Materials Needed Frame wood : Use 1x2 or larger ( 1x2 is the most easy to work with.

It can be purchased in 8' or 10' lengths) Cost: aprox. .87 each for 1x 2x 8' ( actual dimension measures 3/4" x 1" x 8' ) Quarter Round: You can by this by the linear foot. Get enough to cover the length of your frame wood. Cost: aprox. 49.cents per linear foot for 7/8 " hemlock. Corner Triangles: Made from left over masonite, thin veneer, or thin plywood. Wire brads : size #18 x 3/4 or #18 x 5/8 Cost: aprox. $1.50 per package of 100 Carpenters Wood Glue: 16oz. Bottle Cost: $3.50 - $4.25 1 roll of masking tape. Cost: aprox. $1.50

Selecting your wood A good piece of wood needs to be as straight and smooth as possible. When selecting your wood be certain that it is straight and without bowing or twisting. You can do this by holding the wood by one end and looking down the length. If it has a curve, bow or twist, it cant be used. Also, look for large knots and holes or serious surface imperfections. Be picky. Sometimes you have to go through several pieces before you get the good ones. Quarter round or shoe base needs to be selected the same way as your frame wood. Be sure it is straight, and without bows or twists. The size of your quarter round depends on how deep you want your support to be. Quarter round is measured by its height on the flat side of the quarter.
Quarter Round Sizes vary 1/4" and larger.

height

Some quarter round has a section removed. Be careful when gluing that it does not tilt towards this cut out. Use a straight edge to keep the flat edges lined up.
Frame wood

Frame wood

Preparing the frame wood before cutting to length Step 1: Glue the quarter round to the frame wood. (as shown in the illustration below.) Spread a thin coat of glue onto the flat edge of the quarter round . Step 2: Set the quarter round glued edge down onto the frame wood. Line up the flat edge of the quarter round and frame wood so they are flush with the outside edge Move the quarter round back & forth a little to help spread the glue underneath. Wipe off excess glue. Step 3: Starting from the center of the frame wood. Use a strip of masking tape to hold the quarter round in place. The tape needs to be long enough to wrap completely around the frame wood and the quarter round. Start at the bottom of the frame wood. Pull tape upwards toward the quarter round then over the round edge. Crease the tape at the front edge of the quarter round then continue around to the bottom. Once the center taping is finished. Tape the ends, then all the sections in between every 6 inches or so. Be sure to keep the edges of the quarter round lined up with the frame wood to create a perfectly smooth frame edge.
quarter round

Outside frame

crease

Masking tape direction

frame wood

start

end

Start taping here

Quarter round

Frame wood

Step 4: Allow the glued wood to set for at least 1 hour before cutting. Note: Sometimes the quarter round does not want to stay down, this may be due to twisting or bowing in the wood. You may have to tack the quarter round into place using a brad. This is done by toe nailing a brad as shown below.

Outside frame

quarter round

Brad

frame wood

Cutting the Frame

Step 1: After the glue has had enough time to set up and hold the quarter round in place you can miter the frame ends. Always start at the end of the frame piece. Place the frame piece on the saw with the quarter round side facing out towards you.

Quarter round side

Step 2 : Set the saw at a 45 angle going to the right. Make sure that you are not cutting on a knot. Knots can fall apart and leave a hole in the end of the frame. If this is the case, cut past this part by at least ". The saw blade has to be on the opposite side to the length that you want. This is so you dont lose any length due to the thickness of the saw blade. Cut the miter.
Saw blade on this side of line 45 angle

Step 3 : Measure from the top of the miter cut ( the longest part of the length. ) to the length you need. Set the opposite 45 angle going to the left. Cut your miter. Saw blade to the outside of the line.

Measure from this point.

Step 4: Follow the directions above for the rest of the cuts that you need. Make sure that the all of the angles are cut as perfect as possible. The angle cuts will be in pairs. Make sure the pair that face each other are exactly the same length.

Note: Be careful not to cut into any brads that you may have used to hold the quarter round. Either remove them or cut around them.

Assembling the Frame Step 1: Lay out the angled pieces into the shape of your frame. Check to make certain that all the angles line up and the frame is square. Angles A should be exactly the same length. Angles B should be exactly the same length.
A

Step 2 : Start from either the right or left corner. Apply glue to the inside edge of piece A. Rub ends of pieces A & B together to spread the glue evenly. Put pieces together on a clean flat surface with the edge of the frame lined up with the corner of the work table.

Triangle

Brad Brad Brad

Step 3 : Glue a corner triangle onto the top of the corner just inside the quarter round. Then clamp in place and using brads attach triangle. Step 4 : Drive brads into the end piece of the frame wood, not into the quarter round. One on each side. Step 5 : Turn the frame to the next corner and repeat steps 1 - 4. Note: Special instructions for the last angle piece. Be sure to glue both ends of the last angle piece before fastening together the third corner. Once the third corner has been completed it will be difficult to get glue into the fourth corner piece. Sometimes the last corner may look out of square. This is a common occurrence. Simply line up the last corner when you get to it. Providing all of your angle were correct you should have no trouble getting it to line up. Step 6: Lightly sand the sharp edge off the corners. This prevents your canvas from tearing when stretching it.

Completed frame