Post-Haste Project: No-Miter Picture Frame

This might be the fastest, easiest way on earth to make a picture frame. And it’s especially handy for woodworkers who don’t like cutting miters. One set up on the router table and you’re ready to cut the rabbet that receives the glass, picture and backer board, AND cut the corner joint. Making picture frames with a router is very simple using this technique.

What you need

The frame is made on a router table using a ⅜” rabbet bit. You could also do the work using a ⅜” or larger straight bit. The most important part is getting the height of the bit exactly right. Once you take care of that, you’re ready to make all the cuts you need. This picture frame is a great example of how versatile routers can be.

Make a bunch

Once you’re set up it’s easy-peezy to make a boatload of picture frames. So when you’re prepping your material, be sure and make extra. Once you start making picture frames with a router, you may never cut a miter again.