HOW TO STRETCH CANVAS ONTO A STRETCHING FRAME

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:
     
                                                                                       CANVAS STRETCHING PLIERS                                  CANVAS STAPLER

CANVAS APPROXIMATELY 150MM LARGER IN BOTH DIMENTIONS THAN THE STRETCHING FRAME SIZE, DEPENDING ON THE THICKNESS OF THE SIDES TO BE OVERLAPPED WHEN STRETCHED OVER.

THE CANVAS STRETCHING FRAME ... CAN BE ORDERED TO REQUIRED SIZE THROUGH OURSELVES.

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METHOD:


   Using your thumb and index finger as a guide, draw the canvas over the top of the stretchING FRAME, allowing about 50MM to extend beyond the back edge of the FRAME. Visually check to see you have about 100MM extension on each side, DEPENDING ON THE THICKNESS OF THE FRAME...WHEN FOLDED OVER THE STRETCHING FRAME, IT WILL BE TRIMMED FLUSH WITH THE INSIDE EDGE

  Hold the canvas in place on top of the stretcher FRAME and staple the canvas at center of the strip. Use a tack hammer to be sure the staple is securely in place. Turn the canvas over so that the stapled edge is against the table.


   Grasp about 12MM with the stretcher pliars and pull down against the stretchING FRAME until stretch marks appear vertically in the face of the canvas. Staple once to hold the canvas tightly in place. Turn the canvas 90 degrees and repeat the process for the unstapled ends.


   At the end you just stapled, grasp the left corner of the canvas at an angle and pull down and away. Staple the corner. Repeat the process on the right corner. Turn the canvas over and do the same at the other end. This step should ensure a smooth canvas face with no stretch marks. Turn the canvas 90 degrees to the point of beginning.


   Grasp the canvas about two 50MM at either side of center, pull down and staple. Work outward at 50MM intervals to the end of the stretchING FRAME. Returning to the center, work outward in the other direction until the whole edge has been stapled. Turn the canvas over until the stapled edge is down and repeat the process on the opposite edge. Finish the ends in the same way.


   Fold each of the corners tightly and staple them to the stretchING FRAME. Neatness of the fold is the key to making your canvas look professional.


   If longevity of the painting is a consideration, fold the remaining canvas over the back of the stretcher FRAME and staple in place. Otherwise, using a sharp knife, trim the edge of the canvas flush with the INSIDE EDGE OF THE STRETCHING FRAME.

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