Canvas stretching with very little edge canvas to grab with canvas pliers

[QuinnFarley]

We were brought an original painting on canvas, rolled up. They asked for stretching to canvas bar and framing (float frame, but that doesn't matter to my question). Unrolling the 61" x 52" canvas we found only about 1" unpainted canvas on all sides to stretch with and attach to the canvas bar. Not enough for a regular "stretch and staple" job with regular canvas pliers. Even going down to a lower profile canvas bar -like 5/8"- didn't give us enough purchase on the bar with the pliers.

We've never added canvas strips to canvas for the purpose of having enough material to use pliers with, so that option doesn't really work for us. What would you do in a case like this? Are there special stretcher pliers for this scenario?

 

[Bruce Papier]

It being a float frame does matter. Are you wrapping the painted image around the side of the bars so you don't just see canvas once it is in the frame? If you are, that may give you enough canvas border to stretch the usual way. You won't be able to cheat by using thin stretcher bars. They will be to flexible to get a really good tension on the painting and the painting may look a little off once it's in the frame.

It sounds like this may be a job for a conservator to strip line.

 

[Ylva]

If you can't do the strip lining yourself, then outsource it.

I would advise against the floater frame if the staples are visible. If this is a valuable painting, I would not wrap the painted image around. It might result in cracks in the paint. Which is probably why I wouldn't do that even if it is not a valuable painting.

If you use stretcher bars, you might be able to hand stretch it and then key it to desired tightness. It will be hard on the hands!

 

[Prospero]

I've stretched canvases with less margin than an inch. I never use pliers on a painted canvas.
You only really need to 'stretch' raw or primed unpainted canvas.

 

[JFeig]

There are limitations to the skills of any picture framer. When it comes to the impossible/impractical requests of a customer, you might need to use a magic wand that was immortalized by a long gone picture framer sage. The basic laws of physics and mechanics will always win over a person with an idea and little knowledge of how to do it.

Strip lining is the best alternative if they insist on using a floater frame without loosing any of the image. A raw canvas edge without painting it would not look great. If the painting is of any value and or from a known artist, I would not paint the raw edges.

PS, there are no "special pliers", that I know of, to do what you want to do.

 

[wpfay]

This piece really doesn't sound suited for a Float presentation. That has to be incorporated into the design of the painting before it is created.
1" is plenty to stretch a canvas, but as Ylva pointed out, you need to use tensionable stretchers (you should be anyway with an original oil painting on canvas).

 

[charming]

I'm assuming this ins't a very expensive original, if it is then ignore my suggestion. If it isn't then stretch by hand, staple on the side and wrap the edges in eith white or black linen tape

 

[glamorsidhe]

We were brought an original painting on canvas, rolled up. They asked for stretching to canvas bar and framing (float frame, but that doesn't matter to my question). Unrolling the 61" x 52" canvas we found only about 1" unpainted canvas on all sides to stretch with and attach to the canvas bar. Not enough for a regular "stretch and staple" job with regular canvas pliers. Even going down to a lower profile canvas bar -like 5/8"- didn't give us enough purchase on the bar with the pliers.

We've never added canvas strips to canvas for the purpose of having enough material to use pliers with, so that option doesn't really work for us. What would you do in a case like this? Are there special stretcher pliers for this scenario?

Speaking from an artist's point of view, your description of the rolled painted canvas with ca 1" unpainted edges all-around sounds to me like the piece was originally canvas-stretched/stapled with all "extraneous" canvas material cut-off, as was once "usual" procedure. Then, after some time, said painted-canvas was removed from its stretcher bars & rolled up for either storage or shipping (hopefully with the face side out rather than in). These type of canvas "re-stretchings" usually involve strip lining & conservator/art gallery/museum procedures, so your would-be customers asking for specific methodologies & results for re-stretching the piece sounds like you're dealing with art amateurs ignorant of anything except their desires. (Good luck!)

Incidentally, all the professional framers' advice to your query are spot-on: Don't ignore!

 

[Eric A]

I am a magnet for these. I will not side staple a canvas so I just tell them they are going to lose some of the front of the painting. Very rarely are these valuable paintings. I have found that the ones worth money have never just been cut off a frame, which is usally how this happens. Now that does not mean that this is the case with your painting. Check with the customer first but I would just tell them they are going to lose some on the edge. You really only need about an inch and a half. You just need a pair of the cheap stretching pliers, I hate using them, and good thumb strenght. If you don't stretch a lot of canvas you may want to pass this one along. We stretch about 5-10 canvas a day so I don't mind them. Good Luck!

 

[amyabby4]

Given the 1" unpainted canvas, one solution could be to stretch it over a 2cm depth wooden frame. This would give you enough material to stretch the canvas properly. Afterward, you can attach the stretched canvas to a floating frame for a clean and modern look. This method should give you enough tension and keep the painting securely mounted without needing extra canvas strips.