How to Repair A Gilded Plaster Picture Frame

I love to buy old picture frames, well because I like old stuff. I am especially fond of those old gilded plaster frames. They set off my landscape prints really well. The only draw back is that ones in good shape aren't cheap and the ones that are cheap are in poor repair.

Oh woes me, whats a poor girl to do? Go to the library of course. While there, I found a little book that told of ways to repair miscellaneous collectibles. And guess what I found in this little book? Yep, you guessed it. How to repair damaged gilded picture frames.

After reading through the instructions, I said to myself, "I could do that". And I did. In fact, my repairs were good enough to allow some of my better frames to actually be sold on E-bay a few years back.

I just finished restore a really old frame that has been on my "to do" list for a long time.

These are the only tools and supplies that you need to get the job done.

Place the picture frame on a flat surface and wash it down with a little soap and water. Do it gently. use only enough to get it clean because if the plaster gets to wet, it will get soft. If you still have the glass in it, use that blue tape to mask around the edges. (I like the blue stuff because it comes off easy and doesn't leave any of itself behind).Let the frame dry completely.

Now take the modeling clay and soften it up in your hands so can be easily worked. The clay will be used to make a mold of the undamaged parts of the frame so the damaged parts can be filled in. save 

The first thing to do is to thoroughly spay the part of the frame being used to make the molds with cooking spray. Take a piece of the clay and make a small block with it. Then flatten it till it reaches a size that will cover the plaster decoration. Press in over the section and press really hard. Remove the clay. Now you have the mold for the missing parts

It will take a little practice to get molds that will be the right size. They must be thick enough to duplicate the design but thin enough so that you don't have a really thick molded piece.  If the molded piece is to thick, it won't match the rest of the frame. Eventually you will get the hang ofit and get a clay mold that will be a good fit.

Mix up a small amount of plaster of paris in small container.  I like to use clear plastic disposable cups.  Add the plaster of Paris.  I don't measure, I just put in what looks right. But depending on how much frame there is to repair, 1/4 to 1/2 a cup should be more than enough.  Add the water and little at a time, stirring well.  Here is where I use the chop stick.  The plaster of paris needs to be thin enough to pour easily but not watery.  If it is the consistency of pancake batter, it will be just about right.

Mixing the plaster is the trickiest part because if you stir the plaster to hard it gets full of bubbles and these bubbles will harden in the mold ruining it.  When you have smooth, bubble free plaster that is about the consistency of pancake batter, its time to get rolling.

Now, spray the molds again with the cooking spray.  This makes the plaster easier to remove from the mold.  Pour in the plaster.  Now here comes another use for the chop stick.  Use it to level the bottom edge of the mold.  You want it to be as even as possible so it will fit snug onto the frame.  Now let it dry overnight.

After the plaster of paris has dried, remove it gently from the mold. Now comes the hardest part of the whole process. Using an emery board, a small screw driver or a sharp blade (you will have to find what works best for you. The big the piece of plaster, the bigger tool you will need. All the rough edges and the back of the piece need to be smoothed out. If it is a little to big to fit neatly into the spot to be repaired, just keep shaving it down until it fits.

Don't worry about making an exact fit. Once the frame is painted and hung, it will be really hard to see where the damage was.

Make sure that the surface of the frame is clean and dry.  Put a little wood glue on your finger and spread it over the area where the plaster piece will go.  Do the same for the back of the plaster piece.  Put the plaster piece into the spot and it's done.

Below are the pictures of the repaired frame.  It compares the damaged and undamaged parts of the frame.  It is only close inspection that the replacement parts can be seen.  On the wall, they are all but invisible.