All our stretcher bars, have a beaded (rounded) edge that holds the canvas and flat part of the bar slightly apart. The rounded edge greatly relieves the stress on the canvas and person framing. A tighter, more uniform stretch is the result of this feature because the canvas flows around the smooth (rather than sharp) edge. For those who have had problems with cracked edges on giclee prints you'll find the beaded edge will reduce or eliminate this problem.Think of it his way, if you're lowering a heavy box from a balcony with a line, you can let it down smoothly by running the line around a round handrail, but will find paying out the line around a square handrail to be quite jerky. That's what happens with the squared edges on square edged stretcher bars; the hard corners build tension and resistance and that's not a good thing when stretching. The idea is to stretch all the canvas, not just the edge where the pliers are pulling. We've seen instances where canvas has ripped due to the resistance.
Standard Stretcher Bars 3/4"
If there's a standard stretcher bar in the industry, this is it. What we like about our medium duty bars is the slightly raised round-over (bull nose) of the bar's face edge. Raised, rounded edges (as opposed to sharp, flat edges) greatly reduce the friction of stretching, allowing for a tighter, more even canvas face. It also reduces the stress placed on the canvas and the person doing the stretching, as pliers lever the canvas around the frame. The raised edge canvas frame has two other benefits. They lift the canvas away from contact with the wood. They also allow a slight "fudge factor" for gallery wraps that have a sharp transition between the face image and its side. The 1 5/8" width of the bar certainly helps to withstand bowing from taught stretching, but don't overlook using cross braces (spanners) whenever you feel bowing might be an issue. While these bars are known as 3/4" bars, they are actually 11/16" in width, 1/16" less than 3/4."
Goldilocks Stretcher Bars 1 1/4"
This stretcher bar will be a dream come true for many folks who want a substantial side profile that adds to the perceived value of their art, but unfortunately costs too much to justify the expense. The Medium/Heavy Duty bars, with a 1 1/4" side profile, are, visually, so close to the 1 1/2" that they will create a notable presence (adding perceived value) but won't strangle your wallet. It's truly the Goldilocks stretcher bar...it's just right! Keep in mind that the bars aren't quite as stout as the heavier duty bars, so you'll need to reinforce with braces sooner. But, at 1 1/4"x 1 1/4," they're still very sturdy. And, quite a bargain too!
Midi Stretcher Bars 1 1/2" x 1 1/2"
The beauty of these strong Heavy Duty Midi Bars is their price coupled with exceptional quality. You'll get the 1 1/2" depth just like the Super Heavy Duty bar, but you'll be able to afford more for the same dollar spent. Like all our bars, the edges are "eased," for smoother stretching with less resistance. With a generous 3/4" rise, there's little to no chance for the canvas to come in contact with the inside breadth of the stretcher frame. Straight-grained and lightweight these bars are perfect for also reducing the overall weight of the frame. While it's quite difficult to bend bars as strong as these, it's advisable to use braces when you're exceeding 45" or so. Environmental changes can cause wood to bend very, very slowly inward toward the center of the canvas. It may take years, but braces will significantly reduce the potential for this migration. Just something you might want to consider.
Heavy Duty Stretcher Bars 1 1/2" x 2"
The beauty of these Heavy Duty Stretcher Bars is their impressive mass and strength. SBW's Super Heavy Bars are 1 1/2" deep by 2 whole inches wide! You sure get a much sturdier stretcher bar for your money, and that's a good thing. Like all our bars, the edges are "eased," for smoother stretching with less resistance. With a generous 3/4" rise, there's little to no chance for the canvas to come in contact with the inside breadth of the stretcher frame. Straight-grained and lightweight these bars are perfect for also reducing the overall weight of the canvas frame. While it's quite difficult to bend bars as strong as these, it's advisable to use braces when you're exceeding 50" so. Environmental changes can cause wood to bend very, very slowly inward toward the center of the canvas. It may take years, but braces will significantly reduce the potential for this migration. Just something you might want to consider.