Stretching Canvas Tutorial
STRETCHING A CANVAS
There are many benefits to stretching your own canvas. Stretching your own canvas gives you the flexibility to customize any canvas to fit your art piece.
Options ~
It gives you many options that can meet your exact specifications (i.e., dimensions, shape, type of canvas, and the quality of the wood).
It Saves Money ~
Materials in the raw are less expensive than purchasing high quality pre-stretched primed canvases. With a bit of elbow grease and a little time (by doing it yourself), will save money and increase the value of the product.
Complete Ownership ~
From start to finish, you have done the work yourself, so take full credit.
So, how do the professionals do it?
THE 10-STEP FORMULA
The professionals use a systematic method that works every time. Listed below is a systematic formula for stretching a canvas. I refer to it as the 10-Step Formula. Keep in mind the following steps as you perform this canvas stretching technique. We will be stretching a rectangle frame in this tutorial (it works for most four-sided canvases).
They are as follows:
01. The ‘Rite’ Tools
02. The Preparation of Stretcher Bars
03. The Layout
04. The Canvas Measurement
05. The Cutting of the Canvas
06. The Basic Four
07. The Tension
08. The Stapling
09. The Corners
10. The Final Touches
Each of these steps will be discussed in this tutorial.
David Rite's Stamp of Approval.
1. The ‘Rite’ tools for stretching a canvas are as follows:
A rubber mallet, a pair of stretching pliers, a sharp pair of scissors, a hammer, miter box and saw or a chop saw (if applicable), a staple gun and staples, a staple puller, framing square ruler, and a measuring tape.
2. The Preparation of Stretcher Bars
Here I will only share two of the most popular options in preparing the stretcher bars. The first, you can purchase stretcher bars (precut) at the sizes needed. Purchased stretcher bars often come pre-cut with a tongue and groove (mitered mortise and tenon) joint. It makes it easier to just use a mallet to knock them into place. This is the method used in this
3. The Layout
You will need a flat surface to work on. Lay out the canvas (if primed make sure that the primed side is facing down) on the surface. Then place your stretcher bars on top of the canvas. It is important that the weave of the material runs parallel to the edge of the stretcher bars.
4. The Canvas Measurement
The measurement will vary depending on the size of the stretcher bars. Most commercial bars are ¾ of an inch thick. The formula to keep in mind is that you want 1 ½ inches extra canvas on all sides. This should give you enough material to grip, stretch, and staple over the bars.
Example:
1.5 x 2 = 3 inches to the width and the length.
We will be using the common commerci
5. The Cutting of the Canvas
Work your way around the pencil lines, cutting straight lines and neatly trim off the excess canvas. If you left the stretching bars on the canvas, be careful cutting around it.
6. The Basic Four
Fold one side of the canvas over the back of the frame and staple it. Using the stretching pliers, grip the center of the opposite side of the canvas and pull tight. Secure it with a staple in the center. Use the same process for the remaining sides of the frame by turning the canvas ninety degrees (90°) and stapling.
7. The Tension
To check the tension, flip the canvas over and make sure the four staples form a tight diamond shape. This will aid in judging whether you will need to pull out the staples and retighten the basic four staples. This needs to be accurate before moving onto the next step.
8. The Stapling
With four sides of the canvas secured, begin to work your way out from the four staples to the corners, tightening (with the pliers) and stapling as you go. Always working from the middle out to the corners. Due this by adding a staple to the one side (right) of the middle, then the opposite side (right) of the middle, then (left) side, flip over to the opposite side and staple (l
9. The Corners
Before securing the corners be sure to hold the canvas tight at the corners (it will have a U shape) as you staple along the edges. This will ensure the folding of the corners will be neat. The corners are done in the “nurse’s corner” fashion in making a bed. All four corners will be like making a bed. Pulling the side tight, fold one side of the corner over into a clean triangular
10. The Final Touches
To clean up and make the frame look neat, staple the canvas unto the back of the stretcher bars. The stretching of your canvas is now complete.
This is optional. In order to increase the tension and strengthen the corners of the canvas, if needed, add wooden wedges into the slots provided (on commercial bars) by hammering the wedges into the corners of the stretcher bars.
Note: If the canvas is not tight enough for you, you can wet the canvas inside and out and then place it aside to dry. This will shrink the canvas a little making it nice and tight, like a drum.
Special Thanks to: ALI (photographer) and Christina Dawn in assisting with this tutorial.
Go To David Rite's Video Tutorial
For a video tutorial on how to stretch a canvas, go to David Rite's YouTube Channel, or click link below to go directly to the video.