DIY Custom Vintage Recycled Frame

A friend and I have been collaborating on custom handmade frames for my fine art prints. The most recent frame we did for a big commission I was working on was built from a salvaged oak door and turned out totally fabulous. I love the nature of this process – the salvaged boards, the surprise of unexpected results and most of all that they’re built to last forever.

Step 1: Find a Carpenter Friend with Mad Skillz

I can’t stress this first step enough. These guys can often be bought with beer and/or pizza. I’ll warn you that they may be hard to get rid of once you win them over… so if you have reservations about blue-collar dudes moving “temporarily” into your basement, you might want to reconsider this project altogether.

You can skip this step if you’re really good at thrifting, and can find solid wood frames yourself.

Step 2: Remove the Finish

The first thing I did when I got my assembled frame was to sand it down. Since I was painting this project I didn’t have to worry about my sanding job being totally perfect. So I got it pretty close and didn’t sweat the really tough spots like corners—all those slight variations only add to the character once it’s done anyway.

A random orbital sander can make a huge difference with this job, and if you really need to remove all the finish try a eco-friendly stripping solution.

Step 3: Primer

I’ve done some frames where I just put clear polyurethane on at this point and let the natural beauty of the wood show off, but if you’re going to paint your frame then a coat of primer is a must to make sure the paint “sticks.”

After applying my primer I liked the look so much I almost just finished it there, but I figured I could always sand the paint off if I didn’t like the next step.

Step 4. Paint

Here I started with light coats of white paint, sanding with 220 grit paper (and my orbital sander) inbetween coats. Repeat this step until you’re happy with the look of your frame.

Step 5: Polyurethane

Use a water-based clear polyurethane and apply thin coats. I love this stuff because it dries so quickly! Buff the finish with steel wool between each coat. One final buff after your last coat will give it a matte finish.