I made end-grain cutting boards for Christmas presents this year, and next year I'd like to make thick and decorative picture frames from cocobolo and bicote woods for presents; however, I made a transformation this year - I want to make every possible project from hand tools only.
I Googled for picture frame plans and techniques, but nothing came up for hand tool only. I'm starting off with two basic questions:
1. I am not using a nailgun on my joints, so what joiner would look best or is best hidden. The wood for the frames will be in the area of 2 inches wide, so I have some room to work a joint in, hidden or otherwise.
2. I don't want to sand at all, and I am new to planing (other than flattening and jointing), and I have a LN smoother, jointer, and low angle block. How do I prepare my surface on the frame pieces if the end result is rounded? Would I use my #7 to flatten, my block to create the bevel or rounded fronts, and then use my smoother to make the rounding effect perfect?
Thanks,
Chris