The subframe is a structure assembled from wooden slats or planks. It can be of various sizes and purposes. Making a canvas stretcher with your own hands is not difficult. To do this, you need to know what kind of structure is required in one case or another.
Varieties of subframes
They are of two types: prefabricated and deaf. The first type is modular and wedge subframes. The second is characterized by a strong and reliable connection of all elements. It cannot be tightened or changed in its slat spacing, unlike modular subframes.
Prefabricated structures are sold in separate rails. Their cost is slightly higher than that of simple subframes. They are popular because they can be used to stretch the canvas of the picture under the frame, and without it.
Any subframe must have the following characteristics:
- strength - all elements are securely fastened together;
- wear resistance - it is necessary to assemble the structure only from dry wood;
- fit to sizepictures.
For this reason, it is necessary to choose a quality material for the manufacture of the structure.
Choosing raw materials for the product
To make a canvas stretcher with your own hands, you will need wood. It can be pine, oak, birch, mahogany and other varieties. The material must be well dried, processed and prepared. Otherwise, the structure will begin to deform over time.
Make a blind stretcher
This type of product is more popular due to its low cost. Anyone can make such a canvas stretcher with their own hands.
The following tools and materials will be required:
- wood laths or planks;
- ruler;
- hacksaw;
- wood glue;
- furniture stapler;
- sandpaper;
- hammer;
- furniture corners.
How to make a DIY canvas stretcher? It is necessary to start the manufacturing process by determining the dimensions of the future product. After that, you need to saw off two vertical and horizontal strips. This can be done at an angle of 45 degrees.
The resulting parts are treated with sandpaper. Their surface should be smooth and free of knots. The ends of the elements are coated on both sides with carpentry glue and interconnected. To make the structure durable, furniture corners are mounted to the inside at the corners of the stretcher.
After that, the product is covered with several layers of varnish orpaints. This will help protect the wood from moisture and other aggressive influences.
Modular designs
This do-it-yourself canvas stretcher is also easy to make. It has all the elements as in a standard blind type product. The main difference is the bolts and nuts, which are located at the corners of the product. With their help, the tension of the canvas is regulated so that the canvas does not sag. To make the structure, you will need the same materials and tools as for the previous product.
Pull the canvas onto the finished stretcher
The process can take a long time for an inexperienced person. How to stretch canvas on a stretcher with your own hands? Initially, it is necessary to check the diagonals of the structure. Then a picture is placed on the product so that the picture is in the very center. Secure the canvas on all sides of the stretcher with a stapler (one staple - one side).
After that, similar actions are performed over the entire surface of the structure. The distance between the staples should be at least 2-3 cm. The excess canvas is cut off with scissors, and the raw edges are folded over and glued to the inside of the stretcher. The picture is framed.
