Shop update #429 (1-28-26) Canvas Float Frames

This last week was all about making float frames for my 8×10 canvases that I am entering in to the Gallifrey One Art Show in a couple of weeks.  I started by picking up 24 ft of 1 1/4″ wide molding from Home Depot and staining it.  I also bought 16 feet of corner molding for my other projects that I am working on.  The moldings are the 5 pieces on the left.

My canvases are 8″ x 10″ so I got some scrap 3/4″ plywood and cut it up into 8 1/4″ x 10 1/4″ pieces and sanded them smooth with 120 grit sandpaper.  This will give them a 1/8″ reveal.

Once I knew the proper dimensions, I used my table saw sled to cut down all of the molding to fit the sides of the plywood.  I had some leftover Cherry so I cut it to fit 4 frames as well.  The stained pine is on the left and the unfinished Cherry is on the right.  I also stained all of the ends on the pine to match.

The next step was to spray the top edges of the plywood black to help with the illusion of the canvas floating in the frame.

I let the paint dry overnight and then used wood glue and 1 1/4″ brad nails to attach the tops first and then the sides.

During this process the tip on my brad nailer decided to shatter into a million pieces.  Luckily, I learned from Jimmy Diresta the old mantra of 2 is 1 and 1 is none so I had plenty of spares on hand.

The pines molding got 2 coats of spray lacquer but the raw Cherry really soaked it up and ended up getting 4 coats.

I cut up some grocery stores bags to make dust covers for the backs and used my electric stapler to attach them.

I cut down a stir stick and drilled a hole in it to use as a guide for my center punch to install 2 d-rings and a picture wire in each frame.  I spaced them all 2″ down but in hindsight, I should have made it 3″.

I used velcro strips to attach the canvas to the frame so that I can change them as needed.  I used the same stir sticks to evenly space the canvas when I installed it in the frame.

I also got my Gallifrey mirror glued up.  It is made from 9 separate 4″ mirrors that had to be engraved from the back in reverse to match up with the front face.  I still need to figure out how I want to frame it for hanging.