Q We have several antique wood frames with various amounts of warp. Can they be straightened?
How to straighten warped wood frames
November 14, 2007 at 10:14PM
A Once wood is warped it may be very difficult to get it back in shape, said Dan Gelfand of New Look Refinishing Inc. in Minneapolis. But you can try.
Remove the picture and glass, leaving the frame empty.
Lay the frame on its face on a sturdy flat surface.
Place long and narrow strips of damp (not wet) rags along the back of the frame.
Put six to eight clamps around the perimeter of the frame, clamping the frame to the flat surface.
Tighten the clamps once a day, but only a small amount or the frame might break.
Keep the rags moist.
Continue this process until the frame is clamped flat. It may take a week or more.
Once flat, leave the frame clamped for another week without dampening the rags or tightening the clamps.
Remove the clamps.
If the frame stays in shape, varnish the back and inside of the frame. Wood that is varnished only on one side tends to warp more easily.
Karen Youso, Fixit Editor
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Several home watch businesses joined together in the Minnesota Home Watch Collaborative to stay vigilant across the whole state.
