Today in this instructable we are making a picture frame with a backing for a cork board at the woodshop in San Francisco's TechShop.\
Please check out www.techshop.ws

You will need:
6in. wide pine or other wood at about 2ft length. Thickness doesn't matter, but .75in. seems good.
1 1/8" rectangle of mat board. 12.5 x 10.5.
Table saw
Router
Routerbit with square end
Routerbit with filleted finish (optional)
Chop saw (miter saw)
Wood glue
Framer's square
Staple gun and staples
Sandpaper or belt sander
Right-angle vices x2 min x4 better

Step 1: Table Saw

Cut the wood down to four 1.5" strips. Length doesn't matter right now. We will ultimately need wood that is longer than 10.5" and 12.5" so at least 14" to give yourself some room to work.

Optional planing and jointing may be required for messy wood.

Cut the mat board to 12.5" x 10.5"

Step 2: Table Router

Use the square end router to make a .25" wide (from the edge of the wood) rout that is .125" deep. Do this on one side of each of the four strips of wood.

The diagonal side (flip it and rotate it) should get the archetectural edge. I used the roman oogee or whatever it's called because it looked really nice. 1/4" radius.

Do this for the entire length of the wood strips.

Step 3: Miter Saw

Use the miter saw to get 45 degrees on both ends of the four strips. This is best done in the following proceedure: Cut a small section off. Check the angle with a protractor. Adjust and repeat. Once the angle is perfect, then rotate the wood so that you are now cutting the opposite end with the other side down. Measure 12" to the inside angle for two pieces and 10" to the inside angle for the other two pieces.

Step 4: Glue Up / Finishing

Now it should all make sense. 10" + .25" rout on one side plus .25" rout on the other side = 10.5", or the width of the mat board. Lay everything out and get some right angle vices. These are essential.

Mix 1 part wood glue and 1 part water in a cup. Paint this onto each end of the four lengths of wood. This will get a better bonding surface (Thanks, Danny!). Once this dries, then use the angle vices to mate everything. Glue it up. If there are any gaps use the glue to fill it or sand it to match...if you did the miter right, you won't need much.

Let it sit overnight and then hit it with the staple gun.

Staple the mat board into place.

Tune in next month for the exciting conclusion where we put the cork in the corkboard.

Best,
~TSZ