Sunny side up

Mark Rayner creates a striking art deco style sunflower frame.

You will need:

50mm x 25mm treated battening cut to the following lengths:
- 4 x 2000mm for the upper and lower horizontal struts for main frame
- 8 x 500mm for the upper and lower horizontal struts for side frames
- 6 x 970mm for the vertical struts for main and side frames
- 6 x 1700mm for the legs for main and side frames
- 2 x 600mm for the lower leg struts for main frame
- 2 x 1400mm for the longer sun rays on main frame
- 5 x 1000mm for the remaining sun rays on main frame
- 2 x 500 for the sun rays on side frames
17mm tanalised plywood measuring 600mm x 300mm

Also required: four brass hinges, exterior PVA glue, 40mm galvanised flat head nails, 40mm brass screws, large set square, jigsaw, hammer, string, pen, panel pin, sandpaper and a paintbrush. Resene Quick Dry Acrylic Primer Undercoat and Resene Lumbersider in Resene Bright Spark.

Step 1 how to make a art deco style sunflower frame

Step 1
Using the hammer, nails and PVA, fix two of the 2000mm battens together at right angles to form the upper horizontal strut for the main frame. Repeat for the lower horizontal strut and the four upper and lower side frame horizontal struts.

Step 2 how to make a art deco style sunflower frame

Step 2
Attach the legs to either end of the top horizontal strut for the main frame, using PVA glue and galvanised nails. Repeat for the side frames.

Step 3 how to make a art deco style sunflower frame

Step 3
Fix the six vertical struts for the main and side frames into position using PVA glue and nails, and then attach the lower horizontal strut for main frame and side frames. Using the set square, ensure all frames are at 90 degrees.

Step 4 how to make a art deco style sunflower frame

Step 4
Mark the centre of the main frame, measure and cut the central vertical sun ray. Fix with PVA glue and two brass screws, screwed in at right angles into the main frame. Measure and cut the two longest (diagonal) sun rays and fix into position with PVA glue.

Step 5 how to make a art deco style sunflower frame

Step 5
Measure and cut the four remaining sun rays for the main panel, ensuring they are evenly spaced. Measure and cut a sun ray for one of the side frames ensuring it's aligned with the corresponding sun ray on the main frame. Fix into position with PVA glue and two brass screws.

Step 6 how to make a art deco style sunflower frame

Step 6
Using the panel pin, string and pen, draw a semi-circle on the piece of plywood. Cut this out with a jigsaw and smooth off any rough edges with sandpaper. Fix the plywood sun into position, attaching it to the frame and each sun ray with PVA glue and a nail.

Step 7 how to make a art deco style sunflower frame

Step 7
Fix the lower leg struts into position on the legs of the main frame with PVA glue and nails. Attach a side panel to the main panel with two brass hinges. Repeat with the other side panel.

Step 8 how to make a art deco style sunflower frame

Step 8
Prime the entire frame with one coat of Resene Quick Dry Acrylic Primer Undercoat and allow to dry. Apply two coats of Resene Bright Spark to the entire frame.

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Resene Paints Ltd – www.resene.co.nz