 10	Once your frame making equipment is bought all you need to do is select the frame moulding you want to cut and join.  Framing4Yourself offers more than 250 different styles in a variety of lengths (Illus. 10).  You will enjoy savings of 30-50% over the cost of buying sectional frames when you cut and join your own mouldings.  Click here to learn more about the frames we offer.
Illustration 11	In addition to a frame, another key supply item is matboard (Illus. 11).  Framing4Yourself offers more than 400 different colors of matboard in three different types.  We have included an in-depth article that will walk you through the different types and highlight the differences between them so you can make an informed decision about which matboard is right for you.  Click here to read it.
Illustration 12	Foamboard (Illus. 12) is the light, sturdy, foam-centered board that picture framers use behind their artwork to provide stability and fill the frame and often to mount against.  Framing4Yourself offers foamboard in two thicknesses, in two sizes, and in either regular or acid-free.  Click here to learn more about foamboard.
Illustration 13	When it comes to placing glass over your artwork to protect it, Framing4Yourself offers a lightweight alternative to glass: Clear Lucite Acrylic, what many people refer to as Plexiglass®, a hard, virtually unbreakable glass substitute that is the choice of many professional picture framers (Illus. 13).  Click here to learn more about acrylic glazing.
Illustration 14	The final step in the process requires the attachment of a dust cover and hanging hardware (Illus. 14).  Framing4Yourself offers a Frame Finish-Up Kit to get you started finishing, as it were.  The kit includes frame backing paper, a trimmer, hanging wire, an assortment of D-Ring hangers and screws, and bumper pads.  Click here to learn more about the Frame Finish-Up Kit and other kits available to make the process easier.

Once you've gotten what you need for the project and you are armed with your measurements, you are ready to begin actually framing.

Continue on to Step 4, Preparing Your Materials

Step 1   Step 2   Step 3   Step 4   Step 5   Step 6   Step 7   Step 8   Step 9


Click on a link below to Enter the Article Vault and Access More Articles About Getting What You Need:

The Essential Equipment and Materials to Frame For Yourself.

Essential Hardware For Framing.

The Materials You Can Do Without and Why.

How Much Can You Save Doing Your Own Picture Framing?

Examining the Different Types of Wood Found in Frames.

A List of Standard Frame Sizes.



Framing4Yourself Workshops give you hands-on instruction.  To find a workshop location near you, click the link below:

Framing4Yourself Workshops