How do I make art canvas frames on a low budget? Which basic tools are required, and which wood is best to use

Question

I need to make the frames with a view to stretching canvas over them, priming them and using them as artists canvasses, for paintings and the like.

Answer 1

Initually if you want to produce a lot of work at a low price

Go to the lumber yard and buy wood in bulk.
Buy the paint and Gesso in large buckets
Buy the canvas in a roll.
Get a staple gun.

If you just plan to do three or four small easel sized painting its better to buy them ready made.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

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Answer 4

Your cheapest bet is to buy the wood and such that others suggested, but you can also go for a midrange solution by buying stretcher bars at someplace like Michael's, using a mallet to hammer them together, and putting a couple staples in each corner for support. It's a little more expensive than buying the wood, but it's an easier solution and doesn't require any wood cutting unless you make a large canvas that requires a brace.
For your wood option, I'd recommend pine--you'll want a hammer, nails, and a wood cutting device (such as a router or miter saw). It sounds like you know how to strech and gesso a canvas, so I'll skip that part.

Answer 5

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Answer 6

you did not specify what sizes but for most frames simple white pine will do. it needs to be at least 3/4 of inch thick and 1 and 1/2 to 2 inches wide I do not know what equipment that you have access to but it is better if the front face of your stretchers slants a bit from outside to in so that when you paint on them and press against the canvas it does leave a wide line from the frame behind the canvas if you know a wood worker who will run your wood thru a table saw so it is slanted on the front side it would be a big help 45 degree cut your corners and if the stretcher is to be over four feet in any direction a brace is needed between the long sides so that when you pull on the canvas it will not bow the frame inward... make sure that your brace does not come level with the canvas in front or it too will show when you try to paint over it make it a bit thinner than the stretcher and have it flush with the back and away from the front edge you will need stretching pliers with have regualr pliers handles but the front grips are about 3 inches wide lay the canvas over the frames and leave about four inches over each side when you cut it now start in with the canvas laying down first and the frame on top... arrange them together so the grain of the canvas runs straight up and down start with a good heavy staple gun, a one handed t-50 tacker is good with 1/4 inch staples that way yu can pull the canvas with one hand and staple with the other in the center of one side pull the canvas up over the side and around the back of the frame and staple it in about three places along the frame each staple about 4 inches apart. go to the opposite side and using the pliers pull the canvas reasonable tight and add three more staples on that side change to the top or bottom and repeat the process working around the canvas but always work opposide side against each other make sure that the frame remains straight so it doesn't start to curl or bow when you have gotten the canvas all stapled down repeat the process only this time pull a tiny bit harder and watch the way the grain of the canvas lines up with what you already pulled... work at keeping the grain straight on all sides... now put a staple in between each of the staples that you put on in the first round... make hospital corners ( ask your mom or any hotel chamber made how this corner is made) in each corner with the canvas and staple the excess flap down tight. When you are done the canvas should still lay flat and sound a little like a soft drum head making it too tight will cause it to shrink when the gesso dries give it a coat let it dray then sand it lightly with 120 grip paper then give it another coat repeating this process until you get the surface that you like to paint on. I know it is a lot of work but premade frames for stretching are very expensive and this way you get what you want and it will go faster after about the third or fourth on good luck and happy painting

Answer 7

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Answer 8

Steve, after reading all these helpful suggestions you can see what I mean about buying some ready mades, check out how they work and then decide. There are some tricks to stretching the canvas, applying gesso and then re-tensioning the stretcher. You need to know these or you will waste a lot of material. why not go to the local library, explore the internet or take a class at the local art facility. It will save you money and grief!

Answer 9

The best wood is cedar. It won't warp. You will need a chop saw and corner brackets and a table saw. Rip a 2x2 with the table saw into 1x2. Buy Quarter round and glue and tack with half inch nails to the 1x2.; talledge to outside of wood and rounded goes in. Let dry. Measure the size of frame, make two, for top/bottom, two for sides. Cut 45 degree angles for corners; matching equal sides for rectangle or square. What works best for me is to cut from the 8 foot length, because it is hard to trim a slight edge.Place corners in the corner brackets over night. Afix all corners the next day. It will be square if your cuts were correct. Cut triangles from brown pressed wood. The kind that has peg holes, but with out the holes.and glue them in your corners. This style will adapt to age and weather. I guarantee it - I have done it for years. Use cedar, only.

Answer 10

it would be best to go to a demonstration on building frames. If you want them to look right, you need to know how to do it appropriately and you need to right tools. If this is a long term think you want to do its worth learning how to make it in a workshop or art class. If its short term and you don't have all the tools you need its better to just buy them, because the tools alone will cost you a ton.