Unstretchable brittle Claessens Canvas

[Mark Lovett]

Has anyone experienced old, brittle, double oil primed Claessens type 13 linen yet? This stuff will not stretch properly. I have tried everything and I still get slight ripples on the edges of my larger canvases 30x40 and 40x40's. It has been very frustrating.

I have spent hours stretching and restretching but nothing seems to work. I know it's not my stretching methods because I have no preoblems with other canvas. I purchased 3 rolls from Utrecht about a year ago. They said it was the last of their batch. I was told later that the fresh oil primed canvas is the way to go. I guess alot of people use the acrylic primed linen because I think it is much easier to stretch.

I didnt know that there was a problem with the canvas until I had been using it for quite a while. I kept thinking that there was something wrong with me. However, as time progressed I finally realized it was the age and brittle nature of the canvas that left it with no ability to strecht.

Now I am left with some fully painted canvases with rippling on the edges that cannot be removed. I also have about 1 1/2 rolls left and need some canvas to paint on.

I'm trying to decide what to do right now. This problem canvas has left me so frustrated that I will consider purchasing prestreched canvas for the larger sizes like 30x40 but I dont know what pro quality prestretched is the best way to go.

It seems difficult for me to buy a full roll of canvas that is not problematic. Often I cant tell that it's a problem until I'm half way into the roll, and waste half a day messing with it, and that's no good.

I recently have tried the Raymar linen panels and I love them for smaller sizes. However right now I need large finely woven linen canvases 30x40 ,40x40 etc..ripple free, tight as a drum, and on reasonable 3/4" stretchers so I can frame them easily but dont know how or where to get them.


Any ideas, comments of shared experience will be appreciated. Also, for those of you who are very pleased with your 30x40" painting surfaces please tell me what works for you.

Thanks so much in advance.
Mark