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How to Repair Picture Frames

Sarah Vantassel/Demand Media

Things You'll Need:

  • Protective gloves
  • Screwdriver
  • Paper bag
  • Pliers
  • 120-grit sandpaper
  • Carpenter's glue
  • Corner clamps or strap clamp
  • Rags
  • Stain
  • Spray lacquer
  • 320-grit sandpaper
  • Glass cutter

Tip

If you're repairing a frame with broken glass, turn it over after removing the glass and tap it over a piece of old newspaper to dislodge fine shards of glass. Wipe it with a rag, while wearing gloves, and throw out the newspaper when you're done.

It's best to reinforce all the joints with corner braces -- not just the ones that came apart. This keeps the frame balanced and ensures that joints you didn't repair won't separate in the future.

Scratches on a picture frame, as well as separating joints and cracked glass, draw the eye away from the art and create a distraction. The most common problem is separating joints, and that usually occurs because the frame's joints weren't properly reinforced in the first place. You can fix that by screwing flat metal corner braces to the back of the frame. Keep in mind that repairing a frame with cracked glass is hazardous -- you need to take precautions to protect yourself as well as the artwork. Cover your work area and the floor if there is a chance of falling glass.

Sarah Vantassel/Demand Media

Take the frame off the wall and lay it face down on a table. If the glass is cracked, handle the frame gently and wear protective gloves.

Sarah Vantassel/Demand Media

Unscrew the hanger and clamps on the back of the frame with a screwdriver, and remove them. Lift out the backing board and the artwork, and lay it them flat in a safe place. If the glass is in once piece, lift it out and set it aside with the artwork. If the glass is cracked or broken, wear gloves while removing it and collect the pieces in a paper bag for disposal. You can't salvage cracked glass, even if there is only one crack.

Sarah Vantassel/Demand Media

Pull apart any loose joints. If you see nails or brads, pull them out with pliers. It's best to pull the entire frame apart and repair all the joints if more than one joint is loose.

Sarah Vantassel/Demand Media

Sand off the finish with 120-grit sandpaper if the frame is scratched. You don't need a sander to do this; just sand by hand, going with the grain. Continue sanding to smooth out the scratches once you've removed the finish.

Sarah Vantassel/Demand Media

Glue separated joints back together with carpenter's glue. Apply a small amount of glue to one of the pieces in each joint, and then assemble the frame and clamp it with corner clamps or a strap clamp. A strap clamp is preferable if you're gluing all four corners. Wipe excess glue from each corner with a damp cloth; let the glue dry overnight.

Sarah Vantassel/Demand Media

Turn the frame over and reinforce each joint by screwing on a corner brace. Use screws shorter than the thickness of the wood to avoid having them poke through the front of the frame.

Sarah Vantassel/Demand Media

Restore the color of the wood -- if you sanded it -- by brushing on a stain and wiping it dry. Finish the wood with three coats of spray lacquer from an aerosol can, sanding each coat with 320-grit sandpaper after it dries and before spraying the next.

Sarah Vantassel/Demand Media

Replace the glass. If you have to buy new glass, measure the inside dimensions of the frame with a tape measure; subtract 1/8 inch from the measurements, and cut the glass to these dimensions with a glass cutter. If you don't feel comfortable cutting glass, you can have it done at the hardware store.

Sarah Vantassel/Demand Media

Set the artwork and backing board in the frame and replace the clamps and hanger.

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