Canvas Stretcher (for paintings not carrying accident victims!)

[bitingmidge]

Crikey there are so many forum choices I didn't have clue where to post this!

So we've seen Apricot's frames happening lately, but before the frames come along, one has to have something to stretch the canvas on.

Mostly these days canvasses are bought in art shops on stretchers, and the GMC versions come very economically indeed. Once sizes get up a bit, the equation changes somewhat, and some people have funny ideas about what canvas they want to use too!

Conventional wisdom says use clear timber to stop the frame twisting and bowing, and of course if you do that... well it sure isn't worth making your own!

Sooo... take some old gnarly radiata battens you've had lying round for a few years and straighten them out a bit. OK straighten them out entirely! Then grab some old window reveals you left lying under the battens and rip them into a more meaninful proportion. Cut stick bang!!! All done!!

I'll do a how-to-stretch thing shortly, but in the "arty" forum so you will have to go looking!

A couple of things to remember:

It's not entirely obvious, but the front face is splayed 15° so that the canvas is only in contact with the edge of the frame.

I always like to use two braces in each direction no matter what the size. On smaller pieces most only use one, which ends up being a bugger when the picture comes to be hung: the hook usually finds its way to the middle you see, and the thing won't sit flat on the wall.

I also like to keep the braces set in a bit from the back of the stretchers, so if there's a bit of twisty happening later, they won't get in the way! Of course having the smaller spacing minimises the chances though.

Yep, the domino makes it a doddle, but I used to use those wrinkly nail things quite effectively, and even now, I just shoot a few staples through the mitres. The canvas will keep it all together.

Oh, this one's 1200 square, about $200 in the shops with the 10oz canvas I'm about to stick on it ($28.00 worth! ) so I guess apart from getting a better frame, I've saved a few bob as well..... ten more and the domino's paid for itself!

Cheers,

P

[Cliff Rogers]

Good one....

Have you worked out how to apply the Domi to boat building yet.

[AlexS]

It's not entirely obvious, but the front face is splayed 15° so that the canvas is only in contact with the edge of the frame.

Never knew that

[bitingmidge]

Alex,

That's also why the braces are set back from the front face: It stops and ugly imprint happening!

The canvas will stretch drum tight (literally) but there's still quite a bit of deflection at this size and larger.

Cheers,

P

[soundman]

Hmmmmmmm I can smell some tax deductable activity brewing there Pete.
You are going to need some inspiration if you are going to take up painting agian.

You were into landscapes weren't you?
Besides all this cold stops the paint from flowing

cheers