30 Inch Vincent Pro Super Stretcher 2-Bars 1-CrossBrace Kit 1-1/2" Deep #VSK-30

Solid Wood is Archival - Finger Jointed Wood is Not

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 make are part of the archival process.

The principal reason manufactures use finger jointed wood is reduce cost, not increase archival value. Wood constantly grows and shrinks when the environment becomes hotter, or colder, or more humid, or more dry. Because finger jointed wood is made-up of multiple and varied pieces of wood, with varying grain patterns and densities, they each absorb and shed moisture at varying rates, which works on the glue joints that hold them together, causing the wood to bow and the joints to eventually fail, and certainly not consistent with increasing the archival value of your artwork frame support.

As a manufacturer, we do our part to conserve as much wood as possible, and still provide a quality made product that will out-perform any other in the marketplace.

Vincent™ Pro Super Bar and Brace Kit Super Frame Kit Components

• Drawing demonstrates how the frame looks unassembled and assembled
• Vincent™ Pro Super Bar and Brace Kit are sold as one-half frame, meaning, two Bars and a Cross Brace
• Two kits of any size are used to assemble one complete Super Frame
• Includes two " Precision machined medium duty keyable tongue-and-groove Stretcher Bars
• Includes one Super Cross Brace, 3-1/4" wide by 1/2" 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
• Includes 4 Corner Keys and 4 Cross Brace Keys that allow you to control and increase the canvas tension in the middle of the canvas, where the tension is needed the most.
• Also includes a T-Nut and Screw that locks the cross braces together to provide maximum frame stiffness. Please note, you will end-up with extra T-Nuts by virtue of buying two kits.

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 Vincent™ 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.

Sustainably Managed Forests Coexist with Mankind

We use lumber grown in the sustainable forests of the Pacific Northwest, where there’s more standing timber today than last century! There will always be a demand for wood pulp and fiber, but striking a harmonious balance with human coexistence is the essential strategy to which we subscribe. Sustainably managed forests increase our health and abundance of our forests which can be in harmony with this precious natural resource.

Canvas Size Needed for this Stretcher Bar

Most artists will stretch the canvas and attach the staples or tacks onto 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 a 30x60 frame size, which happens to be a 2:1 Domino aspect ratio size, your canvas should be about 6 x 36. This allows you ample room to stretch and attach the canvas on the back. Should you ever need to remove the canvas from the frame and re-attach it, it still serves that purpose too. 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.

With deep family ties and a legacy spanning since 1965 in California, Masterpiece® has been the epitome of unmatched quality in Stretcher Bars across North America. Our commitment to pioneering excellence has crowned us as the forerunners in the world of professional fine-art canvases. Bolstered by our patented innovations, our products exude a caliber that's in a league of its own. One touch, and the unparalleled quality becomes palpable, leaving an indelible impression on your clients and all future admirers of your art.

To learn and not to do is really not to learn. To know and not to act is really not to know. ♦ Aristotle

Aristotle, the ancient Greek philosopher, stands as one of the most influential figures in the history of Western thought. His contributions to a multitude of fields, from metaphysics to ethics, have shaped foundational concepts that many of us engage with today. Born in Stagira in 384 B.C., he spent most of his life analyzing, theorizing, and more importantly, practicing the art of philosophical inquiry.

Aristotle's assertion about learning and knowing draws a clear line between passive accumulation of information and active application of knowledge. In the realm of art, this distinction becomes profoundly significant. For artists, the act of creation is not merely a reflection of external inspirations, but a manifestation of our internalized learnings. When we sketch, paint, or sculpt, we aren't just showcasing our technical skills but revealing our understanding of the world. By actively translating our knowledge into art, we truly come to understand the depths and dimensions of our learning. It's a call to action for all of us. It reminds us that the canvas isn't just a space for display, but a platform for exploration, experimentation, and realization.

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We curated this empowering quote with some context and hope you find it insightful, plus we created this unique portrait of Aristotle to make it a bit more intriguing. Now get to work on your own!

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.