How We Build Your Picture Frame
Every frame passes through a five-stage production line. Hardwood mouldings, precision cutting, V-nail joinery, archival assembly, built by hand in Somerset, New Jersey.
1. Moulding Selection
Every frame starts with the moulding: the decorative wood profile that forms the perimeter. We stock 82 profiles in kiln-dried hardwoods and softwoods, each graded for straightness and consistent finish.
When your order comes in, we pull the exact profile from the racks, inspect the length for warp or defects, and route it to the cutting bench. If a length has a flaw, it goes back. We cut from clean stock only.
2. Double-Miter Cut
Each rail is cut to length on a double-miter saw that trims both 45-degree corners in a single pass. This is the step that determines how tight your corners look from across the room.
Rails are cut to 1/8-inch precision. Square and length get checked against the order before the piece moves on.
3. V-Nail Corner Joining
Corners are joined with corrugated V-nails driven up through the rails by an underpinner. The nails lock the joint under compression. Stronger than glue alone, and rigid under the weight of the acrylic, mat, and backing.
We choose V-nail size based on moulding width and density. Harder woods get deeper nails; delicate profiles get a lighter stack.
4. Glazing & Mat Assembly
Glazing gets cut to size in either framer's grade or non-glare acrylic, depending on what you chose at checkout. We clean both sides, dust it, and set it into the frame rabbet.
Mats are cut with bevel-edge mat cutters to the opening sizes on your order. Archival mount board sits behind the artwork, everything gets seated flush, and the stack is secured with points.
5. Finishing
Hanging hardware (wire or sawtooth, depending on size) gets installed. If we print and install your artwork, we seal the back with a dust cover. Frames ordered empty do not include a dust cover, so you can mount your own piece.
Every frame is inspected and packed in a double-wall corrugated box before it ships or goes to the pickup shelf.
Inside the Picture Framing Workshop
Your frame is built by our team of trained framers in Somerset, NJ, not retail staff on a half-day course. Most of our framers have years of experience with moulding, matting, and finishing. Every order passes through the same hands, the same tools, and the same quality checks.
See It In Person
Local to New Jersey? Drop off artwork, pick up online orders, or book a consultation at our Somerset shop.