Canvas+How+To

This page will focus on how to make a canvas strainer from scratch.


 * Supplies needed;**
 * Lumber, 2x4
 * Quarter round dowels
 * Tape Measure
 * Pencil
 * Chop saw
 * Nails
 * Hammer
 * Chip board
 * Screws
 * Power Screw driver
 * Canvas
 * Stapler
 * Canvas stretcher clamp
 * Wood Glue
 * Gesso
 * Paintbrush

**Step One;**
When picking out the lumber, make sure it is as straight as possible. A warped board will effect the finished product and not in a good way. To see if it is warped, put the lumber at the side and look down it and see if it has any bends. If it has no bends, it will work. Do the same with the quarter round.

Now, take the wood glue and make a line of it along the edge. Put the quarter round on the glue so that the rounded edge is facing the inside of the wood.



Take your nails and nail the quarter round into the lumber. Let it sit so that the glue can dry.

**Step Two;**
Once the glue is dry, take your tape measure and measure the dimensions onto the wood. It is important to remember that your measurement should be based off the side where the quarter round is. Otherwise your canvas will not be the size you want it to be. Measure twice and then cut the wood on a 45 degree angle. The long side should be the side with the quarter round. If your canvas is a square, the pieces will be the same length. If it is a rectangle, you will have two long pieces and two pieces shorter.



Step Three;
Take two pieces of the now cut lumber and put them together so that the flat edge of the quarter round is facing outside. Put glue on the two pieces, and with the chip board cut intro triangles to fit, put it on the glue and then screw it on. The chip board should be cut into right angles. The other two angles will be 45 degrees.



You need about six screws for each piece of lumber, or more if you desire. Continue with the other pieces until you have the shape of the canvas. Leave it to dry.



**Step Four;**
Take the canvas and measure it out to fit the strainer. The canvas should be larger than the strainer, it should be able to fold over all the sides. To staple the canvas on can be a bit tricky at first, but it gets easier. You will need to stand the strainer up on one end of the canvas material. Put a foot on the canvas on the floor to hold it and using the canvas stretcher clamps, pull the canvas back to make it tight and staple it three times, into the lumber, not the quarter round. Do this on the opposite side and then on the other two sides. As you staple, work in opposites. Do one side, then go to the opposite and then go to another side and work on its opposite. Continue to test the tightness of the canvas, you want it tight.

**Step Five;**
Now that the canvas is on the strainer, time to gesso the canvas! Using a large paintbrush, dip it in the gesso and apply it to the canvas, you want it completely covered. If you are unsure if it is all covered, hold the canvas up to the light. If light shows through, put more gesso on. Let it dry and then put another coat on.** This is very important, otherwise you will still have a rough surface, a second coat smoothes it out.