Canvas already on stretcher bars - sending to OZ

[Keith Hewitt]

I have been given a rather nice canvas, which is already on stretcher bars.
Size about 40 x 60 inches ( 102 x 150 cm )
The Mrs. hates it so showed it to a good friend in OZ who has a Balinese themed home and they love it, and asked me to send it over

So the question is ....
Either the simplest, I can drop it off at the Colourmount mill and they can send it with the next export order to OZ who can then deliver it.
Or, I can remove it from the stretcher bars and roll it up and post it direct, and then my friends can get it stretched by a local framer.

The second alternative seems most sensible - so what advice from you experts about how to roll it ? Is it advisable to put something over the face of the oil before rolling, and if yes, then what?

Thanks for your advice

[Roboframer]

Another painting - glued to it

[prospero]

I wouldn't fret too much about covering. As long as it wasn't painted last week. The more important thing is not to roll it too tight. Bigger diameter the tube the better. Roll it paint-in.

[IFGL]

I read somewhere rolling the painted side in can lift the oil off the canvas.

[JFeig]

The proper way to roll a painting on canvas is to have it rolled "facing out" on a stiff inner tube. PVC pipe is a good choice. The larger the diameter the better. Four inches (~100mm) or better.

It is the compression to the painting surface when rolled "face in" that is the problem and then the release of the compression that causes the cracking.

[JFeig]

PS

Don't forget to place the used stretching bars in the core of the tube assuming they are worth saving.

[IFGL]

That is almost word for word what the article I read said. My wife is from Detroit, her dad was Wayne county sheriff.

[Keith Hewitt]

Roll it paint-in.

The proper way to roll a painting on canvas is to have it rolled "facing out" on a stiff inner tube

Suppose this is what make the framing industry unique - and such a charming place to work

2 experts and they have totally opposite advice. { not having a pop at you }

Will wait a little longer and see what the majority suggest.

[prospero]

Well my way is based largely on intuition. Whichever way you are deforming the surface. But it strikes me that a slight compression is potentially less damaging than a slight stretch. But if the paint is mixed with the correct proportion of oil, then rolling won't hurt - in or out.

Different matter on an old canvas. Anything 30+ years I wouldn't risk rolling at all.

[CanvasChris]

Why dismantle? just post it. I send 30" x 46" canvases for an artist all over the world and you would be surprised it is quite economical too.

You are giving... they can pay the freight... thats a good trade.

[Keith Hewitt]

Chris

Which Royal Mail service you suggest ?

Thanks

Keith

[CanvasChris]

try these....... http://www.transglobal.org.uk/default.asp

[kev@frames]

Mrs Kev has asked me to post this, having read it on the forum:

you may run into an endless amount of grief, paperwork, and costs with Australian customs because of the wood stretchers.
we recently had to have some oak frames destroyed by Australians customs, or the recipient of the frames could have paid a 200 dollar fumigation/treatment charge. This was shipped with FedEx.

the Australians are a bit precious about wood products without "the right documentation" so unless you are sending it along with colourmount shipment and the right documents, your second option is the most prudent.

But if some people say they send stuff all over the world with no problems, presumably Australia is included in this.

Information on a free internet forum is worth exactly what you paid for it

[Keith Hewitt]

Hello Mrs Kev ☺

Thanks for the info
Fortunately I am fully aware of the very stringent Ozzy rules about any wooden items
At Slater Harrison ( Colourmount) we had to buy in specially treated pallets for exports to OZ

I would not send the stretcher bars in any case - they are cheap enough to buy on arrival.

I think I have the answer - I will remove the canvas and take it with me to Las Vegas - end Jan WCAF show where I know I'm meeting a framer from W.A. who I'm hoping will be happy to take the canvas back with her - stretch it on new bars and deliver it to my friends as a big surprise.

Its not what you know- its who you know

But thanks to all who made suggestions

[prospero]

Don't iron it Keith.

[Keith Hewitt]

Don't iron it Keith.

Peter
A select few will undestand