Floating Frame for Scratchboard

[tanianault]

Here, as promised, is my step-by-step illustration for how I framed my scratchboard with a floater frame.

Supplies:

- floating frame chopped to required lengths (I buy frame moulding in bulk from a wholesale supplier, then take the measurements to my local framer to make the chops)
- corner and hanging hardware
- wooden strapping for the cradle (1/2" x 1 1/2")
- mitre saw
- foam core board
- ruler, pencil, sand paper, wood glue
- safety goggles, etc.

Here is a cross-section of how a floating frame works:




As you can see from the above, to use a floating frame you have to attach wooden strapping, called a cradle, to the back of the scratchboard. Because you need to glue the cradle to the board, you should do this step before you scratch your image onto the board.

Step one: measure your scratchboard. An 8 x 10 scratchboard isn't actually 8 inches high or 10 inches wide:



As with all other carpentry, measure twice and cut once. Cut two mitred pieces of your wooden strapping for the length of the board and two mitred pieces for the width.





Step two is glue: Once you have the four pieces cut, get out your wood glue and use a brush to apply the glue to all four pieces of the cradle. Place them on the back of the board.



Step three: Align the edges and sides, and then clamp or place weights on the cradle to hold it in place while the glue dries.

[tanianault]

Step four: While the glue is drying, lay out the pieces of your framing and using the corner hardware, attach the frame moulding together.


Cross-cut view of the frame moulding profile:




Insert the metal corners into the channels and screw in place:




Back view of the assembled frame:



Front view of the assembled frame (note the screw holes for the final assembly to the cradled board):

[tanianault]

Step five: When the glue has dried, scratch your image on the board, seal and varnish as usual.

Step six: Insert the finished scratchboard into the prepared framing and align the corners and sides to ensure equal spacing on all sides.



Mark the location for the screws through the pre-drilled holes in the back of the framing and insert screws.



Step seven: Attach hanging hardware, wire and piece of foam-core backing.



And you're done!



Questions?

- Tania

[PatrickHedges]

That is absolutely fantastic Tania. That's going to take me a while to absorb. Many many thanks for putting so much effort in

[fire angel]

Thank you for sharing, Tania!!! I am going to try that sometime.

[Bertoni]

Tania:
What a unique way to frame a scratchboard...it's something I'll have to try!
Thanks for posting it!!!!!!!!!!

[tanianault]

Thanks, Patrick, Greg and Bertoni. I've always like the look of floating frames and after looking around a bit on the web and asking Ampersand how they cradle their Claybord, I came up with this.

- Tania

[lorna12]

Thank you Tania for going to so much trouble...this is great...something I'm definitely going to try. I love the look of it!

[tanianault]

Thanks Lorna, it does really look good with the black board and black frame.

I just got another e-mail from Ampersand saying that they will special order cradled Scratchbord for individual artists, just e-mail them bords@ampersandart.com with the sizes and quantities and they'll send you a price quote.

- Tania

[Rodman]

cool...well done...only thing is..i cut the boards 4 times and they are still too short...thanks tania..

[lorna12]

Thank you for the info, Tania, I'm going to write to them now.

[Steff]

Thank-you very much for sharing your framing methods with us. I look forward to trying out the different methods to see what I like best.

Steff

[tanianault]

Rod: Doesn't surprise me, everything about you is unique
Lorna: You're welcome.
Steff: Glad to help - have fun with it!

A word about special orders from Ampersand: I've special ordered things from them before and if they have to make it individually for you it will tend to be more costly than the items they make in bulk.

Ampersand also makes cradled Claybord (you know, the white scratchboard) I guess a person could order those - they'd be less expensive than the special order stuff - and use an airbrush to apply a layer of India Ink?

Just some ideas... I'm actually kinda happy to make my own cradles.

- Tania

[cmabill]

is there anyone out there knows the meaning of backing board with precision cut 50x75 mm window to show print legend? I really can't figure out. should I cut a window on the backing board? thank you for your help.
I try to make this for one of my clients.