Framing can be an expensive, especially if you opt for custom-made designs. However, if you want to cut some corners and save money, you can build your own frame with materials you have in your home or can salvage from old buildings. When framing a whiteboard, you need to consider the weight of the board and select a frame material that is sturdy enough to hold it.
Things You'll Need:
- Picture Frame Clamp Or Miter Clamp
- Baseboard Molding
- Measuring Tape
- Paintbrush
- Pencil
- Wood Glue
- Table Saw With Standard Blade
- Sponge
- Paint
- Dowel
- Varnish
- Drill And Drill Bit
Look for baseboard moldings or window frames in old, dilapidated buildings. Alternatively, if you have some old baseboard moldings or window frames in your garage, salvage these and use them in your project.
Measure the whiteboard and add 2 inches to each side to obtain the size for the frame. The outside frame dimensions are larger than the actual whiteboard.
Cut four pieces for your frame using a table saw.
Make rabbet cuts on the back of the frame pieces using your table saw. The rabbet is where the whiteboard will sit inside the frame. Measure the thickness of the whiteboard; the number you obtain is the depth for the rabbet. Establish the rabbet's width. Mark the depth and the width of the rabbet on each piece of the frame and cut carefully, starting with the depth.
Cut each side of the frame at 45-degree angles, making sure that after you cut, the size of the shortest side or the inside of the frame is equal to the corresponding side of the whiteboard.
Assemble the sides of the frame. Apply wood glue to the surfaces you join. Wipe off any excess glue with a wet sponge. Use a picture frame clamp or a miter clamp to fasten the pieces together. Clamp for 24 hours.
Drill a 1-inch diameter hole at the back of the frame in each of the four corners of the frame, where the two sides meet. The depth of the hole should be between a quarter and half an inch, depending on the thickness of your frame. Cut four pieces from 1-inch diameter dowels, so they fit perfectly in the holes you drilled. Place glue in the holes and place one round piece in each. Allow to dry. These pieces reinforce the joints.
Paint the frame in a desired color. Given that you are framing a whiteboard, select black or a dark color that will contrast with the whiteboard. Varnish the frame and allow it to dry.
