How to Make Your Own Canvas Stretchers
Canvas stretchers aren't difficult to make. With the right tools and minimal preparation, making them can take less than a day from start to finish. You'd be surprised the way making your own stretchers can change the way you feel about your finished product--it will look and feel more your own. If properly made, your stretcher bars will also be of better quality than anything you could buy from a craft store.
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Things You'll Need
- 1 inch x 2 inch or 1 inch x 4 inch boards
- Table saw or hand saw
- Miter saw (optional)
- Clamps (four)
- Wood glue
- Plywood
- Nails
- Hammer
Instructions
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1
Determine the dimensions of your final painting. Measure the boards for each side (1 inch x 2 inch boards for smaller pieces and 1 inch x 4 inch boards for larger pieces) and cut them to the appropriate size with a table saw.
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2
With a miter saw or a table saw, cut each stretcher at the end. Shave off the inside corner with a 45 degree angle starting from the outer corner. When put together, each stretcher will fit together perfectly to form a 90 degree corner.
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3
Clamp the corners together at 90 degree angles and use wood glue applied to the sides to hold each corner together. Remove the clamps once they have dried.
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4
With the table saw, cut four triangles to fit over each corner. Each triangle will be nailed to the back side of the stretchers to reinforce the bond made by the wood glue.
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5
Nail the triangles to each corner.
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6
With a circular saw, cut lengths of quarter round to fit on the outer edge of the topside of each stretcher bar.
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7
Just as you did for the corners of the stretcher bars, use a miter saw or a hand saw to cut 45 degree angled corners for each quarter round. This will be tricky at first because the straight edge of the quarter round should be flush along the outer edge of the stretcher, and the rounded side will be facing the inside. Be sure to keep extra quarter round on hand in case you mess up the first time.
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8
Nail down each length of quarter round, flush against the edge. Now your stretcher bars are ready for canvas.
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Tips & Warnings
For especially large canvases, you will want to place an extra bar through the middle of the stretchers to reinforce the body and relieve pressure from the corners.
