Very large canvas wrong size

[Brian Jung]

Hi, I've just been asked if there is anything that can be done with some large canvas wraps that a hotel have ordered the wrong size,
they are about 2.4m x 1.8m and unfortuanatly they have 98 that need to be cut down about 70mm as they did not account for the skirting board and they are going above a headboard and will not fit. Is it a question of stripping them all down and recutting the stretcher bars, I'm concerned in getting the tension right in such big canvases.The builder asked if the ends could be just cut off and the canvas slightly folded back as a quick fix. They would like a price for the job, any idea what such a job could go for.

[prospero]

Oh Dear.

I can't see a quick fix anywhere.

Are the canvases on 'proper' bars with expanding joints? If they are then I wouldn't like to cut them down. Means new bars - expensive. Even if you only had to replace two bars, could you source new ones that are compatable with the existing ones?

If they are on rigid frames then you really need a stretching machine. A big one.

One thought that occurs..... Given the logistics of shifting 98 8'x6' canvases about, and assuming you want the job, I would consider doing the work at the actual hotel. Easier shifting gear over to a spare room there if practical.


(I bet whoever measured up and ordered them in the first place is popular. )

[Roboframer]

What are the chances of lowering the headboards or setting them in to the coving?

Anyway, as the old saying goes - LOL!!

[Brian Jung]

Thank you for your replys, the bars are solid so I was concered about them looking right with the tension. The headboards are screwed to the walls, beds and side tables so they can't be moved. I have to ring the contractor tomorrow if I won't to go ahead with this challenge!, but I'm having my douts as they are just sooo big. They got them from the middle east and they look OK but when they sent the height over they forgot the skirting board was 70mm.

[CanvasChris]

If you half strip the canvas to 'trim' one end then you would need to use a hand saw and jig to cut the bars down as you wouldn't get it in the morso. If you could un mitre the corners of the frame then you would need to glue and screw...again wouldn't get it in the underpinner. All doesn't need to be too tidy as the canvas would cover it up. A pair of pliers and a strong wrist should get a good tension

Does the image take a 70mm chop? seems to me the easiest way would be to cut the panels into the skirting.

Sounds a daunting job.... doesn't matter how much they pay. .. and the size of them would make it a logistical nightmare.


Price it for replacement panels...or walk away.

[Graysalchemy]

Thank you for your replys, the bars are solid so I was concered about them looking right with the tension. The headboards are screwed to the walls, beds and side tables so they can't be moved. I have to ring the contractor tomorrow if I won't to go ahead with this challenge!, but I'm having my douts as they are just sooo big. They got them from the middle east and they look OK but when they sent the height over they forgot the skirting board was 70mm.

Trust me that ain't going to happen in a hotel we are talking about inferior designers here.

I take it they are on fixed joint frames? If it was me I would be pushing to re make the frames and re stretching completely. This is because trying to halfdetach the canvas and trying to cut down whilst there is still a canvas on would be impossible especuially given the size and the number.However it would be a logistical nightmare and you would need a lot of space to complete it, Do you have that space?

[Not your average framer]

2.4m x 1.8m, this sounds like a nightmare job to me, personally I would not want a job like this. Even If I could be persuaded to agree to do this, then I would quote for making new frames and re-stretching. I would want to see all the canvases first, before accepting the job at all.

It's pointless trying to cut down and re-use the original frames / bars, don't even think about it. Don't forget to include the cost of your time for removing the canvases from the original frames / bars.

It's unlikely that they will easily find a framer willing to take on this job, so don't let them push you around about the price. This is a horrible job to take on, so make sure that the price takes this into account. There is an element of risk with a job like this, so make sure that they accept the risk and get something signed to that effect.

I would want a decent deposit before even thinking about doing something like this. Do you know anyone equiped with a canvas stretching machine, as you might be able to sub-contract some of this and save yourself a lot of trouble.

I bet there's a tight deadline on getting this done as well!

[prospero]

I'm wondering what they paid for all this furniture - sorry, 'art'. I'm further wondering if it would not be cheaper for the hotel to order a new lot the right size and put the wrong lot on EBay (buyer collects. ) to recoup some of the cost.

[Graysalchemy]

It is more than likely that they will have paid quite a lot and either the designer/architect made a cock up or he/she had a hissyfit and decide that they needed to be smaller. That is what usually happens. I would have thought that they would have been bespoke for the job.

[Not your average framer]

I would not only assume as Allistair has that the interior designer / architect has got it wrong, but that for that many paintings this would represent a significant amount of money going to waste if they can't be salvaged.

My guess is that there is a decent profit to be made here, if you can cope with a hassle job of that volume. After all whoever made the mistake is looking to have their chestnuts pulled out of the fire, their credibility restored and a large financial loss prevented.

[Steve N]

What the canvas like and the paint, will it take to being taken off and then re stretching,
Cost for doing it from new, and then double it, then add on a the first figure you thought of!
If you are a one man band, I would stay clear, plus being a hotel, they would want it for a week ago yesterday!

[prospero]

Idea.

Assuming the rails are a rectangular section with a raised lip.

Make a temporary brace to fit inside the frame - along the side you want to cut down. Wedge it in tightly 70mm +width of the rail from the edge. In the position for the 'correct' size. Screw a couple of L plates to hold it.

Unpick the staples along that side and a few round the corners. Cut 70mm off the side rails. You now have a lose rail with two cut off corners.

Put that one to the side and get another. Put another temp brace in. Unpick the staples as before. Cut the rails to length- square across. Then take the rail you cut off the first one and cut that square across so that it's a nice tight fit between the side rails of the second one. Cutting it slightly tapered would allow you to knock it in and apply tension. When it's in place, wack some big screws across the corner. Maybe L plates on the back. Then pull the canvas round tight (get some stretching pliers) and restaple. Beacuse you haven't mitred the corners there will be a gap in the raised lip. I don't think this will matter too much.

Then remove the temp brace.

Repeat this procedure for all. When you get to the last one, the rail you cut off goes in the first one.

All Done.

The hotel would have to find you a spare room to work in. Also provide a big work surface - at least as big as the canvases. Shouldn't be difficult. You'll need a piece of carpet to cover it with.

Hard to estimate the time. Probably gets faster as you go. But if you can do one in half and hour you are shifting. It would be easier with two people.

Assuming this method works, I'd quote £6000.00 + vat. With a hefty upfront payment. Meals included.

Bit of a lash up, but no buying new rails and no mitring. The tricky part would be getting the canvas tight again. But the temp brace would hold the sideways tension. Two people each with a pair of pliers would help.

[Steve N]

Brilliant as usual prospero , that’s the way to do it, and that’s a good price as well.

[prospero]

Well that's the theory anyway. But if no complications I reckon about a week would fettle it.