How it works
Why use self assembly frames?
Assembling the frames and fitting artworks yourself at home allows for savings to be made when compared to traditional custom framing. Each frame can be put together with common household tools – glue, a hammer, and a flat surface!
Shipping costs are lower for frames shipped this way, especially for larger frames and greater quantities, due to the smaller size of package needed. The risk of damage during transit is also reduced.
Can you ship frames already assembled?
Yes, we can definitely ship frames assembled anywhere within Canada and the US.
The price of shipping can vary dramatically, especially as the frame size gets larger. Due to this, we do not automatically have the option for shipping assembled frames on our website that are larger than 32″ x 32″ . If you would like us to ship larger assembled frames, please contact us at gessobole@outlook.com with the details of the frames that you would like to order along with your shipping address and we will work out a custom quote for you. Doing things this way ensures that we get the best possible shipping rate for your order and you are not paying more than you need to!
Placing your order
When placing your order, please choose the depth of frame that you would like. Each frame comes in two options.
For the 3/8″ top frames, the 1 1/8″ frame depth fits a 1 1/8″ canvas or smaller and is 1 1/2″ deep overall. The 1 5/8″ frame depth fits a canvas which is 1″ to 1 5/8″ deep and has an overall depth of 2″
For the 3/4″ top frame options, the 1″ frame depth fits a 1″ canvas or shallower and is 1 1/4″ deep overall. The 2″ frame depth fits a canvas which is up to 2″ deep and has an overall depth of 2.25″.
For the 1/2″ top solid hardwood frame options, the 1″ frame depth fits a 1″ canvas or shallower and is 1 5/8″ deep overall. The 2″ frame depth fits a canvas which is up to 2″ deep and has an overall depth of 2 1/2″.
Please enter you canvas depth below the canvas height and width so we can provide you with the appropriate size of canvas offset. If left blank, we will provide you with the offset that allows the deepest canvas possible to be attached into your selected frame depth.
When ordering, please be careful to enter the exact height and width of your stretched canvas. please enter your dimension in inches as a decimal. You can find a fraction to decimal converter in the frame description. Sometimes canvases are not exactly square and sometimes have a bow towards the middle so please also measure your canvas in several places, preferably at the corners and enter the largest measurement.
As standard we add 1/8″ to the dimension of the canvas (1/16″ on each side) to make sure that it is not too tight within the frame.
Volume and Loyalty Discounts
We offer volume based discounts on frame orders. You can combine frames in any frame finish, size, or depth to receive the following discounts:
5-8 frames – 5% discount
9-11 frames – 7% discount
12+ frames – 10% discount
Please note that the discounts will be applied in the cart and on the product page once the quantity of products in the cart reaches the discount threshold. You will have to view your cart to see the total discount amount.
We offer additional loyalty discounts to artist and customers who order frames on a regular basis. These are worked out on a case by case basis so please get in touch via email at gessobole@outlook.com to discuss the discount rate.
Shipping & Delivery
All of our frames are shipped disassembled in chopped lengths with routed slots ready to be put together at home! If you are able to pick up from our location in Carp, Ontario, we do offer the option to pick up your frame assembled for an additional $15.00.
Each frame order is usually shipped within 10-14 business days via standard shipping and can be shipped anywhere within Canada and the contiguous United States. Although we try our best to ship frames in a timely manner, we do not guarantee that it will be shipped out within our estimated time frame. Customers in the US are responsible for paying customs and duty charges as well as applicable taxes on all orders upon delivery. We cannot provide estimates on how much this will be.
We also offer free pickup from our location in Carp, ON. Please contact us if the shipping cost looks unreasonable and we can work out a custom shipping quote.
Assembly
Each frame is shipped with all necessary hardware to assemble your frame. Hardware kits containing canvas offset clips to fit in your canvas as well as hangers and wire can be purchased for $2.50 per frame. We include metal canvas offset clips to fix in your canvas or panel, dovetail keys to assemble the frame, as well as D-rings and wire so you can hang your it on the wall!
The frames are supplied with brown dovetail keys that fit into the routed slots to keep the frame together. Wood glue should also always be used to secure the mitre joints. Our glue of choice is Titebond ‘No-Run, No-Drip’ due to its high viscosity however most regular wood glue will work just fine.
Once you receive your frame, take all components of the package and lay the frame upside down on a hard surface. Arrange the frame as it will be put together, with the long and short bars parallel to each other. Add wood glue to the mitred corners on the short lengths and place the lengths back as they were. Please see below for pictures of the process.
Top tip: For dark coloured frames, run a black marker over the outer edge of the mitre, so if the corner does not line up perfectly it will stop the lighter wood from showing.
Next, bring one corner of a short piece and one corner of a long piece together and insert one brown key, rounded side first, into the slot as far as you can by hand. Repeat this step until all of the keys have been inserted. Some deeper frames may be supplied with 8 keys as they may need to be stacked on top of each other to achieve the desired height.
Once all the keys have been inserted, put the frame upside down on a hard, flat surface free of any debris and use a hammer to insert the keys fully into the slots. It is advisable to not hit the keys with the hammer directly but to use a wooden block between the two to reduct the chance of damaging the frame if you miss the key.
Check that the front of the frame is flush. If one side is slightly higher than the other, lightly tap the back of the frame on the lower side until both sides of the corner are flush. Repeat this with any corners where necessary. If the frame is quite large or the joint isn’t touching all the way along the mitre, you can add staples to the inside edge of the back of the frame to close the joint.
Use a wet towel or rag to clean up any glue that has squeezed out from the corner and leave the frame to dry for several hours.
Once the frame has dried, use the supplied canvas offset clips to fix your canvas into the frame and use the d-rings and wire to allow your frame to be hung on the wall! In some situations where the stretcher bars or cradle of a wood panel are narrow, you will not be able to use the canvas offset clips. In this case, you will have to screw through the back of the frame into the bars of the artwork. If using this method, you should pre drill the hole and use a screw long enough to go through the frame and into the back of the artwork (not provided) but be careful not to use a screw that will go all the way through the artwork!
If you would like the small gaps at the corners to be filled, you can then use wood filler or coloured wax on the corners our preferred product to do this is Timebermate which can be bought in various colours to match each frame colour.
Please scroll down for step-by-step images of the assembly. If you would like a video demonstration on how to join your frame, please click this link!
Unpacking
Your frame will arrive in four lengths, cut to your custom size, with mitred corners and routed slots
Touch up corners
Optional: For black or espresso frames, run a black marker over the outer edge of the mitre, so if the corner does not line up perfectly it will stop the lighter wood from showing
Setting up
Place the lengths upside down on a flat surface as it will be assembled, with long and short lengths parallel
Glue
Add glue to the surface of the mitre, avoiding putting glue in the routed slot
Add keys
Add the dovetail keys to the slots one at a time, pushing them in as far as they will go by hand. Each key has a rounded side and a flat side. Make sure that you insert the keys with the rounded side first!
Hammering the keys
Once all 4 keys have been inserted, hammer the keys into the frame so that they are flush with the back of the frame. Remember to use a block between the hammer and the key to reduce the chance of damaging the frame
Flush keys
Once they keys are hammered in they should look like this. Repeat this step with all four corners
Make the corners flush
Once all the keys are inserted, run your finger over the corner making sure that the top of the frame is flush at the corners. If one side is higher than the other as show in this image, lightly tap the back of the frame on the lower corner until them meet and are flush
Double check the corner
Once you have adjusted the height, run your finger over once more to make sure that the corner is flush and everything is aligned
Staple corners (optional)
You can also add staples to the back of the frame across the joint in the area with no dovetail key. This is especially useful for larger frames but make sure that the staples are short and will not go all the way through the frame!
Cleaning up
Once your frame is joined, wipe the corners with a wet rag to remove any glue that has squeezed out in the joining process and let dry for a few hours
Attaching your canvas
Once your frame has dried, fix in the canvas using the hardware provided. Attach d-ring and wire and hang! At this point, you can also add appropriate colour filler to any gaps in the mitre joints to get a seamless looking corner. Make sure you wipe off any excess filler with a damp cloth.
Assembling Floater Frames for Panels and Boards
This process is similar to the regular floater frames. Please watch the video below for step by step instructions.
Refund and Return Policy
Due to the custom nature of the product, all sales are final and no return or refunds can be offered.
However, if a frame arrives damaged or is not the size or moulding profile as specified on your order, we will send out a replacement frame at no additional cost.
If the frame that you receive matches your order but your canvas doesn’t fit or is too deep due to being measured incorrectly, we unfortunately cannot offer a refund or replacement.
gessobole@outlook.com