subject: Bringing Back To Life Old Picture Frames [print this page] There are many styles of frame available to anyone wishing to frame a picture, however, many of the styles offered by picture framers can be a little plain. If you're willing to hunt around, some quite interesting frames can be found in auctions or antique centres, elaborate gilt frames that would cost a great deal to have custom made can sometimes be bought at a discounted price, especially if the picture it surrounds is either in poor condition or of no merit at all.
Plus, damaged frames can also be cheap to buy and, once repaired, can give your painting a 'museum quality' finish.
Refreshing glued joints
All wood will move over time due to changes in temperature and the gradual drying process, forcing glued joints to split apart. However, if the securing pins are still straight, these can be simply re-glued. Remove any dust or dirt in the joint and any old glue, fresh glue can then be added and the corners held in place with a clamp until dry. You can secure the joint either with a frame clamp, or using wooden blocks and string; put two blocks at the centre of each side of the frame, tie the string firmly around the block, then move them towards the corners to tighten the string.
Strengthening corners
Sometimes it's a good idea to add support to corners to avoid further movement. To do this, metal corner plates or pieces of plywood can be screwed to the reverse of the frame. Make sure the frame itself is wide enough and deep enough for the screws to avoid them splitting the wood or coming out the other side!
Ornate and moulded frames
Frames with intricate mouldings can have small chips or dents repaired with plastic wood or cellulose filler. For major areas of damage, you'll need to make a new piece to replace it. Start by taking an impression (using model-casting rubber or dental compound) of a matching, but undamaged, part of the frame. Use this impression to make a mould. Pin it to a flat piece of wood strip that will act as the back of the frame, this then can be filled with fibre-glass paste to create a new piece. Sand and finish the piece with paint or gilt to match the original.
When framing your picture, always make sure the frame is deep enough to enclose the painting properly, a problem made more obvious with canvas on stretchers. In addition, the chord should be attached to the frame and not the painting stretcher or back panel and fixed just above the centre, this will help the painting hang with a slight tilt which, in turn, allows air to circulate and keeping dust off the picture.
When framed behind glass, paintings should always be kept away from the glass by use of a mount or slip (beading). The glass and the backing board should be sealed to the frame using gummed paper to prevent insects from getting in, this also helps protect it from the atmosphere. Whenever possible fittings should be made of brass as iron or steel will corrode.
