How to Make a Wood Frame and Stretch a Canvas Painting (DIY), by Komar Project on YouTube. 7 min 38 s.
- Video length
- 7 min 38 s
- Time to do it
- 90 minutes
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Measure the front face of the painted canvas, not the loose edges. Write down the width and height. The outside of your frame must match those numbers so the paint wraps right to the sides.
Rip the 2x4 into strips about 3/4 inch thick on a table saw. Sand every face smooth, since rough wood or splinters will rub through the canvas from behind.
Set your miter saw to 45 degrees. Cut two pieces to the width and two to the height, with the miters on each pair angled opposite ways so they meet at the corners.
For frames wider than 24 inches, cut a centre brace and notch it into the middle of the long sides. This stops the frame bowing when you pull the canvas tight.
Run wood glue along the miters, press the corners together and check the frame is square by comparing both diagonal measurements. Nail or screw each corner, then wipe off the glue.
Lay the canvas face down on a clean, flat surface and centre the frame on top of it. Fold the canvas edges up over the sides of the frame.
Staple once in the middle of one side, then pull the opposite side tight and staple it. Do the same on the two remaining sides, so tension starts even.
Work outward from the middle of each side, gripping the canvas with canvas pliers and stapling every 2 to 3 inches. Keep the weave lines straight as you go.
Fold each corner like a present, pull it firm and staple it flat. Trim the leftover canvas to about 1 inch and tap down any loose folds.
Screw two D-rings or a sawtooth hanger to the back of the frame. Add small felt pads at the bottom corners to protect your wall.
Tips and common mistakes
Mist the back of the canvas lightly with water after stapling and let it dry overnight; the fibres shrink and pull the surface drum tight.
Pull opposite sides in turn rather than finishing one side at a time, or the painting will skew and never sit square.
Keep staples about 1/4 to 3/8 inch long so they hold the canvas without splitting thin frame strips.
Wear glasses and keep fingers clear of the blade when ripping 2x4s, and unplug the saw before changing the setup.
Questions
Can I use 1x2 lumber instead of 2x4?
Yes. If you do not have a table saw, buy 1x2 pine or furring strips and skip the ripping step. They are fine for canvases up to about 24 inches.
How much extra canvas do I need around the painting?
Plan on roughly 2 inches of unpainted canvas on every side. That gives you enough to grip with pliers, wrap the sides and fold the corners.
How tight should the stretched canvas be?
Tight enough to sound like a drum when you tap it. A loose canvas sags over time and pools the varnish or paint on the surface.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
