Restretching An Oil Painting | Tips & Tricks, by Nic Thurman on YouTube. 6 min 38 s.
- Video length
- 6 min 38 s
- Time to do it
- 45 minutes
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Measure the painting and decide the new finished size. Buy stretcher bars that match that size, then dry fit them on a clean, flat surface.
Assemble the stretcher bars and check them with a framing square. Measure both diagonals; they should match before you add any canvas.
Turn the painting face down and remove the old staples with a staple remover or pliers. Keep all the spare canvas around the edges intact.
Mark the new format on the back with a pencil. Check the front composition before trimming, then cut only the excess canvas you will not need.
Center the painting face down on the new stretcher bars. Fold one edge over the back and staple once in the middle, then staple the opposite side the same way.
Use canvas pliers to pull the canvas evenly and staple from the center outward. Work in small sections so the tension stays balanced.
Repeat on the remaining two sides, alternating opposite edges. Check the front often for distortion or paint cracking.
Fold each corner into a neat pleat and staple it flat. Keep the folds small so they do not show through the front.
Check the canvas tension by tapping it lightly. If it is loose, remove a few staples, pull again and re-staple.
Add hanging hardware to the back of the stretcher bars. Let the painting settle before hanging it on the wall.
Tips and common mistakes
Leave at least 2 inches of spare canvas on every side for gripping and corner folds.
Staple the centers first and work outward to avoid wavy edges.
Pull old, brittle canvas slowly; stop if you see paint cracking along the edges.
Wear gloves when removing old staples and keep your fingers clear of the staple gun.
Questions
Can you restretch an oil painting without removing it from the old canvas?
Yes, restretching keeps the painting on its original canvas. You move that canvas onto new stretcher bars and trim only the excess edges.
How much spare canvas do you need for restretching?
Leave at least 2 inches on each side. Corners need enough fabric to fold and staple without pulling tight.
What if the old canvas is brittle?
Old canvas can crack when pulled hard. Work slowly, keep the tension even and stop if the paint starts to split.
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.
