How to Make Floating Frames

For years I went round and round with looking at premade frames, framing stores and tutorials on how to make frames. I can’t tell you how many times I have put frames in my shopping cart and never checked out.

Fast forward and I am at the specialty wood store looking at wood for a table I asked my husband to build.. I start to wander aisles. I found beautiful ash hardwood for like $5/foot. I stopped in my tracks.

The wood was BEAUTIFUL. “Can you make me some frames?” He said, “Probably.” I showed him links to frames I found in the art store..and I told him the modifications I wanted. I asked for an EXPENSIVE looking frame (I rejected his first attempt) with a thinner face and beautiful weight. I got some wood, picked up a few jars of stain and we started framing.

I was quoted over $600 for frames ike I wanted. I purchased about 25 feet of wood for $137.

My mini paintings in solid ash floating frames we made ourselves.

I understand why these frames cost a framer hundreds of dollars to make. They are VERY labor intensive and everyone probably does not have the skill set to make their own floating frames this way. But, if you have patience and some free time, you can do it.

There was a small learning curve along the way. We needed to upgrade some of our equipment after we made the first frame. So we did spend about $300 to get up and running equipment wise.. But I still came in less than what the framers would charge me for a single frame. We also have the benefit of testing the art in the frame before completing the build, so we know the frame will fit perfect.

Take your 7/8” profile canvases and panels and give them a beautiful wood gallery frame.. your collectors will fall in love!

My husband wrote out the instructions for how we make these. He drew out dirgrams and took photos of the process step by step and we have it all packaged in a nice download for you. You can get to work or plop this document down on your favorite builder’s workbench 😉

A table saw is required (probably safest to use a professional model, not the entry level saw). We have all of the other tools and supplies linked in the download too. You can purchase a copy here.

Thank you for stopping in today! See you soon. 🖼️