woodshop

[Turtle]

Originally Posted by Turtle

started making a stretcher from an old pine board for a canvas work.

i was going to claim that in my first post i alluded to never having made a canvas stretcher frame, but as the evidence is contrary i must suggest i alluded to it elsewhere. at any rate, this is my first and while many frame building techniques transfer well, others do not.

after making 2 of the needed 4 splines (and feeling a little frisky at having added decorative if otherwise useless 'heads' to them and attaching a picture of one of the little beauties below) i realized that the mortises are too shallow for the job they need to do. unlike a cabinet door frame made with this joint, the canvas stretcher frames get torqued by the tension of the canvas and the narrow spline allows the frame sides to 'roll' inward.

of course i could cut the mortises deeper and make new splines, but i have only my self to satisfy so i'm filing the info for future frames and resorting to a down-n-dirty fix. i can't nail or glue the joint so i will put 2 crossed staples over the joint on the back side which will keep it from opening and allowing the pieces to roll. kind've a lazy man's butterfly.

PS check this stretcher-maker, Mr.Steven Chen
>> Custom Made Stretcher Frames and Stretched canvas for Professionals
that's a wrap.

[Turtle]

i finished the splines, assembled the frame, washed and rinsed the canvas, and stapled it wet to the frame. all over now but the cryin'.

YouTube - stretching canvas

[Turtle]

started a new project a couple days past >> a turtle-form stool carved from a log. i recovered the piece from the forest, already cut to fireplace size but left behind. by the weathering it lay for quite a few years. it is either oak or ash, but i haven't clinched the id yet.

started with 8 1/2" diameter x 16" length. chainsawed a flat for the base/legs lengthwise & 2" in from the edge, then cut length to 13"+. after drawing 2 elevations full scale for paper patterns, i used carbon papaer to transfer layout lines to the flat. now using a 3/4" forstner bit in a cordless drill & mallet/chisel to waste away under body. i had hoped to id the wood by smell in the fresh drill shavings but it only smells musty.

that's a wrap.

[Boerseun]

Originally Posted by Turtle

i was going to claim that in my first post i alluded to never having made a canvas stretcher frame, but as the evidence is contrary i must suggest i alluded to it elsewhere. at any rate, this is my first and while many frame building techniques transfer well, others do not.

Hey!

How'd I miss this thread?

By a lucky coincidence, my landlord has a picture framing company! He does all sorts of pictures in all sorts of ways, he recently laminated and framed a *VERY* big map of Southern Africa for me. The thing consisted of four seperate map sheets, I'm not sure of the A rating, A0 or A1, but the complete map is around 2.5 meters by 2.5 meters. He also builds "stretchers" for local artists, also does easels, the whole kit and kaboodle.

Any case, we're very good buddies, and I've got full access to his workshops. He'll be more than happy to share any info with you, or answer any questions if you have any regarding the building of stretchers!

[Turtle]

Originally Posted by Boerseun

Hey!

How'd I miss this thread?

must be the soundproofing buffy put in.

Originally Posted by Boerseun

By a lucky coincidence, my landlord has a picture framing company! He does all sorts of pictures in all sorts of ways, he recently laminated and framed a *VERY* big map of Southern Africa for me. The thing consisted of four seperate map sheets, I'm not sure of the A rating, A0 or A1, but the complete map is around 2.5 meters by 2.5 meters. He also builds "stretchers" for local artists, also does easels, the whole kit and kaboodle.

Any case, we're very good buddies, and I've got full access to his workshops. He'll be more than happy to share any info with you, or answer any questions if you have any regarding the building of stretchers!

roger wilco

the stool is taking shape. so far i have freed all four leg blanks, covered the floor of my room with woodchips, and aggravated my roomies. the wood is definately ash; oregon ash. since having the whole piece split apart is a real possibility, i have in mind to make a dowel plate and use the scrap ash to make dowels. i'll drill long holes across any cracks and glue in the dowels; this way i can continue carving without worrying about hitting metal fasteners and as the dowels are the same kind of wood they will more-or-less blend in.

that's a wrap.

[Turtle]

Originally Posted by Boerseun

...Any case, we're very good buddies, and I've got full access to his workshops. He'll be more than happy to share any info with you, or answer any questions if you have any regarding the building of stretchers!

by all means, pleas do invite him to watch my videos and comment. >>>

YouTube - planing pine

YouTube - sawing mitre

YouTube - planing endgrain

YouTube - cutting a mortise in a mitre

YouTube - stretching canvas

the turtle stool is progressing, and rather than the body splitting as i expected, a leg split off. i opened the crack wide 7 poured in some glue, and after a couple hours drying i bored a 5" long 3/8" hole up through the bottom of the foot into the body. i poured in glue and tapped in a 3/8" maple dowel. subsequent cracks will get the same treatment.

i opted for maple dowel as i had it on hand , plus i would have to make a dowel plate , and the scrap ash is a bit punky and too brittle to withstand the pounding through a dowel plate.

that's a wrap.

[Turtle]

the ash-wood is starting to show some remarkable grain. very tortoiesque. i likey. ace assented to take some photos soon, and i'll scan & reduce the drawerrings. i'm hardly even bleeding.
that's a wrap

[Turtle]

project elevations >>

[Turtle]

my video camera won't record on tape, but if i stay within 3 feet of the computer i can record to the hard drive. here's our shelly little wooden head so far >>>

YouTube - turtle stool

[orbsycli]

did you make the Head?