Trying to stretch primed linen canvas over an 80" x 66" frame. Linen will NOT stretch. Any ideas?

Question

Has anyone had experience stretching oversized linen like this? What were your results and what did you need to do to stretch your canvas sucessfully?

Answer 1

Here is the best way:

Lay the canvas linen down flat on a large flat surface (I use my kitchen floor). Don't try this on a carpeted floor. It has to be a smooth surface.

(Remember this: The flater the surface to begin with the easier it is to tighten the canvas. By laying it on a flat surface you're not fighting gravity as you're stretching the canvas.)

Smooth out any wrinkles that you can by hand. Then lay your frame down on top of the canvas. Try stapling one side of the canvas to one side of the frame, making sure the stapled side has no wrinkles in it. The stapled side (without wrinkles) is your starting point.

After you've done this one side you stretch the canvas from the opposite side, keeping the canvas on the floor and the frame on top of it.

If your fingers and grip aren't strong enough to really pull the canvas tight they sell canvas stretcher pliers at most art supply stores. These will do the trick.

Start with one corner on the side opposite the side you've already stapled and pull this corner as tight as you can and staple it. Then you move to the other corner and do the same. Then you do the center. After doing this then you pull and stretch the canvas between the already staples areas and staple these as you go along.

You've got two opposite sides done, leaving two. Of the two sides still left you completely staple down one side. Then you move to the last remaining side and pull and stretch it tight, again doing one corner, then the other, then the center, then the rest of that side. Keep the pliers clamped down and the canvas as tight as possible until you've stapled each 'pull.'

(By the way, when you apply gesso the gesso will automatically tighten the canvas. If it's already primed what I just suggested will still do the trick. But even on primed canvas I still add my own coat of gesso.)

If you're trying to nail down or tack down the canvas I suggest you forget about trying to do it the hard way and go buy yourself a hand-held Arrow Staple Gun. Buy the one that uses T-50 Staples (the most common size). Just about every hardware store and home improvement store sells these Arrow Staple Guns and a box of staples is cheap. Use the 3/8 inch staples. If any staple hangs a little or doesn't go in all the way (which happens every once in a while) just tap it down with a hammer.

Answer 2

Linen Canvas

Answer 3

You need HEAVY DUTY stretcher strips - see Jerry's Artarama or Art Supply Warehouse or Cheap Joe's Art online. You need stretching pliers with the little nub on the back for getting a real fulcrum for pulling the linen. You need to stretch the linen at a warm temperature so it is real pliable. Follow the rules for stretching equally around the stretcher strip frame. Work top and bottom, left side, right side, evenly. It'll get done.

Answer 4

Don't use water, canvas shrinks when wet and returns to it's normal size when dry. That will only make stretching more difficult.

Linen is a very strong fabric. I have stretched big canvases (5-6 feet), but only unprimed cotton. And for that you need a lot of strength, we needed 2 strong guys to stretch it.
Primed linen will be more hard to stretch. You only need more strength. Linen is strong, so you will not brake it. I have seen stretchers brake with linen's tension, so I hope you have a good stretcher.

good luck!

Answer 5

Please don't take this the wrong way..but how big is the piece you want to stretch? I'm not being 'smart' I'm simply wondering if you kind of bit off more than you can chew.

I've had some success stretching material by soaking it and hanging it with weights attached to it. It wasn't for a frame but the principle seems to be close to the same. Takes patience (waiting for it to work, doesn't happen immediately) and lots of re-wetting and re-hanging.

Answer 6

if it primed - it may already have some gesso on it - which will make it very unlikely to stretch at all. you may have to go with a smaller frame. then go with one corner to the opposite to the opposite theory, do this over and over until it is taught.

Answer 7

No but if I ever found my self their thats the first thing I would do, but not around, straight to the station and get out of the S..T hole

Answer 8

get it wet