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Four Pitfalls You Should Know About Wood Photo Frames

Wood picture frames are a popular choice for displaying your favorite photos but unfortunately there are some buying pitfalls you should know. Before you shop for that perfect wood picture frame, you need to be aware of these four pitfalls.

Pitfall #1- Be Careful of Mistaken Identity
When shopping for a wood frame, you need to be familiar with the difference between these three types of wood frames: solid wood, composite wood and wood veneer. These differences are important because the cost of the frame will vary widely depending upon the type of wood used to make it.

Solid wood frames don’t need any explaining but composite wood frames are made out of tiny wood pieces glued together with a special adhesive.  Decorative frames, frames with beaded borders, decorative round frames or oval frames are all made of composite wood. It’s the most economical and quality conscious way to create a decorative wood edge without the high cost of hand carving or the poor appearance of glue-on wood ornamentation. Inexpensive “wood frames” are also made of composite wood which is why people often assume low quality with composite wood. However, composite doesn’t have to mean inexpensive or inferior quality or workmanship. It is simply a more environmentally friendly and superior way to create decorative and ornate wood frames.

Wood veneer gives a frame the real look of wood without having to use solid wood. Wood veneer is a thin sliver of high quality wood, like an exotic or local hardwood, that’s glued to a less expensive piece of solid wood. The veneer can also be glued to composite wood in some cases. The gorgeous look of an exotic or burl wood is a good example of when a wood veneer is often used. High end hardwoods are very expensive and there’s no point in having a solid burl wood frame when you can only see the outside. A veneer of an exotic or high quality hardwood is a more economical way to make a unique frame and allows more frames to be made from this limited resource.

Pitfall #2- Wood isn’t Perfect
Most people like the look of wood but sometimes forget it’s natural and can come with imperfections. Do not expect your wood frame to be perfect. For most people it’s the natural wood grain, color variations and natural imperfections (like wood knots) that make wood frames so beautiful. High quality frame manufacturers minimize these variations as much as possible, but be aware that they can occur.

Pitfall #3- Sensitivity of Unfinished Wood
You may already know this pitfall if you’ve purchased unfinished wood before but the wood can be easily damaged if you’re not careful. Unfinished frames are made of raw wood with no protective lacquer or coating to seal the wood and protect the frame from damage. Generally most frames are “finished” so the best way to spot an unfinished frame is to feel the rough natural wood texture. Unfinished wood frames can easily be damaged by water or any oily or sticky substance that may come into contact with the frame. Be especially careful with water or greasy fingerprints as they can leave a mark on the unfinished wood frame that can be difficult to fix.

Pitfall #4- Misleading Colors
Manufacturers of wood frames describe frames with words like cherry, walnut, rosewood or teak. Don’t think of the wood type as being the material used to make the frame. Many people can associate a color with the term so they know the exact color of the wood frame. Most frames are stained these colors but are rarely made of solid woods like cherry, walnut, rosewood or teak. Usually if a frame is made out of a solid wood, the description will say “solid walnut” or “solid teak. If it doesn’t say this, it is most likely stained that color. The best way to know what you’re getting is to read the frame description carefully and always ask the frame retailer if you’re not sure. Also, wood material like walnut, teak and cherry will be significantly more expensive than a stained solid wood frame.

By remembering and avoiding these potential pitfalls when buying a wood frame, you’ll be able to find a wood frame that’s exactly what you want.

About the Author

Autumn Lockwood is a writer for YourPictureFrames.com and is passionate about taking pictures. Your Picture Frames offers a large selection of quality picture frames in a wide variety of sizes, color, finishes and styles. To shop for natural frames or wood picture frames visit our frame website or call 1-800-780-0699.

i am looking for plans to build a small fishing boat around 14 ft. with plywood or wood framed.?

I hope to build with composîte wood or another type, not sure, but will have ribs on the inside of the boat.I think these are called chines. Anyway I want this boat to be lightweight enough to take off the back of a truck without too much trouble and then put into the water.I would like to use a small motor on this boat as well. My main use though is to use this boat for fishing.

You can get plans for small boats from “Messing About in Boats” or “Wooden Boat” (magazines)
We have a friend who sold plans for a boat made from luan.
Chine is the turn of the bilge, it is either hard or soft depending on whether it is an angle or a curve
The ribs on the inside are called ribs.
Composite is not a good material because of permeability. The new plastic woods might work.(recycled wood chips and recycled plastic)