Buzz
To frame a painted canvas, you'll need stretcher bars to stretch and secure the canvas. While you can buy them from stores, making your own is also an option. All you need are some wooden planks, a saw, and a staple gun. Follow these steps to create your own stretcher bars.
Step-by-Step Guide
Choose the Wood: Begin by selecting the type of wood you prefer, typically pine, with sides measuring 1 by 2 inches (2.5 by 5.1 cm).
Determine Dimensions: Decide the desired length and width of your canvas. These measurements will determine the size of your stretcher bars. Remember, the canvas will stretch over and around the bars, so the total canvas size will be larger than the bars themselves.
Wood Cutting: Use a hand saw to precisely cut the 4 stretcher bars to the required lengths.
- Position a stretcher bar into the miter block.
- Trim the end of the bar at a 45-degree angle using the hand saw.
- Repeat the process for the remaining 3 bars.
Corners Stapling:
- Place the stretcher bars face down on a flat surface.
- Align the corner of the top stretcher bar with one corner of a side stretcher bar.
- Use a staple gun to secure the corners with 3 staples.
- Repeat the process for the other side stretcher bar.
- Position the bottom stretcher bar to meet the corners of the side bars.
- Secure the corners with 3 staples each.
- Ensure that the staples are perpendicular to the corner lines.
- Flip the frame over and staple each corner again.
Trim Pieces Cutting:
- Align quarter-round trim along the outer edge of the top stretcher bar.
- Mark the trim with a pencil for 45-degree angle cuts.
- Repeat the process for the other 3 trim pieces.
- Place the trim in a miter box and cut along the marked lines.
- Use the miter box to cut the remaining trim pieces.
Trim Attachment:
- Align the flat edge of the trim with the top stretcher bar, ensuring the curved edge faces inward.
- Hammer headless nails into the trim and stretcher bar at 4-inch intervals.
- Attach the remaining trim pieces in the same manner.
Completion:
Useful Tips
Materials Needed
- 4 pieces of 1-by-2-inch (2.5-by-5.1 cm) wood
- Hand saw
- Miter block
- Staple gun
- 4 pieces of quarter-round trim
- Pencil
- Hammer
- Headless nails
