Wood for contact frame

[mark]

What woods are used in contact printing frames. Mine is oak. I am looking to make another and am exploring options.

 

[BrianShaw]

Baltic plywood.

 

[randyB]

Some of the older frames were made of Poplar wood, lightweight, straight grained, strong, and easy to work with. Some were made with Maple, some with White Oak. I think it just depended on what the shop had on hand at the time the order came in.

 

[cliveh]

Does it matter, as I fail to see how it would effect the result.

 

[mark]

Yes it does matter. As some woods age they warp. Some woods are oily and who knows what that would do to your negs. Plywood is always an option but other woods just plain look good.

You can make a camera out of plywood and it would serve our purposes but people don't.

 

[Robert Hall]

I prefer something dimensionally stable like black walnut or hard maple. I use baltic plywood for the backing and brass or steel as the springs.

 

[bdial]

I have a modern one that's made from walnut, my antiques are various woods, oak, maple, at least one that looks to be apple.

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

I made one out of oak. It holds up well.

 

[Katie]

I vote walnut - it's beautiful.

 

[sepiareverb]

I've got an old one which looks to be maple. I'd choose cherry, maple, or walnut.

 

[Vaughn]

Mine are made of maple -- bought them new at B&S. Are they pretty? Not anymore...I use them and I let students use them!

But they have held up nicely!