Close-up of inner corner..
Close-up of wooden tensioning wedge.
About Stretcher Bars Direct
Obtaining sustainable supplies of stretcher frames in the UK hasn’t always been easy. The popularity of stretched, canvas prints has exploded, pushing the demand for stretcher bars to record highs.
Most frame wholesalers currently buy from one or two importers. The importers source from Chinese manufacturers such as Art 98.
Imports of frames are sporadic and take a long time to arrive in the UK by boat. This lack of consistent supply has often put UK print manufacturers in desperate need for frames, having to take whatever standard of quality comes their way just to keep up.
Most of the current generation of Chinese frames are cut from either fir or pine, with pine undoubtedly giving the strongest and smoothest bar. For many, fir just won’t cut it as a high quality frame for canvas art.
The Future
The Chinese government's recent restriction of the harvesting of pine timber has created the need for a new source of high quality pine stretcher bars. This is inevitably pushing up the price of Chinese pine frames, as the timber is more heavily taxed and restricted for export.
Stretcher Bars Direct was created with the aim of filling this vacuum in the art supplies market with a new, higher-quality product. Using renewable European sources, Stretcher Bars Direct are setting a new standard for superlative quality stretcher frames designed for canvas prints and artists canvas.
Rather than relying on small, sporadic imports from the far-east, we take delivery of fast, weekly shipments from Europe. This means our customers benefit from being able to rely on our large stocks, competitive pricing, and swift delivery times.
To find out more about our superb quality frames, please see our quality page. Once you've seen our high standards for yourself, you can buy direct from our secure online shop. | 
