Monday, September 27, 2010

What are cheap stretcher bars and artist stretcher bars?

Both cheap stretcher bars and artist stretcher bars are used to help an artist, be it a painter or a needlework artist, to spread and stretch their canvas and work on them. This is a very important accessory for any artist as these stretcher bars help them smoothen out the edges and then work on them without making the canvas or material saggy, something that can be severely detrimental to proper craftsmanship.

Cheap stretcher bars do not necessarily mean that they are of an inferior quality. You get different kinds of artist stretcher bars these days. Buying inexpensive stretcher bars only cuts down on your expenses. They do not necessarily mean compromising on the quality. This is because they are usually made from good quality wood which can withstand a lot of pressure. You get stretcher bars of all kinds today and at various price ranges. Just remember to source them from a reputed buyer, preferably a wholesale dealer, to get a distinctive price advantage without necessarily cutting the corners.

You may get artist stretcher bars from a trusted and well known store. Some artists even make their own lot from carpenters. The most convenient way to procure them however, is by using online ordering on the Internet. There are many good online sellers of artists’ supplies, especially canvas stretching bars, that you can buy from. Most charge very nominal shipping fees and the quality is often better than what you normally get elsewhere. They also ensure safe online ordering and quick delivery of all your purchased goods.






Monday, September 20, 2010

Are Stretching Bars and Canvas Stretcher Really Helpful to an Artist?

The answer to the question that whether stretching bars and canvas stretcher accessories are really helpful to an artist is a definitive yes. Artists all across the world still need these apparatus to help them reach the finesse in their work. Authentic painting and needlework have not yet been digitalized, which is why there is a need of this kind of accessorizing.

Canvas stretchers usually stretch the fabric in case of needlework or the canvas in case of painting to help an artist fabricate the artwork of his or her choice. These stretchers help an artist work freely without any trouble of the canvas rolling up or the fabric getting warped or wrinkled. In other words, these stretching bars help an artist work effortlessly and produce the desired results.

Nowadays stretching bars as well as canvas stretcher equipment are available in a wide assortment of sizes. They may be rectangular, oval or of any other custom size that an artist wants it to be of. These exist in abundance in the market, at online stores or you can even ask a carpenter to make them for you.

The only thing that you need to worry about is the installation of these stretching bars. Seek professional assistance in using them in the right way to stretch the canvas properly if you are not sure how to do it yourself. Storing them in the right manner when not in use is also important to ensure that they stay in shape and can be reused again in the future.

stretcher bar






Friday, September 17, 2010

About the various options in Stretcher strips

When considering stretcher bars for your canvas, being an artist you got to keep many aspects in mind. Apart from seeking robustness in the frame, it must also offer to stick within your budget and remain easily affordable to you. So, it is only worthwhile to undertake a good research online and find a vendor that provides quality combined with variety to help you keep cost under control. Keeping it in mind, you may come across vendor sites offering you range of thicknesses and depth in frames to suit your need and budget. Right from stretcher strips to super heavy duty stretcher bars, the site could offer you up to five varieties in stretcher bars.

Standard bars

At the bottom of the hierarchy, you would find the cheapest and the standard medium duty stretcher bars, also known as stretcher strips.

Light duty bars

Stylish and suitable for small paintings/ Giclee prints that either would not need a thicker bar or would be framed anyways. These stretcher bars are made up of good quality, kiln dried wood.


Medium/ heavy duty bars

These are any artist’s dream-come-true bars as they combine thick frame profile to add supposed value to one’s work of art, with cost effective pricing. Not as robust as a heavy duty or super heavy duty, the braces in the frame might need reinforcement sooner than otherwise.

Heavy duty stretcher bars

Though both heavy duty and super heavy duty bars offer outstanding quality, heavy duty bars extend affordability in company with durability.






Monday, September 6, 2010

Know more about stretcher frames

Welcome to the world of stretcher frames and explore options before you make a buy. The prevalent standard around is popular by the name stretcher Fredrix bars.

These bars are the most basic of all stretcher frames popularly held as the “standard” duty stretcher bars. These are generally made by finest molding shaped by machine, 11/ 16 inches deep and about 1 – 5/8 inches wide. As a result, stretcher Fredrix is cost effective, reasonably durable and good enough a choice for any artist looking for a cheap but quality option in stretcher bars.

Thereafter, you can find progressively more stout frames, with more depth and width respectively. Exception to the phenomenon is further light duty stretcher bar frames that are ideal for small paintings or Giclee prints. In other words, these frames are good enough to hold a light painting either unable to use a thicker frame or already going to be framed and only need further adorning by wooden molding.

Standard Stretcher Fredrix frame is followed by medium duty stretcher bars frame that’s sturdier, for those looking for a bit more stout yet cost-effective option. Further upwards, you are offered heavy duty and super heavy duty stretcher frames.

The heavy and super heavy duty frames are the stoutest of the options. While a heavy duty is ideal to handle up to 45 inches canvas painting, super heavy duty frame can maintain up to 50 inches with care. It is recommended to use braces for fixing paintings in each type of frame. The reason being, wood tends to bend inwards over the years.

To know more about fredrix stretcher bars visit http://www.stretcherbarwarehouse.com/






Tuesday, August 31, 2010

How to Buy Good Quality Wholesale Stretcher Bars

One can never be too careful while buying wholesale stretcher bars. While it is natural to feel a little tempted by their low prices and the prospects of hefty savings, you may not be getting the best quality stretcher bars for yourself. Very often, in your haste to buy them at low wholesale prices, you bring home stretcher bars and stretcher strips warp and bend when you use them to stretch your canvases.

This is very unfortunate because things really needn’t be so bad, you can indeed find wholesale stretcher bars that not only help you make substantial savings on their prices, but also provide you with 100% satisfaction as far as their quality and performance is concerned.

It is worth remembering that not all stretcher bars are made alike. It is always advisable to source them from reputed sellers. Buying the best quality bars that your can afford within your budget 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.

Dimensional stability in wood is what tends to worry us most. In other words, it is important to ensure that the bars stay straight and do not warp or bend over time or due to the kind of pressure they are usually subjected to. For this, 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.






Monday, August 16, 2010

How to select good stretcher bars for canvas?

Canvas wall art or Giclee printing is fast becoming a popular hobby and an idyllic way to decorate home. Beautiful and good quality stretcher bars for canvas is a must to make the artwork look attractive and rich in quality. However, while choosing the canvas stretchers it is a wise idea to buy them online. Most of the stretcher bar warehouses are now offering online shopping and one can buy the stretcher bars online either in pairs or in boxes.

Stretcher bars for canvas are available in different styles and varying sizes. These bars are made up of good quality kiln dried fir or pine wood. In order to make strong lengthy bars, finger splicing technique is used. Even then, climatic changes may cause the canvas stretchers to bend or twist over a period of time. So, it is advisable to use braces in case the length of the bars is on the higher side. All types of bars generally have round and raised edges. The round edges avoid the possibility of tearing of canvas. Raised edges lift the canvas from the wooden surface and avoid its contact with the wood.

The commonly available styles of stretcher bars for canvas are medium/ standard duty, light duty, medium/heavy duty-goldilocks, heavy duty-midi and super heavy duty bars. Sizes of bars available for sale are generally standard and range from ¾” deep X 15/8” wide to up to heavy duty 11/2” deep X 2” wide. These canvas stretchers can be purchased online to be delivered at your doorstep in shortest turnaround time. The vendors generally also offer money back guarantee within 30 days from the date of purchase.






Thursday, August 12, 2010

Why Should An Artist Prefer Heavy Duty Stretcher Bar?

Artists who are engaged in canvas art work, Giclee printing etc. require stretcher bars to display their art work. As a perfect stretcher bar can add to the appearance of an artwork, most of the artists are very particular about the type of frames they use. Artists have a wide variety of stretcher bars to choose from; and with the onset of internet-based marketing, stretcher bar manufactures have also begun to display and sell their products online. Commonly, stretcher bars are available in three types: light duty, medium/ standard duty and heavy duty. The most common heavy duty stretcher bars includes midi, goldilocks and super heavy duty bars.

Heavy duty stretcher bars are made of kiln-dried pine/ fir wood. They are manufactured to meet high standards of framing and are available in different lengths. Midi heavy duty stretcher is available in 1 ½” width and 1 ½” depth; goldilocks are 13/16” deep and wide; while Super heavy duty bars are 1 ½” deep and 2” wide. The long stretcher bars are made using finger splicing technique, which is a method of bonding wooden pieces together to make long and straight bar. This process increases the resistance of the frame to twisting or bowing and makes the frames stronger. Moreover, the edges of the heavy duty stretcher bars are eased to reduce the resistance of stretching the canvas.

The heavy duty stretcher bars are of superior quality and the rates offered by the wholesale heavy duty stretcher bar manufactures are cheaper than others. If purchased online, the manufacturers also offer buy back guarantee for heavy duty stretcher bars within 30 days of purchase.