To assemble the frame simply apply a small amount of glue along the mating surfaces as described in the glue manufacturer's instructions. Make sure that the pieces are square to eachother and clamp the entire frame to a flat board or a flat worksurface. Using this technique you don't need any special clamps and you can achieve a surprisingly strong and attractive frame.

Once the glue has dried, you can unclamp and begin to sand the frame. You can also rout an edge profile around the interior and/or exterior surfaces of the frame. We sanded with 100 and 120 grit paper and then routed all edges with a roundover bit and then continued sanding with 180, 220, 320 and 400 grits.

Once the frame has been sanded, it is ready for a finish. You should complete the finishing before you proceed with the weaving. You can use a stain and follow with a polyurethane. We used antique oil which is an oil/ varnish blend consisting of mineral spirits, oil, and a spar varnish. After wiping on with a brush and waiting for about 5 to 10 minutes, we wiped of the excess with a clean rag. We let it dry overnight and repeated this process two more times. For more information regarding finishing, consider Understanding Wood Finishing by Bob Flexner.