Framing Fret Work

[cl112002]

I love scroll fret work and I love giving them to people but if I frame everyone of them I'll go broke. Any ideas what to do other than buying frames and matting from Hobby Lobby . Is there another form of presentation other than matting, frame and glass?

Kerry Parmenter

[Minnesota scroller]

Yeah, just attach a sawtooth picture hanger to the back. Back when I was selling a few, my first ones were always sold this way. If you are just giving them away, they'll be happy just to be able to hang it.

[Meiglan]

Hi Kerry,

I have mounted some of my fretwork on marble and tile...It has worked really well for me so far....It might be an idea for you.....If it is a small enough tile you can use a stand for it instead of hanging it.....Here is an example of one that is mounted on marble....

Jayne

[workin for wood]

You could use an MDF and cut a square, rout an edge and paint it up to have something similar to what Jayne there has. You can do some faux painting or finishing on it. You could buy a framing clamp and build your own simple frames with pine or poplar pretty cheap and fast. You could even use window/door trims at a big box to make frames with.

Cat looks great Jayne...nice job!

[f250]

Many times framing really sets off a piece and makes it a whole lot nicer than stand alone fretwork. Use some cheap just laying around plywood and put a quick self made frame on it. You can by cheap sheets of 1/8 lexan instead of glass. That way you can cut it yourself instead of paying a frame or glass shop to do it for you.

[cl112002]

thank you , I'm going to try all of your ideas it really helps
Kerry

[Mick Walker]

Kerry, I never cover my cuttings with glass. I buy oak framing stock from Menards. 8' pieces for between $5.00 and $8.00 depending on the width. They have numerous styles with several rabbett depths. I frame all my cuttings. I have used old barn boards, cedar fence boards, 1" X 2" red oak, many old pieces of lumber I have laying around for frames. I cut the rabbetts on my table saw.

[f250]

Mick has a very good point, a cool frame can be made pretty easy from scrap laying around. The funny thing being that those scrap pieces so many time look awesome as a frame.

I framed this and put glass on it, the layers came out so much better plus no need to dust deep inside. This was not framed with scrap, but could have been just as easily.

[Rolf]

I have made my own frames out of flooring scraps. It takes a bit of extra work to rabbet and rout the edges but I think it is worth it.
This frame was made out of flooring scraps my neighbor gave me. It was brazilian black walnut. I always put my fine fretwork under glass, I can't imagin trying to dust it. Another alternative is picking up frames and pictures cheap at yard sales.

[f250]

Nice fram Rolf, I am also with you on framing the work. I wasn't doing that at frist but it really adds to the piece.