Magnetic Picture Frames

A table saw…are you serious!?!   Three years ago I didn’t even know what one was let alone how it worked, but my husband and I needed a way to pay off student loans.  My husband was working his rear off, but we needed to get rid of that lingering interest that was growing on a chunk of our student loans.  As a mother of little ones,  going to work and paying for daycare was more expensive than staying home {{although there are some days it would be worth it}} so I needed to figure out a way to make some cash!

A friend encouraged me to start crafting and using saws to make it worth it.  Once again…are you serious?  I didn’t even know how to use a drill,  let alone a table saw!

I grabbed my husband’s drill out of the garage and started drilling into a scrap board until I got the hang of it.  Then I asked my husband to teach me how to use the table saw. He questioned it, but then showed me how.   I use the table saw often now, but be prepared…it gives you a huge sense of accomplishment!  And I always tell my husband not to worry about me taking his ‘man card’…

So, if you are wondering how to use a saw to do these magnetic picture frames…well, here is the tutorial on how to do it!

Remember the scrap 2×4 decor.  This is another project will cost you pennies {{okay maybe not pennies, but it’s very thrifty}}

I had to pull the table saw out of the back of the garage.  Man, I need to clean out my garage!  It’s been a little cold so that’s been my excuse.  Today is nice, but I’m blogging.  I’ll get to it:)

Anyway, I raised my blade about 1/2 inch.

Then you have to slant it.  I am undoing the lock so that I can slant it in the picture above.

The blade is slanted to 8 degrees.

I also moved my measuring devise…the metal thing on top of the table saw to 1 inch.  I know I’m using real technical words ‘thing’ and ‘device.’  Thank goodness for pictures:)

Do a test run on your board first.  In other words, I always screw up the first one that I attempt so I like to make me feel better by calling it a test run:)

Run the board all the way through the table saw.   I am not very brave and getting my hands too close to the blade, that was a dumb statement, but really…I like to make sure the board is extra long so I don’t get anywhere near the blade.   The board was about 3 feet and I only need about 20 inches.

Safety first…glasses and goggles.  You can see why my husband married me!  I need to find some pink ear ‘muffs’:)

Yep…test run.  I cut it too deep.  I backed the blade down a little.  It needs to be half or a little less than half or the board will be too weak and split.  Crappy cracking crafts aren’t good!

I used precise measurements to see how long I needed to cut the the 2×4.  I will have a tutorial on how to use a chop saw.  It’s coming up.  I know{{ I know}}…talk about an exciting post…I can sense your vibes coming through the computer screen!  BUT wait until you see what we make with it:)  Okay back to the precise measurement.  I can never find a blasted measuring tape at my house.  I think I bought 6 this summer at the dollar store and they disappeared in 2 weeks.  Although I did find one in my daughters suit case last week???  So yes, it’s a precise measurement with the items that I can find.  It is around 20 inches because my sheet metal is 18 inches square.  The sheet metal…I found at a metal shop.  People ask me about what gauge it is…I don’t know.  But what I do know is that it is not flimsy and it does not curl.  It just needs to be stiff so it will stand on its’ own.  Always buy the cheaper kind:)

Ta-da…

Now if you don’t have a table saw or don’t care to ever use one, have your neighbor do it for you!

I’ve also seen the 2×4’s at the craft store.  They are more expensive and you won’t get the amazing sense of accomplishment over using a power tool, but whatever…the magnetic picture frames will be displayed beautifully in your home and you’ll be proud no matter what!

So here is one that is used for holding pictures.

I Mod Podged the board with paper

and stuck the metal in!

Put Missy’s beautiful picture of a bridge in New York using magnets and turned it into Magnetic Picture Frames!

I’ve also done magnetic picture frames that are 7 inches long with a piece of metal that is 6 inches square.  They were for holding recipes…so I guess they’d be called magnetic recipe holders.

Those are great gifts to give!