69x69 Monet Pro Super Frame Kit 1.5" Deep #MSK-6969

Finger Jointed Wood is not meant for Stretcher Bars

Solid wood makes the most dependable Stretcher Bar, because one homogeneous wood member is going to behave similarly across the entire length of the Bar. Whereas, with finger-jointed wood is made-up of multiple pieces of wood, sometimes on the actual joint itself, presenting multiple points of failure which no one can control.

We only use Solid Wood to build our Stretcher Bars because a solid piece of wood will last indefinitely. When we speak of archival value, it's not just the paint you use and the quality of your canvas and ground, even the wood choices manufacturers add or reduce value to your final painting. The fact is, you don't want problems, and finger joints only increase that risk of the wood falling apart in the future.

The glue used to bind finger joints is a water based adhesive and when that wood is exposed to high humidity environments, particularly with exterior walls, the glue joints can give-up. As a manufacturer, Masterpiece® does its part to conserve as much wood as possible, and still provide a quality product that will out-perform any other in the marketplace.

Monet™ Pro Super Frame Kit Super Frame Kit Components

• Drawing demonstrates how the frame looks unassembled and assembled
• Monet™ Pro Super Frame Kit Super Frame Kits are sold as square frame sizes only
• To assemble a rectangular size, just buy the two Stretcher Bar sizes you want, mix-and-match the components, and you'll have two frames in the size you want, or mix-and-match the components to make other frame sizes you may want
• Four 69" Precision machined medium duty keyable tongue-and-groove Stretcher Bars
• Two Super Cross Braces included: 3-1/4" wide by 3/4" thick
• Cross braces may be removed and reinserted at any time, before and after stretching
• An exclusive slot is milled on the inside perimeter of all of the Stretcher Bars to which the Braces and the expansion wedges attach
• Patented keyable cross braces allow the frame to be tensioned in the middle of the canvas, where the tension needed the most
• Cross Braces firmly attached with a steel tee-nut and screw at the intersection point for maximum support and rigidity
• Included are 8 Corner Keys and 8 Cross Brace Keys to be able to increase the tension in the middle of the canvas, where the tension is needed the most.

Mix and Match components to make any size frame

This Super Frame Kit is sold only in square sizes, as it ships more safely. To make any size rectangle frame, just buy two kits that have the Stretcher Bar sizes you want, mix-and-match the components, and you'll end-up with two frames in the ultimate size you want.

For example, this 69x69 frame kit that you've chosen includes all the Bars, Braces, Keys, and hardware necessary to build one full square frame. Let's assume that you really want to build a 69x138 size, which happens to be a 2:1 Domino aspect ratio size.

Simply buy a 138x138 and a 69x69 Frame Kit, and you'll have enough Bars and Braces to make two 69x138 frames. Or mix-and-match the components to make other frame sizes you may want in the future. The size you choose is in your control to build the finest museum class Stretcher Frame on the market.

Canvas Tension is in Your Control

In dry climates or air conditioned environments, the lack of moisture in the air causes wood frames to shrink and the canvas fibers to narrow and elongate making the canvas more slack and resulting in a loss of canvas tension. In some instances, the canvas could have waves on the surface resulting in an unsightly viewing experience.

Our Monet™ Pro professional frames provide the functionality for you to slightly expand the size of the frame in the corners and the middle of the canvas, thereby increasing canvas tension all across the surface. The difference between a loose canvas and a tight canvas is just 1/8" of an inch, so a small adjustment using our corner and brace keys makes an important difference in canvas tension.

• Helps to prevent waves that occur in a loose canvas
• Increase canvas tension by tapping-in the corner and brace keys
• True professional class canvases make it possible for you to adjust the canvas tension

Cross Braces Make it Tighter

A tightly stretched canvas on an un-braced frame overpowers the Stretcher Bars causing them to bow inward and thereby lose tension. Sometimes that bow can expose a space in picture frames.

When a canvas is stretched on a properly supported frame, the cross-braces prevent the Bars from bowing thereby achieving maximum canvas tension. To increase the canvas tension even more, simply tap the corner and brace keys further in their slots. Properly supported frames provide you with the control over the canvas tension of your canvas and painting.

Sustainable Environment Promotes a Sustainable Economy

The use of lumber from sustainably managed forests is not only environmentally responsible, it also helps to support the economy and preserve jobs in the forestry industry. By choosing products made with sustainably sourced lumber, consumers can help to ensure that these industries remain strong and sustainable for years to come.

Canvas Size Needed for this Stretcher Bar

Most artists prefer to stretch and staple the canvas on the back side of the frame. Doing so allows you to paint on the edge and hang your art without needed a picture frame. Generally speaking, you should allow 6 Inches of canvas beyond the size of your frame.

For example, if you were to stretch this frame as a square 69x69 size, your canvas should be about 75 x 75. This allows you ample room to stretch and attach the canvas on the back. Should you want to attach the canvas from the edge of the stretcher frame, then you can reduce the size of your canvas about 3/4" all the way around the frame.

From the heart of California, Masterpiece® has been weaving a legacy since 1965, curating the best Stretcher Bars North America has witnessed. Our unwavering dedication to quality and innovation has cast us in the limelight as the trendsetting stalwarts in the realm of fine-art canvases. The patents we hold are not just certificates but validations of our pursuit of perfection. Engage with our creations and feel the promise of unmatched quality, a promise that resonates with your clients and every future beholder of your masterpiece.

Of course one should not drink much, but often. ♦ Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

In the bustling nightlife of late 19th-century Paris, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec was a ubiquitous figure. The bohemian artist's infatuation with Montmartre's cabarets, dance halls, and theaters gave birth to some of the most iconic posters and paintings of the Belle ƒpoque. His comment on drinking serves as an amusing reflection of the hedonistic culture he was so deeply entrenched in. But beyond its surface humor, there's a philosophy here that artists can connect with, even today.

The idea of moderation in consumption can be applied not just to wine, but to inspiration and work. Just as Lautrec suggests savoring in moderation rather than indulging to excess, artists might find that dipping into inspiration regularly, but not becoming overwhelmed, can be more beneficial to our craft. It's the regular practice, the daily sketch, or the frequent experimentation with a new technique that refines our skills and broadens our horizons. By sprinkling these experiences consistently throughout our path, we can sustain our passion and growth without burning out.

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As we honor the legacy of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, we've created our own portrait as well as pass along these words of wisdom and our take on the message. Get to work on yours!

Tight'n'Up™ Liquid Canvas Retensioner

One of our most appreciated products helps make your canvas tighter! Stretching a canvas tightly can be a challenge. Our Frame Kits include the Corner and Brace Keys that you will need to add tension, but Tight'n'Up™ Liquid Canvas Re-Tensioner is a way that you can use to add tension to the canvas without needed to use the keys. It canvas be sprayed on the back of a canvas to repair most canvas tension issues.

With Tight'n'Up™, you can add tension to just a small area, or a large area. Simply spray it lightly on the back and brush it into the canvas, and within seconds, your canvas becomes tighter and stays tighter. The more you use, the tighter it gets. Recommended for acrylic primed cotton or linen canvas. We do not recommend it for oil primed canvas because there are simply too many different types of oil primed canvas, but used conservatively at your own risk, it will tension any canvas.