using screen printing equipment for a vacuum contact frame

[jasonso]

I've come across a vacuum table on that auction website and it got me thinking about perhaps using it as the base of a contact print frame.
For those in-the-know, do you think this might work if I placed a glass sheet over the top and sealed the edges to the base with tape?

heres a pic of it:

155344

[Gary Beasley]

It would work just fine, no need to cover with glass though. Need to be sure and cover any unused holes with paper to keep the vacuum high.

[jasonso]

Thats a good idea to cover unused holes, never thought of that. Hmmm but wouldn't the glass be needed to squeeze negative and paper together tightly? (with the help of the vacuum)

[Gary Beasley]

Oh, didn't notice the contact printer part. Actually a clean piece of thin mylar will do a better job than glass as it will seal the edges and pull the layers flat with a little rubbing out. Vacuum contact printers generally have a rubber mat underneath that pulls everything together. What you have is usually used as a vacuum easel under the enlarger. If you really want a good contact printer look for an old platemaker rig, it might be bulky but very effective.