About my frames
How I Make Picture Frames
Each frame is handcrafted by me, Wes! I'm a DC local and I started making furniture about a decade ago. I source local and sustainable wood from fallen trees in and around the Washington DC area, as well some select more exotic woods. I take my time on each frame to ensure each frame is as strong and beautiful as possible.
How does sizing work?
Frames are sized automatically in the frame creator. Just enter the size of your artwork, and the frame will automatically be given either a small (0.8"), medium (15/16"), or large width frame (1-3/16"). This makes it easy to get a frame that makes your artwork the center of attention.
It is crucial when creating your frame to check your artwork dimensions are correct, especially if you are not using the original scale of the uploaded image! It is up to the customer to provide accurate dimensions.
The rabbet of each frame is 0.3", meaning 0.3" on each side of the artwork will be covered by the frame. This is a standard size for picture frames, and is enough to hold your artwork securely in place!
The rest of the pieces
The glass that comes with your frame is of very high quality and clarity, and is hand cut for each frame. Frames never come with cheap plastic or acrylic. There is also a backing board included with each frame, and backing clips to keep everything in place. The picture frame is ready to be hung, as it comes with a steel band that can be hung on many wall mounts.
Finish
Frames are finished with shellac, a resin that comes from the earth, and contains no harmful chemicals! The beautiful finish isn't just for show, it's actually food safe. You've probably eaten it before! Shellac is found commonly as the shiny coating on popular candies.
You may be wondering, why haven't I heard of this special finish if it's so good? It used to be significantly more popular in the 1900's, and fell out of fashion for more general purpose finishes. Shellac is best used in places where alcohol isn't a concern, as alcohol dissolves shellac. So wooden furniture which may have an alcoholic beverage placed on top of it isn't a good idea, but picture frames represent a great use case for this tried and true finish.
Joinery
The strength of each from comes from the joinery. All pieces of wood in the frame are joined with hand made splines, that resist the natural forces of warping and twisting over time.
