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Author Topic: Stretching A Big Print  (Read 1558 times)

Mike Sellers

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Stretching A Big Print
« on: November 24, 2012, 09:27:10 am »

I am about to stretch my first 30x45 gallery wrap and I would like to know if I should glue the joints together -including the cross braces?
Mike
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JeanMichel

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Re: Stretching A Big Print
« Reply #1 on: November 24, 2012, 02:31:23 pm »

Hi,
A properly joined and glued joint will be stronger than a mechanical (nail or screw) joint. I would definitely glue the bars.
Jean-Michel
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bill t.

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Re: Stretching A Big Print
« Reply #2 on: November 24, 2012, 06:55:19 pm »

If you have the kind of stretcher bars with fingers on the end, those are designed to fit together in a loose manner such that they can be later expanded by adjusting the triangular shaped wedges that usually come with that type of bar.  Canvas tends to sag over time, which is why you need the adjustment.

Search "stretcher bar wedges" and look at the images.

The other school of canvas bars uses basically a glued and/or stapled together, rigid frame.  In theory, a quality canvas properly stretched at the get-go will stay stretched forever.  Yeah right.  If that kind of canvas should sag, the only way to tighten it up is to remove the staples and re stretch.

PS.  The initial stretch is much easier on the rigid kind of frame.

All of which is why I glue my canvases to Gatorfoam board.
« Last Edit: November 24, 2012, 06:56:57 pm by bill t. »
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Don Libby

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Re: Stretching A Big Print
« Reply #3 on: November 25, 2012, 11:36:41 am »

Mike, I routinely stretch canvas prints in the range of 30x60 and have so far newer felt the need to glue the joints.  Just make certain you use at least one-cross brace.

Don

Kanvas Keepsakes

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Re: Stretching A Big Print
« Reply #4 on: December 05, 2012, 10:53:08 pm »

Hey Don, what tool or machine to you use to stretch these large canvas prints to get them as tight as possible?
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