Interesting . .

[Kanvas Keepsakes]

I'd like to know what you canvas stretching experts think about this method?  Will putting pins first on the edges create small noticeable stretch holes after leaving them a day?  Sounds pretty cool.  From center to edges was kind of difficult for me to keep same tension all around.  Curious as to what you all think of this method.

http://www.goldenpaints.com/justpaint/jp17article1.php

[Nigel Johnson]

rgvs

I don't have a direct answer, however the linked article appears to be addressing traditional paintings that are going to be framed, hence where the edge is going to be concealed. I assume that you are coating your canvases and I would expect that the holes in the coating would not heal; again a typical painting will only be varnished over the image area and possibly a small additional margin. If you are interested in unframed gallery wraps the technique is likely to be inappropriate since any artefacts on the edge will be visible. Edge artefacts could also be unattractive to buyers if you are showing them the unframed canvases even if you are supplying frames or they are intending to frame the canvas - strangely such artefacts on a canvas painting would probably be viewed as simply evidence of its 'hand made' character and looked on favourably!

Regards
Nigel

[dgberg]

I'd like to know what you canvas stretching experts think about this method?  Will putting pins first on the edges create small noticeable stretch holes after leaving them a day?  Sounds pretty cool.  From center to edges was kind of difficult for me to keep same tension all around.  Curious as to what you all think of this method.

http://www.goldenpaints.com/justpaint/jp17article1.php

If you are stretching high end art/paintings that could generate a high enough price you might want to "play" around with this method. (And only doing 1 or 2 a month.)
To do any amount of standard gallery wraps with this method the labor would kill you. The holes will not help either.
I know you are still trying to decide about a stretcher machine. If your going to be in the business it is one of the basic tools you should be buying first.
Can you use pliers? Sure you can but if you do any amount of these a stretcher machine will give you much more then speed.
I used pliers for a week before my machine came and I can tell you It takes doing a few of these to get it right. (Plus it's no fun!)
$2000 to $3000 is not a large investment for a small business especially if canvas is going to be one of your major offerings.
You will find a ton of competition in the canvas business. If you do not already know it most if not all of them are putting out a pretty decent quality product.
To succeed you need to put something out that is as good if not of a better quality.
The pliers will certainly work until you make a few more dollars and see if this is right for you.
If it is, get a good machine you will never regret it.

[Kanvas Keepsakes]

Dan, right now I'm still learning how to do the stretching correctly so I haven't even began to market my company yet.  I'm more than likely going to have to do quite a few first and see that this is beginning to pick up before I can go with a machine.  I already bought printer, papers, etc so I want to  start recouping a little bit of my money back before I spend that much on a machine.  I wish i could afford it though because if I could I'd buy it in a heart beat seeing as how simple the job is with one.  Dan, should I invest in some 6" pliers online that cost about $125?  Will this make the job easier than my smaller ones?  I wish there was some kind of machine or device that cost hundreds instead of thousands to make the job easier for me. I am finding the stretching job harder than I thought.  Plus printing on my Lyve canvas just to throw away because something isn't working right is SUCH a waste of money. 

[davidh202]

Simply totally inapropriate for gallery wraps !

[dgberg]

Dan, right now I'm still learning how to do the stretching correctly so I haven't even began to market my company yet.  I'm more than likely going to have to do quite a few first and see that this is beginning to pick up before I can go with a machine.  I already bought printer, papers, etc so I want to  start recouping a little bit of my money back before I spend that much on a machine.  I wish i could afford it though because if I could I'd buy it in a heart beat seeing as how simple the job is with one.  Dan, should I invest in some 6" pliers online that cost about $125?  Will this make the job easier than my smaller ones?  I wish there was some kind of machine or device that cost hundreds instead of thousands to make the job easier for me. I am finding the stretching job harder than I thought.  Plus printing on my Lyve canvas just to throw away because something isn't working right is SUCH a waste of money. 

Don,t think the pliers are nearly that expensive but I do not have 6".
Not sure what I paid,maybe $40 a pair and they are 4" wide.
Give some thought to printing,coating and mounting to gatorboard with Miracle Muck.
So much easier and although you do not have a gallery wrap look it still sells.
You have no stretcher bars to deal with and no stretching. You can print and then mount larger sizes because you are not wrapping.
Sell as is for the clients to frame themselves.(Really keeps the price down.)
Or you can put them in real nice screw together frames from American frame.
Worth trying. I probably sell more board mounted canvas then I do wraps.

[Kanvas Keepsakes]

Dan, where's the best place online to buy this material at?

[dgberg]

Dan, where's the best place online to buy this material at?

Miracle Muck - Raphael's 1-800-881-5191
Gatorboad   Sold quite a few places online cut to size.
I buy by the 4 x 8 sheets and cut myself from Harbor Sales in Sudlersville,Md.
You should be able to find someone that sells it locally. Wholesale frame suppliers and sign makers.
A 1/4" sheet is around $50.00 and 1/2" is just over $90.00 a sheet.
You can cut with a razor and straight edge although not ideal it still works.
All you need to start is the gatorboard and Miracle Muck and a couple of hand tools.
Another option for canvas that is super easy to do especially if you want to go large.

[John Nollendorfs]

Dick Blick is pretty safe bet. There are all kinds of styles available. One guy that tauts the $125 brand claims they are the only ones you'll ever have to buy.
http://www.dickblick.com/