Canvassing for support

[slimfandango]

I had a good laugh the other day when my local art shop quoted me �60 for a largish boxed canvas....do they gold plate them?
I have started making my own. The frame is a doddle, just some nomorenails, a mitre, and some wood . The canvas is harder to find. I can prime it myself, but can't seem to locate it on the net or on that ebay thing. Any good suppliers of cloth, wholesale? Or can you even buy it primed? Thanks.
Mr. van Gogh

[landie]

You should be able to get canvas rolls from any good art supplier. Don't forget that you need to be able to stretch the canvas every so often. I did this by trapping a broad screw inside each corner, so that you can screw the joint open once the canvas is secured, and this worked well.

[Phantaxus]

Now I am certainly not an artist but I have this vague memory that before you nail a canvas to the frame you are supposed to soak it in water, this causes the fibres in the canvas to stretch then you nail it to the frame and when it dries out it shrinks making a nice tight canvas.

[landie]

Are you thinking of watercolour paper? I've never come across thet technique with canvas.

[corganiser]

These 2 suppliers sell canvas on the roll.

www.artdiscount.co.uk

www.discountart.co.uk

[Jules001]

At the moment in the Poundshop, they have A4 gesso primed canvas pads of 8 sheets . I appreciate that this maybe a bit small for your needs, but it is excellent value and I can always find a use for them.

[simms]

The fabric remnant section of this shop sells canvas http://www.o-mills.co.uk/

I got yards and yards for very little cost but I don't know if they do mail order. Local people buy it for local theatre sets.

[slimfandango]

Awesome, thank you. Please don't stop answering if you have any more advice.
lol corganiser, I was going to buy 'discountart' name myself once, but figured it's a mixed message in the name and could be misconstrued for some kind of cheap escort service.
I read with interest also the other messages on stretching, a thread in its own right. I didn't bother buying specialist stretchers, and.....sure enough, the canvas rips.
I like the water soak idea, will give it a try, but I prime before stretching, normally. I have taken to putting small sections of wood across corners (at 45 degrees), because canvas stretching draws in the middle section of the edge, warping the overall frame. Very very impressed by the overall result though. Just wish I'd bought a powered mitre though!!