DIY Floating Frames that Anyone Can Make!

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Canvas prints always look better in a floating frame. And while you could buy them, you can make a higher quality version for less money. All you need is a table saw, miter saw, and drill.
Material for each frame (assuming a 16x16 print):
(4) 1/2” x 2 1/2” x 2’ (Sold as 1/2” x 3” x 2’)
(4) 1/4” x 1 1/2” x 2’ (Sold as 1/4” x 2” x 2’)
Merle Clamp - amzn.to/3XXRGUw (Amazon Affiliate Link)
Preppin' Weapon Sanding Block - amzn.to/403DagI (Amazon Affiliate Link)
Krylon Fusion Black Satin - amzn.to/485B8OY (Amazon Affiliate Link)
Sawtooth Hangers - amzn.to/4dKemgY (Amazon Affiliate Link)
Titebond Speed Set Wood Glue - amzn.to/4f2SwpR (Amazon Affiliate Link)
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[@woodwhisperer]

Don't miss the pre-order pricing for Caleb James' Dry Bar Cube! thewoodwhispererguild.com/product/dry-bar-cube/

[@bobby-c7731]

Love this video. Marc losing his stop block and not having his T track hardware is the most relatable thing I’ve ever seen in a Wood Whisperer video.

[@philip1522]

Very nice. I like the tip about stop blocks at the miter saw. That way people with my skill level can cut all 4 pieces exactly the same wrong length!

[@benjammind]

Oreo is the best addition to your videos! i especially love the fact he/she is covered in sawdust :)

[@jonarse]

Awww, Oreo was so happy that you were building him a box.

[@DrJWR1]

Marc has had great success with his system of woodworking, podcasting, plans, videos and the Guild, and he's the kind of guy who shows his gratitude for his success with FREE INSTRUCTIONAL videos like this. No wonder he has had such good fortune. Thanks, Marc.

[@glennketchum8205]

I like seeing the seeming simple projects as well as the more complicated ones. Keep them all coming.

[@glennryzebol4472]

My wife is an artist and i make all of the frames for her artwork; all floating frames. for anyone that might want a different approach, I use a router bit called a stepped rabetting router bit which i found on Amazon. It's fairly inexpensive at about 30 dollars Canadian and if you have a router table, you can cut a stepped profile into a single strip of wood for the art to sit in and the spacing around the edges is perfect. If you don't have a router table, this is obviously a great way to go also.

[@johnnywest5445]

Great build video, as usual, Mark, and something I may do this year. One change I think I'll make is that instead of trimming the vertical piece down to the desired size, I'll offset the inside piece, so the print is at the desired height. This would give room for the hanging hardware as well as the mounting screws to be inset, allowing the frame to hang flush on the wall.

[@glencrandall7051]

I like your thinking.🙂🙂

[@spiralstares]

I like seeing simpler projects like this added to the mix. Two observations: - if you want to limit the tools needed to just a miter saw, you could raise the back board to bring the print up to a height that works with your standard boards - I believe the wider stock boards are a slightly better cost/bf, so if you’re going to rip them down on a table saw anyway it may make sense to start with wider stock.

[@glencrandall7051]

A very good tutorial on frame building. I am most impressed that you fid not use the term "pre-drill" even once. I fail to understand the term. Ever since I was a kid I was told to drill "pilot holes". Your construction style is very good. Your instruction is as good or better. Well thought out and simple. I wish more You Tubers would follow your example. Thank you for sharing. Have a great day and stay safe. 🙂🙂 Also, after reading a lot of the previous comments I think a lot of folks come here just for the cat.😋

[@alisinclair8529]

I literally was going to build one next weekend, this is perfect timing, thanks!

[@pjh432]

Great little project. I’m gonna try this one with my son. Appreciate all your videos

[@woodwhisperer]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@MCsCreations]

Beautiful work, Marc! Nicely done! 😃 Thanks a bunch for all the tips! Oh, and you should make a scratch stock. It could help a lot for the borders. 😉 Anyway, stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@louis_makes]

Oreo is awesome! Such a sweet kitty

[@utehill1141]

LOVE watching you teach. You are a natural instructor. Love the easy project for a quick turnaround in the shop, or for beginners. How is the sacrificial fence secured on your miter saw? I need to do this for mine!!!!

[@lyricnz]

I make similar frames, but rather than cutting the sides down so the back bits can be flush with the back of the frame, I add spacers below the back bits (while assembling) to lift them up enough that the front of the canvas sits at the height you want. This also makes the frame look a little chunkier, which is often a good look.

[@gbjones54]

Sometimes the simple projects are the best. 👏👏

[@roboTR4SH]

Literally yesterday I was searching canvas frame ideas, this is pretty wild.

[@wingblaze21]

Such a good cat!

[@thesawdustfactory]

Thanks Marc, Very nice project (as I'm looking at an unframed canvas). Great presentation skills as well. Regards, R

[@theGhostOfRigbyReardon]

When clamping the artwork in, use a small piece of paper or wax paper under the clamp face to protect the piece. Some canvas printing processes leave a soft finish that the clamp can mar/transfer gunk to. ...and now I have another weekend project. Thanks!

[@jeanchance9334]

Great idea for floating picture frame!

[@bigburlymikesmswoodworking]

I just love that you've accepted that it's Oreo's shop and he's allowing you to work in it...and that you just continue working with him in the middle of everything like he's not even there 🤣

[@LouisJacques-r9k]

Making your own frames is particularly helpful if you are working with non-standard size canvases.

[@Erik_The_Viking]

Nice to see Oreo inspecting your work!

[@mattelias721]

The extended Oreo "help" was priceless, especially with the sawdust falling down on him/her. That said, my shop cats run when I put on the over-ear protection. You might wanna train Oreo to do that.

[@djlalorocks]

Thanks for the ideas

[@TomBodet556]

24:57 - Of all the other warnings for newer folks I'm surprised you didn't warn about drilling out the face side of the art frame. A tape marker would be of good use here.

[@coldbloodedkidz860]

When gluing the sides, if you leave 3 small areas without the Titebond, you can then use CA in those dots.. It will hold it while you then apply the clamps. That will allow you to use the bench to keep them flat with a little wax paper on the bench to prevent glue from getting on the bench.

[@cmaterick]

@@coldbloodedkidz860 If you use CA accelerator on the opposing surface at those points, you can avoid clamps altogether if the boards are straight. They will just hold together instantly while to wood glue dries. You probably know this already, but maybe it could help a beginner with limited or no clamps.

[@berthatton9410]

Good vid as usual. Loved your label hack and feel dumb for not thinking of that. I really think you need not check for square when making the last adjustments clamping the miter together...don't ask me how I know. This is basically how I build my floating frames but I always pick up a tip or two when watching your vids.

[@berthatton9410]

oops...you do need to check for square AND read your own comments before sending...sorry all.

[@Barkley-q8l]

Love that Oreo showed up and got sawdust on him.

[@liquidrockaquatics3900]

Mark, how did you attach that block that prevents blow out on your miter saw? Is it just alien tape or something similar? Or is it securely attached to other points? That is probably the single best improvement I’ve seen for a miter saw

[@emilevoyer123]

THANKS FOR A GREAT VIDEO

[@michaelfate3249]

Marc, if you hit the painted frame with a light touch of 0000 steel wool it will knock down the sheen

[@rjt135]

I built something similar but offset the supports to make my piece flush with the front. Works if you don't have access to a table saw.

[@jerrycomo2736]

Removing glue from tight corners: I keep an artist's 1/2" wide brush in a cup of water nearby. The damp narrow brush with long handle really gets into the corners, then wipe with paper towel.

[@richdbolduc]

Oreo is the new star of the show...

[@woodwhisperer]

It’s official! thewoodwhisperer.com/product/pre-order-oreo-wood-whisperer-t-shirt/

[@enzprintco.8625]

Where is the link in the description for that model cat?

[@ee0r-eeyore]

I usually use lighter fluid (napthalene) to remove the stickers. Squirt some right on the sticker, wait for it to soak through, then peel the sticker right off. Do not combine this method with the heat gun.

[@michaelgrova225]

I do love that you added the disclaimer not to mix your method with the heat gun method lmao. Although I feel like if people need a warning for that we should just let Darwin sort that out lol

[@michaelgrova225]

I love how there is just a casual 5-600 dollars worth of RC saws on the chair in the background lol

[@martink8080]

Even if your mitre cuts are perfect, checking for squareness during the glue-up of the frame would be an extra level of comfort. And did you check the art work for squareness too? Any out of squareness there would have to be matched in the frame or the gaps would not be even all around.

[@TheViking85]

Regarding nominal wood, especially in dimensional Lumber, the reasoning for the 1/2 in smaller actual size in every direction is milling. Rational being that tradespeople didn't want to work with rough sawn dimensional lumber (whether that's true or induced demand is another story), the 1/2 in of "missing" material is 1/4 in of milling on every surface that's lost on production. So the nominal sizes is rough sawn dimensions, what you buy is milled, so not that unlike buying hardwoods in S4S vs rough sawn and having to account for milling when buying the latter.

[@yoseflugashi9820]

Beautiful frame. My glue don't jiggle jiggle, it sets 😅

[@robertbusek30]

I have a whole bunch of mis-cut 2x3s from a previous project. Looks like I know what I’m doing with some of them! ETA: That whiskey cube looks really neat! How long will the discount on the plans be available?

[@woodwhisperer]

Right up until launch day on November 1st.

[@robertbusek30]

@@woodwhisperer Nice! Thanks!

[@michaelm748]

I just stuffed up a picture frame and you posted this just for me. Mitrey bad it was! How did you know? Thanks

[@connecticutaggie]

So, you are just relying on the glue in the corners - no splines or other joint strengtheners? I have a shadow box frame I want to make and I was wondering if the glue was enough. Is this just a special case because the frame for the photo is adding the structure or would you feel that the glue should be enough if this was just artwork that was not attached to the frame?

[@woodwhisperer]

It's such a light duty piece that I do think the glue is enough for the purpose. And the fact that art is screwed to the frame kind of helps give the whole thing a lot more stability. Just hanging on the wall, it should be good to go.

[@0330Scooter]

Cats love boxes

[@MrChrisWick]

What is the material on the top of your bench? Carpet or something special?

[@fleurdelune5240]

❤

[@magcolor]

👍👍👍👍👍

[@philmillard4605]

Hi Marc, do you have any issues with the festool Kapex blade deflection on the mites? I used the 10 inch Kapex on a course with Peter Sefton and ran into this issue with a new blade on box mites?

[@Diddymus-d6m]

i like oreo the cat

[@edwardkelly927]

What are those hand sanding blocks I often see you using and where can I find them? Thanks Ed

[@woodwhisperer]

Those are Preppin' Weapons amzn.to/403DagI

[@handyByLeVere]

Mark what brand of countersink bit did you use in this build?

[@woodwhisperer]

That's a Festool brand bit amzn.to/4e2U4iZ

[@jasonhall9364]

Use oak boards next time and ebonize the frame.

[@WobblycogsUk]

On the thumbnail it says only three tools, which three from the multitude are you counting 🙂. Nice project, though.

[@woodwhisperer]

Table saw, miter saw and drill. Nothing else is a necessity if someone just wants a basic frame. :)

[@rfehr613]

Getting the dimensions of a 2x4 wrong was cringe lol

[@philmillard4605]

Miters

[@rickrat]

you DO realize the cat is the star of this video? lol

[@woodwhisperer]

Oh we know ;) thewoodwhisperer.com/product/pre-order-oreo-wood-whisperer-t-shirt/

[@bronwynecg]

Hello!! 👋🏽 😊

[@darkmagician1184]

that 1/2" x 3" should've been 3/8" x 2 1/2"

[@shanebratcher5460]

is that the rotec hes sanding with? anybody know?

[@woodwhisperer]

ETS 150

[@shanebratcher5460]

@@woodwhisperer thank you

[@etrigan1976]

hand sanding without backside sandpaper????? sacrilege

[@woodwhisperer]

This guy knows!

[@sixpotshot]

Nominal measurements...an aberration and and it should be outlawed. yes this matters and it is a big deal. We all understand from where it comes from: it comes from non-sense and greed. If the outcome is 4"x4" ,or whatever, getting more expensive (as the raw material will have to have necessarily he waste included to then become a real 4"x4") so be it. But as is this totally farcical and unique to this industry. My hope? that someone somewhere someday will put an end to this stupidity, aberration and disgrace - it has gone for far too long and the shrinkage is getting worse. Just imagine if (for example) the marble industry (where a big slab can become small floor tiles for example) would start doing the same... We all need and have the right to know exactly what we are paying for and what we are getting: a simple, critical and elementary customer right be one a private, industrial or commercial consumer.

[@jasonwitherspoon5454]

Breaking the edge? Don't you mean...easing them?

[@woodwhisperer]

Nope, I said what I meant. Easing the edge means the same thing.

[@jasonwitherspoon5454]

@@woodwhisperer Understood. It was a throw back to one of your videos years ago when you made the same comment. I can't remember when but it was funny.😀

[@JEDIMinja1]

Can anyone explain why the short of this popped up first and literally right above the video? What a strange occurrence tube of yous.

[@dbhoward56]

I made one of these floating frames for a small painting of the Swallow's Nest (Castle on the Black Sea) I bought while visiting the Crimea in 2007. The painting was on canvas board so I had to glue enough scrap wood to the back of canvas board to make it level with the face of the frame. I used some nice figured sapele wood for the frame, painted the 1/4" gap floating area flat black and clear coated the face of the frame, 3 coats. The mahogany color of the figured Sapele clear coated looks really nice with the color of the sea around the castle. Google the Swallow's Nest in Crimea, the castle is sitting on top of a stone type mountain over looking the Black Sea.