I'm not new to woodworking, but have not done a lot of picture frames. I
can construct a frame with tight angles and all that, but I have problem
when I need to secure the glass, picture and backing to the frame. I have a
few expensive tools from Rockler: a Squeeze tool that puts point into the
frams and a "point driver" that bangs them in. They work great until it
comes to the addition of a glass front.

If I'm using oak, cherry or maple (which are hard), the hand squuze tool
often slips when driving the point, causing a shock which breaks the glass.
If I use the point-driver tool, a "bang" is part of the way the tool works,
which also breaks the glass. I can't find clips, as yet, for doing this and
it's driving me nuts. I'm not a professional framer and don't feel like
taking a course, but wondering if anyone out there has any ideas...?

Best regards,

Paul

"Paul Wolsko" wrote in message
...
I'm not new to woodworking, but have not done a lot of picture frames. I
can construct a frame with tight angles and all that, but I have problem
when I need to secure the glass, picture and backing to the frame. I have
a few expensive tools from Rockler: a Squeeze tool that puts point into
the frams and a "point driver" that bangs them in. They work great until
it comes to the addition of a glass front.

If I'm using oak, cherry or maple (which are hard), the hand squuze tool
often slips when driving the point, causing a shock which breaks the
glass. If I use the point-driver tool, a "bang" is part of the way the
tool works, which also breaks the glass. I can't find clips, as yet, for
doing this and it's driving me nuts. I'm not a professional framer and
don't feel like taking a course, but wondering if anyone out there has any
ideas...?

Best regards,

Paul
Why are you putting the glass in before the frame is glued up? The glass
should sit in a rabbet.

Paul Wolsko wrote:
I'm not new to woodworking, but have not done a lot of picture
frames. I can construct a frame with tight angles and all that, but
I have problem when I need to secure the glass, picture and backing
to the frame. I have a few expensive tools from Rockler: a Squeeze
tool that puts point into the frams and a "point driver" that bangs
them in. They work great until it comes to the addition of a glass
front.
If I'm using oak, cherry or maple (which are hard), the hand squuze
tool often slips when driving the point, causing a shock which breaks
the glass. If I use the point-driver tool, a "bang" is part of the
way the tool works, which also breaks the glass. I can't find clips,
as yet, for doing this and it's driving me nuts. I'm not a
professional framer and don't feel like taking a course, but
wondering if anyone out there has any ideas...?

Since you are making your frames, you could cut a groove on the inside edges
so that the groove extends very slightly below where the outside of the
backing will be; you cut then use a couple of small wedges on each frame
piece to secure the glass/art/backing. A biscuit slot cutter is about the
size groove I'm thinking of.

--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
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LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

dadiOH wrote:
Paul Wolsko wrote:
I'm not new to woodworking, but have not done a lot of picture
frames. I can construct a frame with tight angles and all that, but
I have problem when I need to secure the glass, picture and backing
to the frame. I have a few expensive tools from Rockler: a Squeeze
tool that puts point into the frams and a "point driver" that bangs
them in. They work great until it comes to the addition of a glass
front.
If I'm using oak, cherry or maple (which are hard), the hand squuze
tool often slips when driving the point, causing a shock which breaks
the glass. If I use the point-driver tool, a "bang" is part of the
way the tool works, which also breaks the glass. I can't find clips,
as yet, for doing this and it's driving me nuts. I'm not a
professional framer and don't feel like taking a course, but
wondering if anyone out there has any ideas...?

Since you are making your frames, you could cut a groove on the
inside edges so that the groove extends very slightly below where the
outside of the backing will be; you cut then use a couple of small
wedges on each frame piece to secure the glass/art/backing. A
biscuit slot cutter is about the size groove I'm thinking of.

BTW, the same thing works for drawer bottoms if one goofs and cuts the
groove too wide.

--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

On Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:35:40 -0400, "Paul Wolsko"
wrote:

I'm not new to woodworking, but have not done a lot of picture frames. I
can construct a frame with tight angles and all that, but I have problem
when I need to secure the glass, picture and backing to the frame. I have a
few expensive tools from Rockler: a Squeeze tool that puts point into the
frams and a "point driver" that bangs them in. They work great until it
comes to the addition of a glass front.

If I'm using oak, cherry or maple (which are hard), the hand squuze tool
often slips when driving the point, causing a shock which breaks the glass.
If I use the point-driver tool, a "bang" is part of the way the tool works,
which also breaks the glass. I can't find clips, as yet, for doing this and
it's driving me nuts. I'm not a professional framer and don't feel like
taking a course, but wondering if anyone out there has any ideas...?

I've NEVER had the point gun break the glass. You have a backing in
there too right? I just have one hand pressing gently on the backing
to make sure everything is tight to the frame and fire away. Never a
problem. The only other thing I can think of is maybe you aren't
making the rabbet large enough, there should be a little room around
the glass.


-Kevin