This is a pair of Jackson’s Alu-Pro Aluminium Stretcher bars with a profile dimension of 45 x 65mm, offering maximum stability for building custom canvases.
Alu-Pro Stretcher Bars are made of spruce and aluminium. The wooden outer frame presents a smooth surface to the canvas, and can accept staples, pins and nails. The aluminium frame is used to bolt the whole apparatus together and maintain its rigidity even as the canvas tightens and relaxes in changing moisture conditions.
These stretcher bars are quick and easy to assemble using a 4mm allen key, with crossbars that can be added later for extra support. Please note, you will need an Alu-Pro Corner Connector for joining horizontal and vertical stretcher bars at a 90° angle, as well as a 4mm allen key, preferably an Alu-Pro Allen Key. You will need four Corner Connectors for each canvas frame.
Crossbars provide extra strength to Alu-Pro frames, as well as providing something of a handle by which the canvas can be carried. Your canvas would need to be over 120cm long on its longest side for you to need a Primary Crossbar for structural reasons. If your canvas is over 240cm on the longest side, you will require a Secondary Crossbar. If you are using just the one Primary Crossbar, you will want to be bracing between the two longer sides of your frame, so just make sure that you purchase a Crossbar which is the same length as the two shorter sides of your frame.
For step-by-step guidance on how to stretch canvas, watch A Guide to Stretching Canvas on the Jackson's Blog.
For more information about Alu-Pro products and a series of assembly tutorials, see the Alu-Pro product showcase on the Jackson's Blog.
