Stretching Canvas

[Nigel Nobody]

Bron,
It's your choice what type of staples you use, but the increased cost of stainless staples on any given stretcher is very small so I don't understand the logic of not using a product that will improve the chance of a canvas lasting longer and remaining undamaged by corrosion. The difference in cost should only be measured in cents, not dollars and anyone should be able to add one lousy dollar to cover that cost and indeed make a small profit on that extra cost!

I also do not understand the logic of ignoring advice that comes from people who have a much greater knowledge and experience than the average framer! I will always take and heed good advice from someone who knows more than I do!

[Bron]

Nigel,

I think stainless steel staples are an excellent idea; though my point is still valid; enough moisture problems for you to need marine staples, and the other problems are going to be far worse. This is from someone who started his career as a paintings conservator, but found it mind numbing to work on other's paintings. I am a frame and object conservator, as well as a carver, gilder and maker of compo frames, mostly private, though I have museum experience. I will acquire stainless staples, but for another reason, ala the copper tacks and cardboard washers. It is under the heading: price justification.

I have mentioned not arguing with museum conservators, painting conservators, etc. I would also advise a simple approach, basic common sense. In literally hundreds, if not thousands of antique canvases I've seen, the method of attachment is not the major problem; moisture, positive and negative, abrasion and the fold of the canvas over the edge are the problems. I'm sorry if I rant, but it is very easy to follow accepted practice, and alter a painting beyond repair. Common sense tells me what the weak area is on a stretched canvas, because I have seen it, whereas the expert, working on a pampered and coddled museum possesion, has not; I still think staples are superior to tacks, copper or otherwise, and I will buy stainless for canvases, in the future, but I reiterate, enough moisture to damage that plain staple or blued tack, and the canvas may be beyond redemption.

[absolute framing]

Here is something i worked out one day when i was bored

When i'm stetching canvas (bars and wedges) i use Rustproof / Stainless 8mm Stapels rather than the standard Steel ones.

Steel £5.70 per 5000 or .001 per staple
Stainless/Rustproof £32.90 per 5000 or .007 per staple

For a canvas 24 x 20 = approx 75 staples
The cost difference is .42 pence

I feel as an overall part of the pricing this is quite small in proportion to the job as a total.

[Bron]

And just to throw some gas on the fire, who is to say that copper or stainless steel, 50 or 100 years from now will be fine, but there was some kind of reaction with the canvas and wood, and the canvas will be rotted around the fastener. Go ask a plumber about combining copper and iron pipe. Accelerated ageing tests are fine, but from the experience of seeing very old canvases, I know the blued steel tacks are not generally the problem. Nor staples, though they are much younger. I have a canvas in my studio right now that is around fifty five years old, done with staples; they're fine.

Making sure the edges of the stretchers are smooth and slightly "soft", "rounded", is probably going to do more to ensure the life of your canvas, than what fastener you use.

And another thing; conservators are as subject to fashion as any other group of folks. "Springer" stretcher bars are in vogue now. Line a canvas with a synthetic adhesive to another canvas, saturated with said adhesive, and then cover the whole of the back with mylar film. Whatever is left of the original canvas is probably not going to be affected by humidity fluctuations, but then mount the whole on a sprung stretcher, which applies a level of tension to keep the canvas flat during humidity fluctuations. Then discard the original stretchers, and hang the canvas in a climate controlled environment. I'm bothered because I have lost a valuable source of information as to dates of frames. Then, mechanical problems, the horror; one spring fails, one is over powered; the sweet smile becomes the ghastly leer, 50 or 100 years down the line.

Excuse the blathering P.S. Don't ask about wax and resin lining, that elicits a rant. Really.

Bron