Cherry and Oak

These two little oak frames have had an extension put on the back to make them into deeper box frames.

A frame made from cherry wood.

Large Painting

A large painting on board that has been framed in a box frame, with a gap around the inner frame and then another outer box frame.

Oak frame with aluminium dovetail key

Ashes cricket bat

This cricket bat is signed by the England 2013 winning Ashes team, it was framed for a local charity auction. The deep obeche box frame was painted black, the edges were then exposed with sand paper to break up the lines and create some detail. The bat is held in place with an acrylic cricket bat holder, and the title below the bat is stuck to black core mountboard which is then cut at on a bevel to show a thick black line around the text.

Ash box

This is an ash box frame which has a dovetail oak key fitted on the face of the mitre, simply as a decorative effect. The dovetail is made using a Hoffmann router, usually it is used as a dedicated frame joining system, but from the back of the mitre and using a plastic key instead of a wooden one. With this frame the 10mm deep recess is cut, then the frame is glued and joined on an underpinner, then glue is put in the recess and the oak key is fitted. lastly the frame is strap clamped to give good tight corners all round. 

White float frame

This box canvas is framed in a 2" deep white painted box frame, this is mounted to a white painted MDF backing, then another white painted frame which is about 2 1/2" deep, surrounds the outside of the backing. The outer frame is a wide flat frame which has been cut on its side or at right angles to how it would usually be cut and joined. This general style is sometimes called a 'St. Ives frame', although now this can refer to almost any white framing, some people also call this style after the artist Ben Nicholson, although I think lap or butt joints and natural wood finish would be more typical of Nicholson frames. With the example here no glazing is used, although you can also have them with glazing, by having the outer (or inner) frame made from two parts; a rebated frame and a space or fillet.

Team Sky

Metal leaf box

This box frame has been gilded with metal leaf using acrylic size (also called Wunda size), it was then sealed with an acrylic varnish before being given a coat of wax to add a little interest to the finish.

Float mount photo

Photo cold mounted to 5mm Foamex, floated on 10mm foamboard, in a black and silver box frame, a 20mm fillet keeps the image away from the glass.

Football shirt

I've mentioned before that I don't get many football or sports shirts for framing, and only do them occasionally. This one has been framed in a glossy black frame.

Shiny gold box

A water gilded box frame which has been burnished to give a look of solid gold, this highly reflective finish is unique to the water gilding process. The background picture in the centre, has a lovely little antique gilded frame which over the years has been rubbed right through to the red bole, yellow bole, and even to the gesso. It has a great label on the back which I will take a photo of tomorrow. 

Deep box corners

This is how I joined the corners on the large box frame, lots of Titebond wood glue, a 40mm aluminium dovetail key and then it was cross drilled and screwed. The problem with this joint is each screw is potentially weakening the timber as there is so little surface area to begin with, anyway I was happy that the joint was as strong as I could make it. It was also possible to put some screws through the batten surrounding the piece being framed, into the inside edge of the frame.

Large box frame

I have a large frame (48 1/4" x 48 1/4") to make next week from this deep box moulding, so these offcuts will be used to try out some joining methods to make a good and strong joint. I just want to do some test corners before joining the actual frame together. Usually I would use acrylic glazing on this size but the customer has insisted on glass, despite my advice. Due to the depth of the piece being framed there will be no room for a subframe so all of the frame strength will need to be in the corners.

Green bole

This box frame has been painted with light green bole (made by mixing from green, white, and yellow bole), the bole was to match a Farrow and Ball colour. The frame will now be water gilded with 12ct white gold.

Black box

These two box frames are made from tulip wood which has been gessoed and then finished with black Pelikan Plaka paint (a water based casein emulsion), they have then been finished with wax. It's a simple but nice looking finish, and I do love frames with covered mitres.

Two colour spray finish

Sprayed box frames

These box frames are made from tulip, which is a good wood for painted and gilded finishes. The frame in the photo above has a sprayed on gesso base which is given a coat of white primer which is then sealed with a matt varnish.

The frame in the top photo is the same as the first, but after the primer coat it has had a bright white gloss spray finish which is sealed and protected with a gloss varnish.These frames are very simple and cleaning looking, with seamless corners as the mitres are not visible. It is also possible to spray directly onto the wood, building up the paint layers to get a solid finish.

More gilded box frames

Here are some more box frames that we have been finishing off this week, again they are gilded in 12ct white gold, which is slightly distressed to reveal the bole and leaf overlaps. The sides are painted, then the whole frame is then sealed with an acrylic varnish. Because of the 50% silver content in white gold, the surface will tarnish over time, this is accelerated by handling and finger prints. A coat of sealer or varnish helps protect the surface and prevents the leaf from tarnishing.

Strap clamps

These box frames have been joined and then clamped, they are then left over night before being prepared for gilding.

White gold box frames

These box frames have been water gilded in 12ct white gold, this leaf is a 50/50 mix of gold and silver.