Make Quartersawn Picture Frame Stock

Posted March 5, 2014

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Make Quartersawn Picture Frame Stock

If you’ve got
some spare
8/4 (2-in.) lumber
lying around your
shop, it’s easy to transform
it into stunning quartersawn
wood for your picture
frame. Quartersawn figure in
almost every wood is really something
special, and quite different from species
to species. Even an ordinary piece of thick
oak, maple or cherry has a surprise waiting
within it.

Mark both ends of a milled 8/4 board with a series of parallel
lines that run at right angles to the growth rings. Tilt the
blade to match the angle of the first cut—just eyeball it.
Move the fence and make the second cut at the same angle.

Next, turn the board around and repeat the same procedure
for the other outside edge. Continue to work your way
from the outside in, so the last cuts you make are for the
center pieces, where your drawn lines are almost vertical.

Click any image to view a larger version.

Return the blade to 90
degrees and saw off the
angled edges. Make sure the
edge that runs along the fence
has the point facing up. If it faces
down, it could get trapped underneath the fence. Run
the pieces through the planer, and you’re ready to
make a very special picture frame.

This story originally appeared in American Woodworker January 2005, issue #112.

January 2005, issue #112

Purchase this back issue.

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