This project was built and designed by Bruce A. Ulrich. He walks through the process of transforming reclaimed pallet wood into a custom picture frame with a layered design and polished finish.
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Why Use Pallet Wood for a Frame?
Pallet wood offers a rustic, character-filled look that’s perfect for picture frames. It’s also a great way to repurpose material that might otherwise go to waste.
Bruce’s design takes this a step further by incorporating a two-layer layout. The result adds depth and interest to any photo you choose to display.
Preparing the Wood
Bruce begins by milling the pallet boards to consistent thickness using a planer. Once flat, the boards are jointed on one edge and ripped to width, ensuring the pieces fit together cleanly.
Getting the wood properly prepped at the start helps everything align during final assembly. It also removes any rough spots and inconsistencies often found in reclaimed materials.
Cutting and Building the Frame
To hold the glass and photo in place, Bruce cuts a rabbet along the inside edge of each frame piece. Doing this step before cutting to final length ensures better accuracy and fewer mistakes.
Using a stop block and template, he creates repeatable cuts for the sides of the frame. He then switches to a 45-degree miter sled to cut clean, precise corners.
Assembling and Finishing
When assembling the frame, Bruce takes extra care with any old nail remnants. A quick trick he uses is snipping off exposed nails with diagonal cutters to avoid damaging tools or the project.
Once assembled, he applies several light coats of spray lacquer. Between each coat, he sands with fine-grit paper to create a smooth, professional-looking surface.
Adding the Glass and Mats
The interior work begins with cutting glass to fit the opening. Bruce scores and snaps the glass with even pressure, using a dowel or bench edge to assist if needed.
For this build, he used pre-cut mats to keep things simple. In future versions, custom-cut mats could be used to tailor the frame to different photo sizes.
Securing the Frame Contents
To keep the glass and photo in place, Bruce makes small wooden tabs. These are screwed into the frame and provide gentle pressure without risking cracks like small nails might.
Using pliers to hold nails while tapping them in is another helpful tip he shares. It keeps your fingers safe and makes the job less frustrating.
Final Thoughts
This layered picture frame stands out with its reclaimed wood texture and depth of design. It’s a great way to turn humble pallet boards into something useful and visually appealing.
If you enjoy creative reuse projects, this is a rewarding build that’s both functional and decorative. Bruce shows how reclaimed materials can be transformed into custom home pieces with the right approach.
See the details of this project on Bruce’s website.