One Piece Frames

[gee-dub]

I am batching out some more interesting frames but these quick and easy scrap gobblers might be of interest. If you have some scrap about 6"x9" you're in. I have a template that allows me to quickly set up the router table. I route a large and a small rectangle about 1/4" deep with a 1/4" spiral bit. Small on one side (the show side)

and larger on the other (the recess for the art).

Once these grooves are cut you drill access holes at one or more corners for the jigsaw blade to fit in and get a starting point. Then jigsaw the center waste out.

Now use a flush trim bit to flush trim the smaller rectangle.

Then flip the piece and rabbet the small amount of waste leftover on the larger rectangle. When you are done you have full thickness rectangles with a rabbeted cutout roughly centered.

Take after these with your raised panel tablesaw jig.

And you end up here.

Cut some key hole slots or other method of hanging the 5 x 7 frames.

Add finish, glass, mat, art, backer, and turns (or other fixing hardware) and you end up here.

That's me and mom at her brother's 90th.  They are not fancy and not terribly refined but, if you need a mess of small frames and have some scrap laying around . . . bada-bing!

[Mark J]

Why not cut all the way through when routing the smaller square (use a down cut spiral).  Then you could eliminate the jig saw step?  

[gee-dub]

On 3/5/2023 at 5:56 AM, Mark J said:

Why not cut all the way through when routing the smaller square (use a down cut spiral).  Then you could eliminate the jig saw step?  

I used to do this.  Things get tricky when the waste comes loose and the bit is engaged.  I tried a few things to stabilize the waste but I find the jigsaw is faster and more controllable.

[Chestnut]

Great idea. Makes me wish I'd seen this before i made a bunch of 5x7 mitered frames.

[Coop]

Those are cool! How wide is your jointer? 

[gee-dub]

On 3/5/2023 at 5:41 PM, Coop said:

Those are cool! How wide is your jointer? 

8".  If you are wondering how I joint wider stock, I have a planer sled.

 

[gee-dub]

I delivered a bevy of these to the person who asked for them.  I kept a few and LOML put them on the wall in the hallway.

Just sort of a random selection of pics she has been wanting to put up which suits the random material.  These are all pulled from pieces out of the scrap bin that are big enough.  I better come up with some replacement scrap for the marshmallow roast tomorrow night (between the rains).  Being the way I am I will have to straighten them up and fix them in place