Stretching the Canvas at TechShop

What you need

Canvas
Staple Gun (with ¼ staples)
work area (Large TechShop table)
Extra pair of hand (if need be)
Canvas Stretching Pliers (if you want)
TechShop.ws

Once you have your frame built, you need to stretch the canvas. I used per gesso canvas, which I do not recommend. With the per gesso canvas you can really get a good pull.

Tear your canvas about 3 inches larger on all four sides. Lay your canvas down (gesso side down) on a clean work area. TechShop has large work table that work out wonderful for stretching your canvas and the area is nice and clean and that is not on the ground.  Put the frame on top of the canvas, with the top of the frame point down.

This is how I pull a canvas without gesso.  If you have a rectangle shape, you will start with the longer side.  Place one staple right in the center of the board. Move to the other side of the frame and pull and wrap the canvas around the frame adding other staple. You can use the canvas stretching piles to pull the canvas around the frame. I found that I can get the same results with or without the pliers.  Next move to one of the smaller side and add a staple in the middle of that side and jump over to the last side of the frame add other staple. You should have four staples in the frame one in the center of each side. Going back to the first side that you started with, pull the canvas and add two staples on both side of first staple. Repeat this all the way around that frame, following the same order that you started, till you get to the corners of the frame.  Be sure that you are pulling the canvas tight as you go. This was the first time I used gesso canvas, and I had to pull the canvas a different way. If you need to, grab someone to help pull the canvas.

When you get to the corners, grab the canvas and pull tight, then turn it on the side and lay the canvas flat. The corners are much easier said than done. You may have to redo if you are not happy with the end results. Repeat on all four corners, now you are ready to paint. Everyone is going to have a little different way on how to stretch a canvas, find the way that works best for you.

And now you have a new canvas that is ready to be painted on.