How to Reinforce Wood Picture Frame Corners

Place the frame facedown on a work surface. Detach the picture-hanging wire from one of the eye screws. Open up the back of the frame. Remove the picture and glass and set them aside.

Balance the empty frame on one corner. Grab one strip of the frame carefully but firmly in each hand, at opposite corners.

Wiggle the two frame strips back and forth to loosen up the miter joint. The joint will have two to four nails holding the corners, depending on the size of the frame, which will cause some resistance. Pull the joint open only far enough to squeeze some carpenter's wood glue into it.

Lay the frame face up on the work surface. Push the two strips of framing back together until some of the glue starts oozing out of the joint. Wipe off excess glue with a damp rag.

Place a corner wood clamp under the mitered corner. Tighten the screw on the horizontal section of the frame molding to firmly lock it in place.

Tap the adjoining vertical strip of framing close with a hammer or rubber mallet to snugly close the miter joint. Tighten the remaining screw of the clamp.

Tap the corner nails with a hammer and nail set to drive them deeper into the wood and make the miter joint even tighter.

Repair one weakened joint on the frame at a time if you have a single corner clamp. Give each reglued joint at least 24 hours to dry before removing the clamp.

Lay the repaired frame facedown on the work surface. Place a flat metal corner bracket in each corner of the frame. Secure the brackets with the provided screws and a screwdriver to finish reinforcing the picture frame's corners.