The canvas to be stretched is cut about three-quarters of an inch larger all around than the actual size of the stretcher. The necessary tools are a small hammer, a chisel, some tacks, and a pair of pincers with teeth, which can be obtained of any dealer in artists' materials, and are manufactured purposely for stretching canvas.
Begin by placing the stretcher in the middle of the canvas, leaving a margin of the same width all around. Turn the projecting canvas over the edge of the stretcher at the top, and put a tack just in the middle; then pulling the canvas as tightly as possible, place a tack in the bottom and one in the center of each side respectively, always turning over the edges.
This accomplished, look at the front and see that the canvas is evenly placed, not pulled crooked or stretched bias.
If it appears to be right, put in several more tacks, fastening down the corners first, and then place tacks systematically about an inch and a quarter apart all around until complete. The pincers are used to pull the canvas as tightly as possible and hold it in place each time a tack is put in.
If a mistake is made, the tacks are loosened with the small chisel and carefully taken out so as not to tear the canvas.
Oval stretchers are so seldom used by artists that no directions in regard to them are necessary. If desired, they must be ordered from a dealer, as they are very complicated in construction and difficult to stretch.
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