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Barnwood Frames - $1 and 10 minutes

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Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 12/02/2009 - 13:14
Difficulty
Intermediate
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For those of you not needing toys and kids stuff, don’t give up on me! Here is a cheap and easy, but sure to be cherished gift idea for adults.

Shopping for some fabric, I noticed an empty frame retailing for $99 for a 24”x36”. Labeled as the “Barnwood” Frame, I was shocked at the markup. It seems the more simple something is, the more we are willing to pay for it.

Now I know what a couple of rustic 1x2s cost – $1.50 to be exact. I’m not certain what 16 nails cost, or the tiny bit of weathered wood stain, but it doesn’t total up to $99. So the next morning, in my bathrobe with my daughter still sleeping, in 10 minutes, I used exactly one 1×2 (75 cents) to build this frame – a 12”x12” size:

I am going to encourage you to use my frame as an example, and recommend that you build your frames to your specific size. That’s why you are a carpenter – you get EXACTLY what you want!

Preparation

Shopping List

1x2s

Common Materials
2 inch finish nails
Elmer's Wood Filler
120 grit sandpaper
paint
paint brush
Cut List

4 – 1x2s @ 12, 1 1/2″ flat side mitered so the shortest length is 9″
4 – 1x2s @ 13 1/2″, edge side mitered so the shortest length is 12″

Tools
Tape Measure
Speed Square
Safety Glasses
Hearing Protection
Circular Saw
Miter Saw
Brad Nailer
Power Sander

Instructions

Step 1

Start by mitering the 12″ pieces, as shown above, at a 45 degree angle.

Step 2

Then do your 13 1/2″ pieces.

Step 3

Mark your 13 1/2″ pieces as shown above.

Step 4

Back to the 12″ pieces. Nail through the corners into the perpendicular board, as shown above. Do this on all corners to make the inside frame.

Step 5

Step 6

Nail the corners like we did in step 4. Also, make sure you nail the outer frame to the inner frame.

Step 7

Here are some measurements to guide you.

Finishing Instructions
Preparation Instructions
Fill your nail holes with putty and finish as desired.
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Project Type
frames

Comments

Maria Stahl (not verified)

Thu, 12/03/2009 - 03:53

Ana, this is so pretty. Is there any reason why one shouldn't glue the pieces together as well as nailing? Seems like it would be much more stable over time. Hanging a frame puts quite a bit of strain on the parts. (I'm always having to glue old frames back together.)

Ana White (not verified)

Thu, 12/03/2009 - 09:28

Yes, I should write a "unless otherwise stated, glue, glue, glue . . ." because I glue everything! Thanks for making note of this - much appreciated!

beth (not verified)

Thu, 01/21/2010 - 15:36

Hi Ana. We built a frame for our son's large poster today using these plans, and it turned out great! Thanks so much once again. Can't wait to try the next project!

lanisanford (not verified)

Wed, 04/07/2010 - 14:18

Any tips on getting glass into these? Say I am wanting to build a frame to fit 8x10 glass, the only way I can see to make the glass stay in without a table saw or router is to make the outside of the inner frame measure 8x10 but then your viewing area is 6 1/2" x 4 1/2" am I missing something?

bononers (not verified)

Mon, 09/06/2010 - 10:27

just found your site today and spent SO much time bookmarking projects for the future! i found a collage of old worn frames this past weekend but my wallet wasn't even negotiating that purchase. i've been brainstorming how to make my own and finding this page was extremely timely and perftect!
i'm echoing the earlier question: how do we put glass in it?

Anthony Clarke (not verified)

Wed, 12/29/2010 - 11:17

Looking to build a mirror for the bath room with this frame layout. Worried about the solid strength of the joints to hold a mirror roughly 3 x 3 feet. What are your thoughts? Of course I will glue every seem and brad nail all connections but do you think this will suffice to throw a mirror into it? Or do you have plans to build a frame for a mirror? Thankyou for your professional website and easy to follow plans.

Pam Allen (not verified)

Mon, 01/24/2011 - 07:24

Ana, Your blog is my everyday gift to myself. I have looked over your plans so many times, I almost know them by heart. So far I have made your tower shelves, easy rustic bench and picture frame(barn wood) shown on this page. Please don't make this blog a stresser for yourself, we would miss you so much if you quit. Relax, enjoy, we do. Love ya, Pam