Most households in the UK own at least a couple of old paintings, and although they might be by unknown artists and ultimately worthless, it’s still a real shame when people stop displaying them due to a broken frame.
In the past, most paintings were surrounded by a plaster frame, but those with a little more class will be housed in wood, and that’s exactly the basis for my article today. You see; wooden frames, although looking much more appealing, are often less durable. This means they’re more likely to crack and break over time, but don’t worry too much, I’ve got the solution you’ve been looking for.
In truth, it’s actually quite easy to fix a broken wooden frame. All you need is the right information and a steady hand to succeed. So, spend the nex couple of minutes scanning through my advice, and I’m certain you’ll be able to display your favourite paintings once again in a safe manner for all visitors to your home to enjoy.
Removing the Picture and Cleaning the Frame
Over time, wooden frames tend to attract a considerable amount of dust (and sometimes even mould). This is something you’ll need to counteract if you want the frame to stop deteriorating. Simply pick up some wood polish and stain from your local store or a reputable website and set to work. This should only take around half an hour (plus a day for the stain to dry), so don’t worry about having to take a day off work. You could complete this whole task at the weekend without any trouble whatsoever.
Fixing Cracks and Joining the Sides
If your frame is covered in small cracks, the best thing to do is purchase some wood filler and carefully apply thin layers of it to the affected areas.
You’ll need to be careful not to apply too much filler, as this can create unwanted bumps and draw attention to the original imperfections. I’d personally use a paint brush for this task, but you should use whatever you feel most comfortable with.
For joining any sides which may have become loose or separated, it’s advisable to use wood glue, however, the glue sticks available from www.gluegunsdirect.com have proven to be useful for me in the past. Again, just follow your own personal preference.
Reinstalling the Image and Hanging the Frame
Hopefully you will have noted exactly how you removed the picture from the frame in the first place, and so to reinstall it, you simply need to work backwards.
There are usually a few clips on the underside of the frame that hold the picture steady. Now all that’s left to do is hang the frame in a prominent position inside your home. Many people opt for above the fireplace, but you are the one best educated to decide on the solution that suits your room best.
So there you have it my DIY friends, that was your must-read guide to fixing old picture frames. See, it wasn’t as much hassle as it seemed at first now was it?