Contact printing frame springs

I thought there was a diy forum here somewhere. I could not find it.

I am slow and patient, but I get around to things. I had a thick heavy piece of glass I was going to use to contact print. I put it where it would be safe until I got around to needing it. I went to grab it the other day to measure it and it was not there. I asked SWMBO if she had seen a random piece of heavy glass. Apparently she decided it sat around long enough and tossed it.

I went to the glass store and the same sized piece of glass was going to be expensive enough that I should just either buy a frame and do it right, or build one and do it better. I have the skills, the tools, and all of the materials except the springs.

For the DIY folks out there, where are you getting springs and are you forming them your self?

My contact frame isn't spring loaded. However, I have made several springs for things similar to this, and usually use phosphor bronze shims strips that can be bought from McMaster Carr. They also sell steel spring shim strips that would work too.

My Dad made springs for a camera back out of strips of Hickory. I have no idea how he did it. He was a genius. It worked perfectly.
I have old Eastman print frames that have steel springs that could be used in a Bear Trap.

Photographers Formulary(I think?) sold contact frames that used clips used in screen/storm doors.
Looked like a bad idea to me but they were a premium product($$$). Typical hardware or big box will
have them. Still looked like a bad idea though.
Personally I'd look at forming my own like jim mentioned.

You don’t need much power with the springs. Make them from the black steel strapping used commercially. Ez to find.

I used steel rulers for the one I built

StrangestStranger said:

I used steel rulers for the one I built
View attachment 238810 View attachment 238811 View attachment 238812

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They provide enough pressure?

I made mine out of thin (1/4 inch or 3/8, can't recall) maple, and glued blocks to the center on the bottom, so there would be pressure pushing the center of the frame, and put blocks with overhanging washers on the sides to slip the maple strips under. I'll snap a couple pictures tomorrow if you're interested, I'm not sure that was a very clear description. I saw photo of an antique frame that worked similarly and it's worked rather well.

mark said:

They provide enough pressure?

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Yes they do. As what pwitkop said, they are screwed to a block in the center and bent a little upwards. both of these make them apply pressure when bent down and slid under the grooves along the side of the frame.

A few years ago I constructed a contact printing frame and ran into the same basic question: how to apply the pressure? Since my frame is fairly large and I needed quite a lot of pressure to keep unwieldy and thick carbon tissue in check, springs were not a very good option. Besides, I never liked the concept of (strong) springs as it's kind of easy to harm yourself as they pop out of the frame. So I went for a screw-loaded setup as detailed here: https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/cyanotype-uv-lightbox-sharpness-problems.168119/#post-2187160
Not a pretty thing, but it has worked well for a few years now and I use it quite regularly. The concept isn't mine; I came across it online somewhere and just stole the idea.

Took a couple pictures of the maple spring boards I used. The whole thing is over built, but I was worried about getting good contact. I also wasn't setup to make anything complicated, all I had was an inaccurate small table saw. The wood is all in the dimensions I got it from Home Depot, just rabbited mitered, etc.

I just use 2 pieces of 1/4 inch glass and some small industrial clamps. Makes a nice tight sandwich.