Once you have a fully assembled stretcher frame, you will need to ensure it's perfectly square, so it's set up properly for when you stretch your canvas over it. Now you have your stretcher frame fully assembled, you'll need to ensure it's perfectly tight across every corner.
- Stand the frame up, and check each corner, using the mallet to knock any corners into place that don't feel tight.
- Next, lay the stretcher frame down flat. To make sure the stretcher frame is square, we need to measure the diagonals, as when these measure the same size we will know these are perfectly square.
- Now, take your tape measure across from diagonal corners. Start in the left corner to right and measure diagonally across (see the YouTube video for a clear demonstration of this to ensure you get it right).
- Lastly, take the tape measure across to the other diagonal corners from right to left and take the measurements, comparing each measurement against each other. If the diagonals don't match up, this is where you will take your mallet, tapping in the corner of the longer diagonal to even up with the other diagonal corner! Once both diagonals completely match up in length on your tape measure, you can rest assured your stretcher frame is completely square!
Watch our step by step YouTube Video above - Happy Stretching!