How to Assemble a Ready to Assemble Floater Frame

Large floater frames ship as ready to assemble kits, so yours arrived as four precision-cut pieces. The joinery is the same as any of our ready to assemble frames: glue in the miter, plastic plugs in the dovetail notches. Take your time on alignment here, because a floater shows the gap around your canvas.

What you need

  • The plastic dovetail plugs that came with the frame. There may be different lengths for different notches.
  • Wood glue.
  • A small hammer for a light tap if a plug is stiff.
  • A clean, flat, padded surface big enough for the whole frame.
  • Offset clips and hanging hardware, which are not included with the frame.

Steps

  1. Lay the four pieces flat, face down, in the shape of the frame. Keep the matching lengths parallel on a rectangle.
  2. Match the plugs to the dovetail notches on the back of each piece.
  3. Put a small bead of wood glue on one mitered edge, bring the adjoining leg up to it, and press the plug into the notch. Tap it lightly with the hammer if it will not seat.
  4. Many customers find a floater easier to build one corner at a time, letting each glued corner dry before starting the next. It takes longer and the alignment comes out better.
  5. When all four corners are joined, lay the frame flat on its back, check the corners are tight and even, and wipe off any squeeze-out.
  6. Let the glue set at least an hour. The glue holds the frame together; the plugs keep the corners aligned while it cures.
  7. Once cured, mount your canvas with offset clips or screws through the stretcher bars, then add hanging hardware.

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Need help? Contact us and we will talk it through with you.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my floater frame in pieces?

Frames larger than 30" x 40" outside dimensions cannot ship assembled. We either send them as a ready to assemble kit or arrange freight on a pallet.

Should I glue all four corners at once?

Either way works, but on a floater a lot of customers do one corner at a time and let it dry before the next. It is the easiest way to keep the corners aligned.

When can I put the canvas in?

After the glue has set for at least an hour. Mounting a canvas puts pressure on the corners, so let them cure first.

Are offset clips included in the kit?

No. The dovetail plugs ship with the frame, but clips and hanging hardware are sold separately in hardware.