Anyone who likes to paint knows that canvases and frames cost a lot in addition to paints, brushes, paper, etc. So see what you can build yourself.

For example, it works quite well to build the canvases and frames yourself – that can save a lot. In addition, it is also much easier to produce individual canvases that are tailor-made in size and shape.

This article is intended to briefly describe how you can build a canvas picture frame yourself at a reasonable price.

Building picture frames yourself is worthwhile if….

The classic stretcher frame for painting is basically a wooden structure on which a canvas is stretched. The frame itself is usually made of softwood, the canvas, in turn, can consist of different fabrics.

If you already have a little experience with woodworking, it is not a particularly difficult undertaking to make a stretcher frame and cover it with canvas. But the picture frame cannot be made by the way. So it only makes sense to do the job if you have the necessary tools.

Most will still have a hammer at home, but very few will own a miter saw. So if you still have to buy tools, it can sometimes be cheaper to use ready-made stretcher frames.

In the end, it also depends on how much attention and time you can and want to give your creative work.

If you are still thinking of acquiring the tools you need, you should keep an eye out on well-known Internet portals, where you can always find current offers in terms of tools, some of which are real bargains.

Get to the stretcher

Everything you need:

• 4 wooden strips for the frame,
• 4 flat dowels,
• Hammer,
• Wood glue,
• Frame tensioner,
• Miter saw,
• Flat dowel milling machine,

In the first step, the 4 wooden strips must be shortened to the desired length and cut to a 4 5 ° miter. Then a groove for the flat dowel is milled in each of these edges.

When this is done, you press the dowel in combination with wood glue into the groove and push the stretcher bars into one another. In the case of particularly large constructions, it is necessary to insert one or more cross struts to ensure stability.

You can test whether the corners of the frame are right-angled, for example on the edge of a table or something similar.

Once you have made sure that the corners are square, tap the corners of the frame with a hammer and clamp the construction in a frame tensioner until the wood glue has dried.

Stretch the canvas

As soon as the glue has dried, you can set up the canvas. The following things are required for this:

• the already finished stretcher,
• canvas
• 4 wooden wedges,
• Stapler as well as a
• box cutter

The canvas is placed with the side to be painted on a flat surface, for example on a table, and the frame is placed on top. Make sure that the frame is positioned as centrally as possible, so check the position using the protruding edge and correct it if necessary.

Now the canvas is stapled to the frame. You start with the long sides from the middle to the edge. Then proceed in the same way with the head and foot sides.

The distance between the intervals should not be too narrow or too wide, it is important that the canvas is stretched and not curled.

Finally, fold the canvas that protrudes at the corners and staple it to the frame. Now the canvas may have to be primed and then nothing can stand in the way of painting.

Good luck building and painting!