Have you notice how stretchers are these days. I've had to send several batches back because they were so bent and twisted. A couple of months ago I way building a 3 by 4 foot canvas when the figure joint broke on the long side. I don't like painting on big panels. I like the resistance of a canvas. The time it took to have the stretcher swapped I forgot what I was going to paint.
I don't like big panels. I've made strainer frames, stretchers without keyways, they can't be made taught enough.
Does anyone know about buying a jig to cut keyways.
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I need to make another canvas and I’m thinking of using a table saw to cut some existing bars shorter. Back in college days we used brick molding to make stretcher bars for large canvases.
I think I may have an idea how to make a jig for my inky little table saw. I'll draw it up in CAD. Might take a few iterations.
I've worked out the basic process. There are 3 cuts on each end. There's left and right ends. Need a sled with 3 jigs positions for each end. Making the jigs would take some trail and error.
Thee pattern is one I use for strainers. Two pieces of 1 3/4 x 1 1/2 stock screwed togetherVery sturdy. But not adjustment.
At least now I understand how to do it. But you wouldn't want to do this for just one set of stretchers.
Over the next few weeks as the weather breaks I'l build a sled and a base jig. My shop is in an unheated shed.
The wooden strainers that I have made shown here are two pieces screwed together. The grain of the wood opposed making for less warping and twisting. My hope is to figure out how to add the millwork.
yesterday I setup a sacrificial fence for a chop saw so that I can make some simple shadow box frames. (I will cut the frame material in a table saw and use the chop saw to cut them to length)
It depends whether the chop saw is single action. Like mine. Keeping things tight and useing super straight stock. Will help. Oh and patience.
These plastic things a just to set up jigs. And this will only work for these big stretchers. This is all set up in CAD so scaling is easy. I'd like to find a millwork supplier that has custom profiles for stretchers.