Thursday, August 18, 2011

Buying Stretcher Bars for Canvas

Artists need them all the time. So do professional photo framers and gallery-owners. Yes, I’m talking about stretcher bars for canvas, those indispensable tools for stretching large pieces of canvas for easy maneuverability and display. Stretcher bars for canvas are usually made of wood, even though other new age materials are being used nowadays. Available in a wide assortment of sizes and in a handful of set strengths (depending on the weight and dimensions of the canvas that you wish to stretch), canvas stretcher bars need to be of the highest quality in order to save you from the trouble of having to replace them often.

The main point to worry about with canvas stretcher bars made of wood is dimensional stability. It is, briefly put; the ability of wood to stay straight and not warp or bend over time or due to pressure. In order to ensure better stability, you should insist on buying high quality bars that use short sections, joined together with finger splines, to make longer bars. This greatly increases the bar’s resistance to twisting, bowing or warping. The system of using smaller sections also makes the bars stronger and resistant to bending than those which are entirely constructed of one continuous piece. This is why buying the best quality bars is always recommended. If you want trouble-free service for years, buy stretcher bars that have been engineered to resist the effects of heat or humidity. Remember, buying better quality stretcher bars (even if they cost marginally more than other ‘cheaper’ variants) always makes better sense.




Thursday, August 11, 2011

How to Choose Stronger Stretcher Bars

One of the most common complaints about stretcher bars for canvas is about their strength and sturdiness. Stretcher bars for canvas, when used to stretch and frame a large piece of canvas, are subjected to enormous amounts of pressure. If the bars are not strong enough to withstand it, they can easily warp or bend over time. And, as everyone knows, a bent or warped stretcher bar is of no use to anybody.

This is the reason why you should always insist on buying the best quality stretcher bars for your needs. Some of the best brands available today have their products fortified and specially engineered to stay in shape even under enormous amounts of pressure. One of the best-known names in this regard is that of Fredrix, reputed for its wide range of stretcher strips for standard mounting purposes.

Fredrix stretcher bars come is a wide assortment of sizes that ranges from 8” to 60”, along with different options such as tongue and groove fit, peg-able and adjustable. All standard bars made by them use the finest SPF kiln dried ponderosa pine lumber, and thus they provide excellent quality.

Buying the best quality stretcher bars for canvas today can save you a lot of trouble tomorrow. Besides warping and bending, a common problem with low quality stretcher bars, you also get trouble-free service for years with good quality bars. It is comforting to know that Fredrix bars have also been engineered to resist the effects of heat or humidity.





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How to Choose Stronger Stretcher Bars

One of the most common complaints about stretcher bars for canvas is about their strength and sturdiness. Stretcher bars for canvas, when used to stretch and frame a large piece of canvas, are subjected to enormous amounts of pressure. If the bars are not strong enough to withstand it, they can easily warp or bend over time. And, as everyone knows, a bent or warped stretcher bar is of no use to anybody.

This is the reason why you should always insist on buying the best quality stretcher bars for your needs. Some of the best brands available today have their products fortified and specially engineered to stay in shape even under enormous amounts of pressure. One of the best-known names in this regard is that of Fredrix, reputed for its wide range of stretcher strips for standard mounting purposes.

Fredrix stretcher bars come is a wide assortment of sizes that ranges from 8” to 60”, along with different options such as tongue and groove fit, peg-able and adjustable. All standard bars made by them use the finest SPF kiln dried ponderosa pine lumber, and thus they provide excellent quality.

Buying the best quality stretcher bars for canvas today can save you a lot of trouble tomorrow. Besides warping and bending, a common problem with low quality stretcher bars, you also get trouble-free service for years with good quality bars. It is comforting to know that Fredrix bars have also been engineered to resist the effects of heat or humidity.