Canvas Tightening Keysor Wedges are the eight (8) wooden wedges you will commonly see on the back corners of artist canvases that are mounted onto wooden stretcher bars. Tightening keys are used to tighten loose artist canvases, they are used to tighten both new and old canvases. New canvases need to be tightened, and old canvases can become loose over time. Tightening keys are essential component for the maintainance of valuable new and old paintings on canvas.
How Are Tightening Keys Used? Two (2) keys are gently tapped into the two (2) slots found in each corner, some professionals will use a small carpenter's "finish hammer" for the job. Other experts will place a small block of wood on the outside edge of the tightening key then gently tap the keys into place. Equal pressure should be used with each key into each slot to prevent future warping of the stretcher bars. Upon insertion of the keys, care is taken not to apply too much pressure to the keys so as to make the canvases too tight, possibly causing the canvas to rip or tear.
Canvas Keys - Product Description:
We provide a total of ten (10) quality wood keys in each package. Eight (8) are needed for each painting, We provide two (2) extra keys that you can use for any missing keys in older paintings you may have.
Each canvas key measures approximately 2 1/2 inches long, between 3/4 and 1 inches tall, and they are about 3/16 inches thick. The tappered ends are between 1/4 and 1/2 inches. And because the keys are made of wood, the tips can be planed or adjusted to fit the smaller corner slots if needed.
