DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS
* The size recommendations for the following profiles assume a maximum tension of raw canvas to be gessoed. If you are using raw linen with rabbit skin glue or if you intend on using heavy materials, we would recommend a heavier profile and/or additional/heavier bracing. Please contact us if you need assistance.
Basic Stretcher Bar Profile
- Economic choice for small & medium-sized canvases
- Adding our 1/2″ x 3″ braces for bars over 30″ provides strong and stable support for canvases
RECOMMENDED SIZE RANGE:
6 – 36 inches
(15 – 92 cm)
Standard Stretcher Bar Profile
- Very popular profile used for small & medium canvas sizes
- Adding our 1/2″ x 3″ braces for bars over 36″ provides strong and stable support for canvases
RECOMMENDED SIZE RANGE:
10 – 60 inches
(25 – 153 cm)
Professional Stretcher Bar Profile
- Thicker profile provides extra fall and more “set-back” between the canvas and stretcher frame. This feature is ideal for larger canvases and for artists who like to press hard on the canvas when applying paint.
- 3/16″ rebate on the back of the stretcher bars allows for installation of a protective backing
- Adding our 1/2″ x 3″ braces for bars over 36″ provides strong and stable support for canvases
RECOMMENDED SIZE RANGE:
10 – 72 inches
(25 – 183 cm)
Gallery Stretcher Bar Profile
- Economical choice for “Gallery Wrap” display of prints on canvas
- Uses the unique single-key-per-corner design
- Very easy to stretch
- Adding our regular 1/2″ x 3″ braces for bars over 30″ provides strong and stable support for canvases
RECOMMENDED SIZE RANGE:
6 – 60 inches
(15 – 153 cm)
Heavy Duty Basic Stretcher Bar Profile
- Economical choice for medium to large-sized canvases
- Laminated design produces very reliable, straight and stable support for canvases
- Uses heavier 3/4″ x 3″ braces to provide necessary frame support for bars longer than 36″
RECOMMENDED SIZE RANGE:
24 – 84 inches
(61 – 214 cm)
Heavy Duty Standard Stretcher Bar Profile
- Most commonly used large format stretcher profile
- Laminated design produces very reliable, straight, and stable support for canvases
- Uses heavier 3/4″ x 3″ braces to provide necessary frame support for bars longer than 36″. In some cases, our 1-1/8″ extra-heavy-duty braces may be recommended.
- Bars and braces longer than 96″ (240 cm) are often made in one or two sections using splice joints that are assembled with flush-mounted bolts. This makes it possible to ship large frames by courier and also allows for paintings to be folded for easier transportation once stretched.
RECOMMENDED SIZE RANGE:
72 – 120 inches
(183 – 305 cm)
Heavy Duty Professional Stretcher Bar Profile
- Ideal for very large frames or smaller frames where very high tension is required
- Laminated design produces very reliable, straight, and stable support for canvases
- Thicker profile also provides extra “set-back” space between the canvas and stretcher components, a feature favoured by artists who like to press hard on the canvas when applying paint
- Uses heavier 3/4″ x 3″ braces to provide necessary frame support for bars longer than 36″. In some cases, our 1-1/8″ extra-heavy-duty braces may be recommended.
- Bars and braces longer than 96″ (240 cm) are often made in one or two sections using splice joints that are assembled with flush-mounted bolts. This makes it possible to ship large frames by courier and also allows for paintings to be folded for easier transportation once stretched.
RECOMMENDED SIZE RANGE:
up to 144 inches
(up to 366 cm)
“L-shaped” or “T-shaped” Extra-Deep Stretcher Bar Profile
- Our L & T-shaped stretcher designs were developed for artists wanting extra-deep frames
- We custom make these stretchers in thicknesses ranging from 2″ to 6″ (5 cm to 15 cm)
- The ‘L’ & ‘T’ shapes creates a lightweight yet strong and straight stretcher
RECOMMENDED SIZE RANGE:
12 – 84 inches
(30 – 214 cm)
Extra Heavy Duty Standard / Professional Stretcher Bar Profile
- For extra-large stretchers over 120″ (300 cm) in length, we use a 3-ply laminated bar with 1-1/8″ x 3″ extra heavy duty braces to provide the necessary structural strength to provide the necessary structural strength to support a well-tensioned canvas
- Bars and braces longer than 96″ (240 cm) are often made in one or two sections using splice joints that are assembled with flush-mounted bolts. This makes it possible to ship large frames by courier and also allows for paintings to be folded for easier transportation once stretched.
RECOMMENDED SIZE RANGE:
10 – 20 feet
(3 – 6 meters)
Extra Heavy-Duty Standard
Aluminum Stretcher Bars
- For very large frames
- For situations where a slimmer depth is desired than a wooden frame would allow at the size.
- Also ideal in situations where there are fluctuations in heat and humidity or fire codes prohibit the use of wood stretchers.
- Aluminum frames also make excellent "master" frames if you wish to reuse a stretcher frame over and over
- Please phone 1-800-561-4944 or email us to discuss your unique project requirements.
RECOMMENDED SIZE RANGE:
2 - 30 feet or more
(61 cm - 9 meters +)
