1. The project

This site will teach you how to build your own professional canvas stretcher frame.  The size of this frame will be 6' x 4'.  Because it is a fairly large frame, we will need to supply two mid braces and one long center brace.  However, if you are making smaller works - say 36" x 36" - you would only need one mid brace and one center brace.

We are using 1" x 2" cedar boards.  We use cedar because it does not warp. 

OTHER SUPPLIES INCLUDE:
nail gun/compressor
2" finish nails
1.5" nails
wood glue
elbow square
measure tape
pencil
chop saw (also called miter saw)
table saw
safety glasses
masonite (for edge supports and center squares)
planer
broom
patience

The first thing you need to do is get your frame and brace boards!  Your hardware store will probably not carry long cedar 1" x 2"s, so you will need to make them.  To do this, buy as many 1" x 8" as needed and "rip" the strips.  This means you will cut 2" strips out of the 8" board. I will show you how to do this, but first I want you to be familiar with table saw safety -- see next blog to learn more!