I am one of the users currently cutting 45 degree miters, and using glue and V nails. I am looking to stretch 'giclee' canvas (eg Epson Canvas), and am considering purchasing a canvas stretching machine for this purpose.
I have been making my own stretcher bar molding starting from stock lumber, trimming in order to obtain a suitable 'lip'. I would much prefer to purchase molding that has an appropriate canvas 'lip' already, as this is very time consuming (and I lack the pro tools). I know that such a product exists. However, based in Canada, I have not found a supplier.
Q: Does anyone know of a supplier of canvas stretcher molding? For Canada?
I am currently hand-stretching, but the entire process is taking far too long: making molding, hand stretching, etc. Does anyone have experience in using a V-nailed molding in a canvas stretching machine? It would seem to be the right way to go with these machines, as opposed to floating stretcher bar corners.
Q: Does the V-nail, mitered corners approach lend itself to machine stretching?
Last, this thinking is based on an underlying assumption that a V-nailed corner on stretcher molding is of appropriate quality for the mid-market giclee market (this is not a museum quality approach) and that the economics of manufacturing the product in this way is much cheaper than the stretcher bar option (as well as being more flexible for customization).
Q: Does the community concur with the assumption?