How to Choose Canvas Stretcher Bars: Expert Tips for Perfect Canvas Framing
Whilst there are a wide range of pre-stretched canvas options from respected brands like Canvars, Daler-Rowney, Winsor & Newton and more, sometimes they may not carry the size an artist is seeking.
Understanding the art of canvas stretching, with its stretchers, cross bars, tools and more, is paramount to producing your very own bespoke, personalised canvases for completely unique work at a scale and size comfortable to you.
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Stretcher pieces, what are they & how do they work?
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Wooden Stretcher Pieces
Made with 100% FSC-certified pine, our stretcher pieces come in both 19mm and 38mm thicknesses and feature easy-to-use connectors that simply slot together providing straightforward, reliable support to a vast range of canvas sizes.
Key Features
- Available in a variety of sizes
- Easy-to-use corner connectors
- Lightweight wood with a sanded finish
- 19mm offers a slim option for lighter applications
- 38mm offers robust support for larger or heavier work
Best for: Those new to stretching their own canvases
Exhibition Stretcher Pieces
Our range of Exhibition Stretcher Pieces are made from structurally sound European pine, offering gallery quality, exhibition ready frames in a variety of sizes or scales.
Key features
- Available in several sizes
- Extra-strong for reliable displays
- Smooth, splinter-free European pine
- Precision engineered corner alignment
Best for: Professionals looking for bespoke sizes to display in an exhibition
Cross Bars, what are they & when do you need them?
Cross bars are placed across the rear of the canvas, offering additional support to larger pieces when needed. Dependent on scale, you may need only one, or up to four.
Wooden Cross Bars
Similar to our stretcher pieces, these 100% FSC-certified pine cross bars come in both 19mm and 38mm thicknesses designed to provide straightforward, reliable support to larger canvas sizes.
Key Features
- Available in a variety of sizes
- Designed to prevent sagging or bowing
- Straightforward, easy-to-use design
- Offers reliable support to larger frames
- 19mm is a slimmer, lightweight option for lighter applications
- 38mm is more robust, ideal for heavier mediums
Best for: Artists’ seeking support to work on larger, more involved pieces.
Canvas Stretching Tools
Loxley Cast Iron Canvas Pliers
With their serrated jaws and cast-iron construction, these heavy-duty pliers from Loxley make stretching canvas easier, offering more consistent stretching results.
Key features
- Heavy cast-iron construction
- 20cm length for additional leverage
- 760mm wide serrated jaws for exceptional grip
- Long-lasting professional tool offering clean, uniform results
Best for: Artists’ looking for consistency, perhaps across a series of works.
Rapid R53 Staple Gun
Ideal for attaching canvas to your newly constructed frame, this user-friendly staple gun from Rapid features a comfortable low angle handle, offering both recoilless functionality and noise dampening.
Key features
- Lightweight & user-friendly
- Ergonomically designed for comfort
- Includes an integrated locking function
- All-steel internal mechanisms offer durability
- Recoilless and noise dampening for quiet work
Best for: All bespoke canvases, but especially useful with larger scale work.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What size stretcher bars should I choose for my canvas?
Although the size is entirely dependent on the scale of work you’re hoping to achieve, it’s best to note that you cannot mix the 19mm, 38mm or Exhibition options as they feature unique locking mechanisms that are incompatible with one another.
