How to Make a Full Length Wood Mirror Frame

Measure the height and width of the mirror.

Measure and cut two boards for the top and bottom of the mirror the one-half inch shorter than the width of the mirror from the 1-by-3-inch boards. Cut two boards the length of the mirror plus 4 1/2 inches from the 1-by-3-inch boards.

Secure one of the boards to a work surface with two C-clamps. Make sure the clamps leave the edge of the board unobstructed so you can run the router over the edge. Do a dry run with the router turned off and check that there is another half inch of clearance. Turn the router on. Run the router with the rabbet bit over one long edge of all the boards moving from the right corner to the left all the way down the board. Repeat for one edge of all four boards.

Set all four boards on a flat surface with the two shorter top and bottom pieces set inside the the longer side pieces. Set all the pieces with the routed edge up, facing the interior, creating a shelf for the mirror. Put the mirror in the center, face down, and arrange all the edges flush to check for proper fit of the frame. Remove the mirror.

Apply wood glue to both ends of the short pieces that serve as the top and bottom of the mirror frame and put them back in place. Put the mirror face down in the middle again. Put two bar clamps across the short sides at the top and bottom while the glue dries.

Lift the mirror out after the wood glue dries over night and apply a thin coat of silicon seal all around the routed shelf that the mirror sits on. Place the mirror back on the shelf and lightly press down around the edges setting the mirror into the silicon. Remove the clamps after 24 hours.

Insert two one-half inch construction staples across each joint of the frame. Insert several staples into the inside edge of the mirror frame to further secure the mirror in place.