Canvas slips

[Ray]

I am making a frame with a canvas covered slip set in the rebate of the main frame. Is it easier to fix the slip to rebate of the main frame before cutting or make separately and fix later?

[Roboframer]

The latter, definitely.

[Ray]

Speedy reply.........thank you.

[prospero]

When it comes to liners, canvas or otherwise, I like to make the liner first. As this is the part that contacts the canvas/board, you sometimes need to fit it very finely. Once you have the liner made, take the outer long and short sides measurements. Deduct the short from the long to establish the differential. Then fit the long sides of the main frame to the liner. Cut the main frame short sides exactly the length of the of the long, minus the differential.

This is a good practice for all stacked frames. You can drift off by quite big amounts fitting one frame inside another.

[Roboframer]

Don't get the " Deduct the short from the long to establish the differential" bit.

You have to work from the artwork out, not the outer frame (whether with an inner frame or a mount) in?

I was thinking Ray was talking about fixing a length of inner and outer moulding together and cutting as one moulding.

fit the long sides of the main frame to the liner

... With the liner already joined, cut them to fit, not actually fit them, surely? .....and then measure the short sides of the liner and cut to fit those - then join????

Probably missing summut

[prospero]

Yep. I meant 'cut to fit'. Then join.

The reason I do the liner first is so I can fine tune it to fit exactly. Some paintings are very critical. Particularly smaller ones. I can offer up the rails to the canvas or board. Once I'm satisfied I can put the painting away safely and work with the liner knowing at the end the painting is going to fit. If you work from the outside you can sometimes end up too not quite right. No matter how accurately you think you measured it.

One reason for not cutting frame and liner together: On a 3" wide frame you are going to lose about 5" of liner per corner. Unless you chop'n'trim the liner. Which is a long-winded way of working. Even then, 9 times out of ten the joined liner won't fit inside the frame. It shouldn't be too tight anyway.