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DIY
Canvas Stretching
To
stretch canvas or any fabric the same principals apply. This
page is to give those who wish to do it themselves some tips
on how to do it. I have assumed you are stretching a canvas
which is already painted.
Materials
/ Tools.
Timber;
Square dressed timber is fine unless your stretching unpainted
canvas then the timber needs to be angled so that the canvas
only touches the outside edge of the stretcher frame. This is
to avoid creating a line where the canvas touches the inside
edge of the stretcher frame.
staples;
industrial strength $20 at Bunnings, tumbtaks make for hard
work
wide nose pliers (optional you can use your hands if there is
enough canvas to grip when you wrap it around the stretcher
frame.
Measuring
Canvas'
vary in elasticity so test it by hand first. Most stretch very
little after the paint is applied. It's best to make your stretcher
frame just slightly smaller than the unstretched canvas i.e.
5mm for 1m(unless the canvas or fabric is very stretchy then
make it slightly larger ). Measure every side. Often the canvas
is not square. Use the shortest measurements when making your
stretcher frame.
If
you make the frame too big even by 5mm your stuffed. However
if you make it 5mm too small it looks OK to have the painting
bend around the stretcher frame a bit.
Making
the Stretcher frame.
Make the frame as strong as you can. I
have been called on many occasions after someone has tried to
make a frame which they could not get tight. The reason is always
their stretcher frame has no strength.
To
strengethen the frame nail or drive screws through the timber
at the corners and use glue. Brace the corners with 45 angled
supports glue and nail / screw them. Always counter sink the
screws. Buttress the frame to aviod the frame bending in the
middle.
I
use 40 x 30mm ( for canvases over 2metres) 40 x 20mm or 30 x
20mm finger jointed pine. I use the timber with the thinner
edge at the face of the canvas then I buttress every 500mm.
When I buttress the frame I rotate the timber so that the buttress
is thinner than the side of the frame.
Stretching
Before you begin stretching lay the canvas
face down. Use a ruler to draw
in pencil an outline of the edge of the painting. THis outline
will assist in positioning the canvas while your stretching.
Start
stretching in the middle of each side about 3 staples at each
time. Work your way 3 staples at a time to the corners. Most
canvas's are pretty strong however some a pretty weak so don't
pull to hard is the fabric is like a shirt.
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