Cherry Burl

4 Pitfalls to Avoid When Selecting a Wood Photo Frame

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- 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 doesnt mean low quality. It’s simply a more environmentally sustainable and superior way to make ornate and decorative wood frames.

Wood veneer gives the real look of an expensive or rare wood without having to waste limited resources. 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. In some cases, the veneer is glued to composite wood. 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 theres 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 isnt Perfect
Many people dont stop to think that wood is from nature, with all its imperfections. Do not expect your wood frame to be perfect. For most people it’s the color variations, natural wood grain and natural imperfections (like wood knots) that make wood frames 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. Usually most wood frames are “finished” so the best way to spot an unfinished frame is to feel the texture of the frame. 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
Wood frame manufacturers describe frames with words like walnut, rosewood, cherry and teak. Do not think of this wording as the type of wood used to make the frame. It’s just easier to help people understand the actual color of the frame by relating it to a recognized wood color. Most frames are simply stained these colors but are rarely made out of solid wood like cherry or walnut. Usually if a frame is made out of solid wood, the description will identify the frame as “solid” like “solid walnut” or “solid teak.”. If it doesn’t say solid, it’s most likely just 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, solid wood like teak, cherry or walnut will be considerably more expensive than staining a wood frame made out of a less epxensive wood.

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.

2 Bowls out of a Cherry Burl