Crafting Wooden Frames

It’s been almost one and a half years since I moved into my current apartment, and I still have two lingering issues: my purchased frames are lying on the floor, and several walls remain completely bare. While plain white walls look nice, some personalization wouldn’t hurt. After looking at store-bought options, I decided making my own frames would be the better solution - not only to solve my decoration problem but also as an entry-level woodworking project to develop my skills.

Planning & Materials

I decided to buy some wood and get to work. One frame’s measurements were based on a specific wall beside my door. The idea was to place it between a shelf above the door and a cupboard below, ensuring equal gaps on each side for a balanced look. The other frames were designed to roughly match A3 format—though they’re not exactly A3 because my measuring skills still need some work!

After some research, I purchased pre-cut oak beams from FA Havlíček:

• 2× Oak wooden beam 20×20mm, length 200cm
• 2× Oak wooden beam 30×30mm, length 200cm

The wood was beautiful and smelled even better when I unpacked it!

Workshop Space

Since I have limited tools and space at home, I decided to use the “Cirkulární dílna” (Circular Workshop) at Kampus Hybernská. For 2,000 Kč, you get 25 hours of access to their woodworking facilities and materials, which is quite convenient for city dwellers without a garage or workshop.

The Making Process

The frame-making process took longer than expected. Just getting oriented and familiar with the tools took a good two hours, which I hadn’t anticipated. There was also a lot of waiting involved since the glue always needs to sit for at least 24 hours to dry properly.

Instead of using a simple mitered butt joint (planks cut at 45 degrees and joined with glue), I decided to strengthen the joints with small wooden chips inserted into grooves. This technique adds significant structural integrity to the corners.

Tools Used

• Miter saw
• Circular saw
• Drill
• Grinder
• Pencil
• Ryoba Saw
• Square

What I Learned

• Measuring is more challenging than it seems. It’s better to create a jig to ensure each part is cut to exactly the same length
• Patience is crucial in woodworking — rushing leads to mistakes Having access to proper tools makes a tremendous difference in the quality of the final product

The Final Result

The frames are now ready (photos coming soon). They just need glass, which I wisely waited to purchase until I knew the final dimensions, and some artwork to display.

Project Cost Breakdown

Materials:

• 2× Oak wooden beam 20×20mm, 200cm: 702.76 Kč
• 2× Oak wooden beam 30×30mm, 200cm: 1,186.76 Kč

Shipping:

• Delivery: 139.00 Kč
• Cash on delivery fee: 50.00 Kč

Workshop Rental:

• Cirkulární dílna at Kampus Hybernská: 2,000 Kč for 25 hours

Total Cost:

Final price: approximately 4000 Kč*
*I still have some material left over and more than half of my workshop hours remaining

For three custom, solid oak frames, I consider this a reasonable investment — especially considering the skills I gained along the way. The big frame used one 30×30mm beam, while the two smaller frames were crafted from the 20×20mm beams.