How-to: Rustic Hinged Frame

This is a guest post by my friend and cousin, Dan. If anyone out there is hardcore into videogaming, they should check out his TV show, Double Jump. 

In searching for a frame that a custom print I was given could fit into, I decided to make my own.  It’s an awesome piece of art, and I wanted an awesome frame for it.

I had my friend help me out with the carpentry.  It’s basically just standard 2×4’s with a groove cut into them so I could slide two pieces of plexiglass and sandwich the print in between.  I used one of those rubber mats that keep kitchen chair cushions from sliding around to hold the print in place.

I scored the studs with a utility knife to give it some texture, and then stained it with the darkest stain I could find.  Just one coat was enough to make it look the way I wanted.  It was INSANE how much difference the stain made.  It went from looking like fresh, raw lumber to older, worn wood immediately.  I flipped a little.

The carpentry is definitely not perfect, but I like those imperfections.  It really makes it seem like I made it, and put forth the effort even though I wasn’t quite sure how to do it.  I’m learning, though.  I can see why people get into woodworking.  It’s very therapeutic and rewarding.