The way to Make Picture Frames Out of Corrugated Metal



Rustic decor, a fragment of handwoven textile, or a family photograph gives you an excuse to put that salvaged scrap of corrugated steel on the wall. Use it to make a picture frame, and save money by searching for a cast-off frame and then custom-cutting the alloy yourself. A rusty or distressed piece of steel is just a bonus; you do not have to faux-age it for true country appeal.

Dry brush and wipe down or wash a salvaged piece of corrugated metal. Preserve as much of this organic rust, old chipped paint or weathering as possible to provide your picture frame personality.

Assess the artwork you will frame and then make a paper template of it to dimension a second-hand frame. Hunt through wood frames at flea markets and thrift shops to find a suitable frame, made with level wood, which has its glazing intact. Slide your template into the framework to examine the size.

Remove the financing, slip out the old mat and glazing, and wash the glass. Utilize the old mat for a pattern to cut a new picture mat. A good mat will sit behind the artwork to act as the “sandwich” from the framework. Utilize a mat cutter or craft knife to cut a window in the mat for artwork that will sit behind the mat once framed.

Assess the frame perimeter and then transfer the measurement to the back of the cleaned piece of corrugated metal. Draw on the alloy with lead pencil and then make the lines really clear. Assess the frame opening to the image and draw it to the metal.

Wear a pair of protective gloves and then cut the corrugated metal the exact same size as the image frame using tin snips. Start with the center cutout, then cut the outside of this framework. When cutting snips, concentrate on bringing the underside blade up instead of bearing down into the slice. Keep the blades right for a clean cut.

Sand the cut edges of the steel with aluminum oxide or silicon carbide sandpaper, which is hard enough to smooth any rough spots and dull the sharp metal so that it is safe to handle. Wipe the steel using a tack cloth to remove metal dust.

Coat the front and sides of the metal frame shape with clear lacquer to protect the weathered finish. The back of the steel piece is going to be glued into the timber frame and not observable. Let the lacquer dry.

Glue the cut corrugated metal frame facade into the wood picture frame with epoxy. Utilize a weight or hardened to press the steel into the wood as it dries. Be careful to not collapse or dent the corrugated stations of this metal. Let the glue dry in accordance with the manufacturer’s suggestion.

Reassemble the layered framework, with its corrugated metal facade, attaching the artwork to your mat using acid-free artist’s tape. If the mat is just a cutout which will frame the artwork, stick the artwork to the backing board with the acid-free tape.