Wednesday, April 24, 2019

A total frame job

Anybody says anything about how long it's been since I posted here, and I'll shut it down for good.

So, I might have mentioned this before, but my old man's a hell of a photographer. (Check it out: http://photographybywm.com/index.html No, seriously, check it out. I'll wait.) The last time I went up to visit, he was putting on a bit of a show to celebrate the release of a calendar he produced that focuses on the inimitable women in his little town. I helped him out with a couple of minor things, and in return, he gave me a photograph. An amazing one.

Well, I couldn't just tack it up on the wall, and I was in need of a little shop time after spending way too much time at my desk, so I took a day off and hied myself out to the garage one fine spring Friday.

It went something like this...

First, get big stick:


(In this case, the stick was western red cedar - a little piece left over from making the closet doors for my neighbours.)

Next, make stick flat:


Realize how long it's been since you did any basic saw maintenance and spend a gloriously happy 30 minutes making everything clean and shiny and not squeaky:

 

Turn stick into smaller sticks:


 Choices, choices:


When it doubt, go BIG:


I swear I JUST cleaned that:


That's a good start to a profile:


Profile's done, gotta cut the rabbet:


Sandy Sanding McSanderson


Gotta build at least one jig:



Splines! (And four coats or so of finish.)


Hopefully a frame worthy of the picture it was made to hold (and hanging in the front hall):


 Thanks Dad! We love it!