The quickmate manual canvas stretching tool!

The Tabmaster · Post by **The Tabmaster** » Thu 11 Jan, 2007 10:51 am

Hello there,

I'm new to this forum, so bear with me!!!!

We are selling (amongst other things) the Quickmate manual canvas stretching tool. I thought, that it may be something that would be useful in all your businesses. Its been quite successful in the UK, so I thought i'd put it in here to give it a broader audience The link below is to our website and gives a video demo on it if you want a look. Please be patient though as it takes a while to load. We're updating the website as we speak, so if you look in a couple of weeks time it should be faster and a bit more snazzy!!!

http://www.tabmasteruk.com/new_page_2.htm

In general though it is a great deal cheaper than the auto stretchers out there and stretching can be done in the same time as them too. Generally 2 minutes after practice!!

It will stretch artists canvas, linen canvas, paper canvas and many other sub straights. Its really ideal for stretching 1 to 600 canvases per week, but I have a few customers who far exceed this and use it as a back up if their machines go down. It stretches two sides at a time for speed and will stretch canvas frame sizes from 300 x 300mm to 1000mm x 1000mm.

Email me if you need anymore info (tim@tabmaster.com).

Thanks for looking!!!

Lemon_Drop · Post by **Lemon_Drop** » Thu 18 Jan, 2007 8:05 pm

I bought one a few months ago and if you gave me a job stretching 600 canvases a week with it you would be looking for another staff member to replace me the following week. Any business doing that amount of stretching a week could afford something better. One of the selling points is "No more tired hands from canvass stretcher pliers reducing the risk of repetitive strain injury". Which I dont think its really true, and I will explain that. The main problem with this canvas stretcher is the the design of the clamping system, the canvas is clamped between two metal "plates" for want of a better word, which and bolted together using 6 treaded nuts on both sides, if the nuts are not tight enough the canvas will slip when you put tension on it. So to stretch a canvas you have to tighten 12 nuts and then turn if around which is another 12 nuts by hand. So the repetitive strain injury claim does not hold water. I do about 10 canvases a week, you know the crap ones that are sold as top of the range art, that you can buy on ebay for £10, and people go from door to door selling them for alot more. Getting back to the Quickmate, I personally would not buy it again, in fact I went back to using the stretching it by hand. The major flaw in the design is the 12 hand tightened nuts. If the clamping bars were spring loaded of something it might be better.

Framerpicture · Post by **Framerpicture** » Thu 18 Jan, 2007 8:57 pm

I totally agree Lemon Drop!
Unfortunately I bought one of these canvas stretchers 2 months ago. It was an impulse buy on getting a large order to stretch canvasses pre christmas and after looking at Tabmaster web site and listening to the salesman speal I was led to believe it would increase productivity substantially.

After several attemps to use it ,lots of hair pulled out and a stream of bad language, it was put on a shelf and hasn't been picked up since.
The clamping system makes it very fiddly and time consuming to use even for the most dextrious.

We're now back to our tried and tested method of stretching pliers!

Anyone want a cheap canvas stretcher?!

Merlin · Post by **Merlin** » Thu 18 Jan, 2007 10:43 pm

Tabmaster ----- OUCH!!

Why even bother stretching those cheap Ebay canvasses. The canvas is usually so thin that even the slightest over-tension will cause a tear along the - weft or weave - cant remember which one it is...

For those cheapies we PVA the MDF board. Let it dry thoroughly then PVA the canvas to that. That way the canvas stays flat, and will not get the typical 'finger dents' usually found on stretcher bar fits.

Alternatively, if you do not like or use MDF then use 5mm foam core.

No RSI to bother about then and certainly a lot quicker.

foxyframer · Post by **foxyframer** » Thu 18 Jan, 2007 10:51 pm

We have used stretching pliers for years. No R.S.I. problems, just enhanced muscle growth ! Keep it simple.
Just got to be careful with some of these thin crap canvasses we get in occasionally.

Lemon_Drop · Post by **Lemon_Drop** » Thu 18 Jan, 2007 11:15 pm

The only one that mentioned R.S I problems was Tabmaster, as one of their selling points for the Quickmate manual canvas stretching tool. But to me, its the Quickmate will give you R.S.I, especially if you stretch 600 canvases a week that it claims is possible. I, like Framerpicture thought the Quickmate was the answer to saving time etc. but I was wrong. Your right Foxyframer the stretching pliers is better. I would not recommend the purchase of the Quickmate manual canvas stretching tool to anyone unless Tabmaster makes some changes to its clamping system. My one also its gathering dust on the shelf.

I will try sticking them down also, Merlin see how it goes

Roboframer · Post by **Roboframer** » Fri 19 Jan, 2007 12:30 am

I Know zip about this bit of kit to be honest.

But what is obvious is that this tabmaster geezer sees this forum, and The Grumble as tools to increase his sales.

That's fine, there are forums just for that. But I have heard of 'Tabmaster' - maybe I even have some of their kit. Therefore they come under the category of 'Big enough and ugly enough' .....

.......to maybe offer some sponsorship, instead of (maybe) some whizz-kid trying to impress the boss with some free advertising to help him hit his targets?

Whatever!

Good to see replies from those that have sucked it to see (may re-phrase/edit that tomorrow)

Dermot · Post by **Dermot** » Fri 19 Jan, 2007 9:35 am

Lighten up guys…..Tabmaster has made it very clear that he is with a commercial company and that he is new to the industry…….so easy does it…………

Whatever the relevance of the equipment he sell my be……he has a responsibility to his employers and to his potential customer base to bring the products he supplies to the attention of the widest audience possible………

Over the years I have seen so many posts from people on the various framing bulletin boards in the US, UK, Ireland, Australia, etc. etc. that bemoan the fact that commercial companies will not use these boards to let a potential audience know about the products that are available……..”that they sell”………….Tabmaster is the start of that been changed………and I welcome his contribution with open arms……..

All equipment what ever it is for the framing industry will have its good and bad features…..in fact in any walk of life any type of equipment will have its good and bad points.

Prior to this post I had no knowledge of Tabmasters stretcher, ……………..I’m not in the market for a canvas stretcher but if I was I could now include it in an evaluation process of options and make a more informed decision on what I would buy from the options available on the market………..hence I would be making a more knowledgeable decision which is the key to buying a piece of equipment which will prove to be the right solution for the application on hand.

Framerpicture · Post by **Framerpicture** » Fri 19 Jan, 2007 9:56 am

Have just spoken to Tab Master, and , apparently, as I'm unhappy with the Canvas Stretcher they are going to give me a full refund. Which is nice!
I still don't believe their advertising. They claim its possible to stretch a canvas from start to finish in under 4 minutes, but apparently I'm going to be proved wrong at the Spring Fair which i look forward to seeing.

The Tabmaster · Post by **The Tabmaster** » Fri 19 Jan, 2007 11:28 am

Hello All,

I thought that I would post to reply to the comments...I think that it needs it!

I am really sorry that Lemon drop and Framerpicture have had difficulty with the Quickmate. It is not our intention to mislead anyone and I am really sorry you feel this way. I would be pleased to see you both at the stand at the Springfair to talk over your problems and give you a demonstration? I'd much rather talk things over with a cup of coffee and go though any problems that you have and go from there. Please be gentle though.....

It was not and has never been my intention of just using this forum and the grumble as a way of increasing sales. I thought that the Quickmate may appeal to framers around the world as it has been quite successful in this country and I posted it in the sales and wants section as a way of showing people what it has on offer. I am new to the industry and, yes part of me is trying to impress my boss with sales (arn't we all? those of us that have bosses!)?, but my main aim on this forum is to socialise (as I have on the grumble, not to more extent on this forum yet though) and ask for hints tips and help to get me to know the industry and the people in this industry better and at the sametime learn. I sincerley apologise if I seem to come across as just sales.

Tim

Post by **John** » Fri 19 Jan, 2007 1:18 pm

I'm with Dermot on this. We are all in this business to earn a crust the best way that we can.

Tim has got involved here, made us aware of his product, and has made it clear that he is willing to address the concerns of his customers. Wouldn't it be great if all our suppliers did the same?

markw · Post by **markw** » Fri 19 Jan, 2007 2:31 pm

Tim
Keep the posts coming - Its very pleasing to see a straightforward approach to the critiscms voiced and in my opinion only raises the credibility of you and your company.

Lemon_Drop · Post by **Lemon_Drop** » Fri 19 Jan, 2007 8:58 pm

Tabmaster were not the first company or wholesaler to join this forum, theres Gunnar, Lion, ColourMount, and alot more. Some just lurk on the side and see what people are saying and never get involved in anything. Everyone here knew that they were a company when they joined. Ok hes promoting one of their products, but hes also getting invoved in all posts since he joined which to me is a good thing, so I really hope like Markw said that he keeps doing what hes doing, and keep posting here. To answer Dermot's point of whats out there in the market, the first one is the stretching pliers, and then the QuickMate fills in the gap between that and a fully automated canvas stretcher. I think Tabmaster is the only supplier of the manual version, I have not seen anything else out there yet. The product has the protential to sell if modifications are made to the clamping method uses at the moment. To stretch a canvas you need to open and then tighten 24 screws, something like the head on the Morso sliding scale, if they are not tight enough the canvas will slip when you put pressure on it. My original post was made to highlight this problem. Unlike Framerpicture, I was not contacted by Tabmaster, but then again I did not buy it direct from the company, but through a moulding wholesaler. I honestly think my point is valid and my intention was not to recieve a refund of any type, in fact if offered the refund I would turn it down, because in order to sell the QuickMate in volume they will have to do something about those nuts, especially now that they are aiming to take on the American market. So I will take a gamble and wait for that to happen, then I will try them for an upgrade. I would like to thank Tim for the offer of a coffee at the Spring Fair, but I cant make it this year and also the fast response to my problem. If anyone wants to try the QuickMate out before buying one, I would be more than happy to post it to them, dont all rush. I only have one, and you can forget about it, if you live in America, Cost a fortune to send it there.

The Tabmaster · Post by **The Tabmaster** » Tue 13 Feb, 2007 12:31 pm

Well I waited and no one came to see me with their problems with the Quickmate. I was dissapointed as I do value constructive feedback about the products we sell, so that I can do my best to improve my offer to the customer. The feedback I got from the show was overwhelmingly positive for the Quickmate which leads me to belive that nearly all the customers that buy it are happy with what it can do.

I did change some of the literature, especially the part about RSI, as I feel that the people of this forum had raised a good point and at no point did I want to mislead anyone!

Well, the kettles still on for Saca if anyone wants to come and see Quickmate there? Were doing it with the Gilders Paste that we had a large success with, so come by if your around and i'll show you how both work!!!!! -

Anyone see the Gilders Paste while you were there? Any feedback ?

Tim

Framerpicture · Post by **Framerpicture** » Tue 20 Feb, 2007 5:22 pm

Interesting to see Tabmaster are selling this stretcher cheaper to the public on ebay than to the trade! I paid £299.00 + £10.00 carriage +vat =£363.07

On ebay £320 +£12 postage inc VAT

The Tabmaster · Post by **The Tabmaster** » Thu 01 Mar, 2007 1:34 pm

You are correct in advising that Quickmate is indeed at a discounted price on Ebay, which is clearly advised in the advertisement.

People expect bargains on Ebay and we are offering this, to the 56 million or so worldwide users that frequent the site.

It is a cost effective medium of getting a maximum audience at minumum cost and getting a product out amongst the masses. Plus it means we don't have to pay someone like me to show it/phone them/negotiate etc!.........Although, i'm not that expensive!

Lemon_Drop · Post by **Lemon_Drop** » Thu 01 Mar, 2007 7:18 pm

People expect a bargain on Ebay. But do we expect to get ripped off by paying over the odds from
a trade supplier, or maybe Tabmaster is after reviewing its position in the market.
You come on here with the punch line, "Tabmaster UK are a supplier to the framing industry"

But in reality its the framers that pay the full whack for you products, not the general public, who might happen to shop on Ebay.
Or maybe Ebay is a fast way of off loading stock, and cutting your losses, since theres a new pneumatic stretcher on the market for the same price as your manual one, with all its nuts a bolts.

I bought one of you products, and like you website says, "At Tabmaster I'm more than just a number! "

Somehow I feel cheated.

Roboframer · Post by **Roboframer** » Fri 02 Mar, 2007 9:34 pm

Yep - sharp practice.

We have a giftware supplier (Enesco who incorporate Border Fine arts, massive concern)

If they find an account holder selling their stuff on Ebay they'll cancel the account immediately.

They'd expect the same treatment Vice Versa and it's what Tabmaster would get from me if I had an account with them.

Suppliers cannot be competitors.

Post by **John** » Fri 02 Mar, 2007 10:12 pm

I think that what Tim is saying is that if they sell on eBay they can afford to sell a bit cheaper as the cost of selling there is a lot less than selling via the more traditional method.

I do see a certain logic there but I suppose it can seem a bit unfair to those who have paid the higher price.

I'm sure if our other suppliers could find a way to sell to their customers without the cost of maintaining a rep on the road, they could afford to bring down their prices too.

The question is should they distribute the savings across the board, or just to those who buy on line.

It does seem to be widely accepted, even expected, that online purchases should be cheaper. For example, I see that I can save £30 pounds if I buy the sat-nav that I fancy online from PC World rather than walking into one of their stores.

Roboframer · Post by **Roboframer** » Fri 02 Mar, 2007 10:25 pm

Well I think what he is saying goes out the window with what he is demonstrating and that is that it's all money, who cares where it comes from, that's fine - I'm not going to tell anybody where to get their custom or how to run their business.

He's not choosy ........ I am!

The Framers Forum

The quickmate manual canvas stretching tool!

The quickmate manual canvas stretching tool!

My Word!

Quickmate at the Spring Fair

Quickmate on Ebay.