Measure picture frame molding for custom picture frames.
Quick Repair for a hole in a window screen

Measure for picture frames

Email question.....How does one measure or otherwise calculate the size(s) cuts for a wood picture frame with mitered corners while allowing for the portion of the photo the rabbet will cover.

While I pride myself in figuring most things out, this one has been a constant puzzle for me and explains why I have so many thing here that need framing.

I've all the tools needed for this but my brain is drawing blanks.

Thanks

Picture frame molding rabbet depth

Reply.....Picture frame molding has a rabbet depth that will vary depending on the thickness of the molding, measuring from the bottom of the molding to the underneath side of the rabbet. That little fact has nothing to do with measuring for size, but I thought I'd stick it in just to eliminate that measurement.

Rabbet width

Now, the nitty gritty, rabbet width will vary depending on molding brand. Some will have 1/4 inch, 5/16 inch or 3/8 inch. Some very large moldings will go as high as 1/2 inch rabbet width.

The rabbet width will make a difference in the overlap on the sides, top and bottom of the image, but isn't actually used in calculating the frame size, unless you want less overlap on the image, then you will need to use a spacer between the image and the rabbet side. If this paragraph causes confusion disregard it for the time being, since it won't be needed for general figuring.

Measure for 45 degrees

Now to the true nitty gritty. If you take a piece of molding with the end cut straight off and turn it with the rabbet side up and measure the distance of the width from the outside of the frame to the inside of the rabbet. (see Fig 2) For instance a piece of molding two inches wide with a 1/4 in rabbet would be 1 3/4 inches from the outside of the molding to the inside of the rabbet. Measure from the end of the molding along the inside of the rabbet and make a mark at 1 3/4 inches. If you checked with a 45 degree tool the mark would be at exactly 45 degrees from the outside end of the molding.

Measure for image size

Measure from the mark for the distance of the image you want to frame, for instance, the 10 inch side of an 8 x 10 picture. Allow 1/8 inch for expansion of the picture and backing and glass, so your mark would be at 10 1/8 inches. The frame piece would be actually 1 3/4 inches for the top angle, 1 3/4 inches for the bottom angle and 10 1/8 inches for the image size, which would make the overall length of the molding piece 13 5/8 inches and the inside opening 9 5/8 inches.

Picture frame size

The actual picture frame size for an 8 x 10 picture would be: overall size, 13 5/8 inches x 11 5/8 inches, inside opening size 9 5/8 inches x 7 5/8 inches and the image size, inside the rabbet, 10 1/8 inches x 8 1/8 inches.

Figure how much molding needed

To figure how much molding you would need for that particular frame, figure 2 x 8 and 2 x 10 for a total of 36, then 4 x 1/8 for expansion room on each side, so the total now is 36 1/2, then figure the overall width of the molding, rather than just to the rabbet, to allow for wastage from sawing, that would be 2 inches x 8 (4 pieces with 2 ends each) or 16 inches. 36 + 1/2 + 16 = 52 1/2 inches of molding for an 8 x 10 frame with two inch wide molding.

Match ornate figured molding

If you have an ornate figured molding it's a good idea to allow 25% to 30% extra for matching the design at the corners.

Expansion room

Back to the paragraph about the different rabbet widths, if a molding has a 3/8 inch rabbet and the picture goes so far out to the edge that 3/8 in covers too much you can allow 1/4 inch instead of 1/8 inch for the expansion room, then cut strips of mounting or mat board as wide as the depth of the rabbet and glue the strips to the sides of the rabbet for about 1/8 inch of thickness. That will still leave you 1/8 inch expansion room, but the overlap on the picture will only be 1/4 inch all around.

More picture frame information

You can see lots more about do it yourself picture framing on our web site and this link will take you to a lot of picture framing books

Repair a window screen

If you have a window screen with a small hole in it, just big enough to let a fly or other insect in, but not big enough to work up the ambition to replace the whole screen, just dab a coat of clear finish on it the next time you're putting clear finish on something. It should last for a while until you poke your finger through the screen to see if the clear mending is working ok and is strong.

Clear fingernail polish works good too.

From our Newsletter February 15 2003 MORE NEWSLETTER PAGES
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