For those that make canvas & linen panels

[css]

I'm going to be mounting some linen on hardboard panels and am just going to start with buying centurion linen pads as they are on sale right now at jerry's for a great price.

Do these sheets of linen shrink when attached to the panel? So if I want to make a 9x12 panel and have the 9x12 linen sheets + a 9x12 hardboard panel they should fit perfectly, right?

I'm using golden Soft Gel Matte as an adhesive.

Thanks

[Saturday Painter]

Just bought some of those same pads for the same purpose and have not yet mounted any yet so can't tell you about shrinkage. However, I have done the same with other canvas pad sheets and not found shrinkage to be an issue--I use Linoco neutral ph glue which is more liquid than the gel medium and theoretically should produce more shrinkage than gel I would guess. As for fitting perfectly, that depends on the trueness of the cut of the canvas as well as the panels. Further, some panels that are purchased are only within 1/8 inch of nominal measurements (loss of width of saw blade when cutting) and some companies compensate for that so are spot on. I have also cut down 16 x 20 canvas sheets to 8 x 10 myself--in this case there is the trueness of my cuts to deal with as well. So, if you are willing to accept something like possibly 1/16 inch smaller (max) all around measurement of canvas to panel, you are fine.

[nepainter03]

Hey Chris, thought I would chime in as I have made some big quantities of panels in the past. It stinks. Buy premade panels. The centurion ones from Jerry's are good enough.
If you are set on making them. I also did the same thing. I bought Centurion pads but mounted them to cut Gatorboard. I used 3M archival spray glue. This is available everywhere and will say that it is acid free on the back label. The good thing about the spray is it is only really wet for a couple hours and once you lay the linen down it doesn't slide around easy.
Spray the panel with a enough of a coat that there are a few bubbles then let them pop this will only take a few seconds (about ten seconds) then match one corner vertically and horizontally,
Then lay down the rest of the sheet. Place wax paper over the panel and use the wax paper as a way to keep your hand out of the edge that may have glue on it while making small circles, circling outward pressing down the linen.

Like I said, buy em premade. Good luck!!

[Gobidharma]

I make my panels using store bought masonite and canvas or polyester. You could use PVA (Elmer's) glue, it is archival and easier to work with, but I would highly recommend allowing yourself greater tolerances. When I glue up canvas, I typically cut the pieces with at least an inch extra on all sides, as it's really hard to get things to line up perfectly in one shot.

If you can afford it, however, buy them.

[css]

Thanks Saturday Painter - I'll update as I go along.

Thanks Dan - I have a bunch of hardboard panels in 9x12, 10x10 & 6x6 right now and really don't like the feel of just a gesso'ed surface so I'm trying this - I'll see how it goes. Someone else mentioned the Canva paper so I grabbed some of that to see if that is easy as well. I bought a 3 pack of the centurion panels and loved them so I hope it works out. Thanks for the tip on 3M archival spray glue.

Thanks Anthony - I read a little about the Elmers glue that plenty of people use it but on their site they specifically say the its not acid free - not like I'm a huge stickler for this type of thing I just want to paint but I thought I'd mention it. Ya I'd like to use up what I have for these panels and then probably buy them - I love RayMar's but damn they have gotten expensive. My go to is the blick canvas - those are a deal and half.

[Saturday Painter]

For small sizes I don't find that lining things up is much of an issue--start with the top, narrow edge, get the top couple of inches right and then unroll down slowly, correcting as necessary (glue is still wet). Then, use a brayer to press out from center of canvas to eliminate air pockets. Stack and weight with wax paper between panels until dry. Sealing the panels before to prevent SID is more of a pain than gluing canvas.

I like painting with canvas taped to corrugated plastic panels and then mounting only the successful, dry, pieces later...

[wsrea]

Glue a slightly oversized piece of linen (maybe 1 inch extra on each side) to the panel using acrylic medium, press out bubbles, and wait for it to dry. Trim the linen along the hardboard edge with a razor/rotary cutter/xacto knife. If there was any shrinkage in the linen, you've already accounted for it.

I've used Centurion linen panels on sale from Jerry's for that very pupose, with good success.

[Gobidharma]

If you choose to adhere a larger piece of linen to the panel, I recommend using a sanding block at a 45 degree angle to the top surface of the panel to trim the linen. This does two things, it cuts the linen to size and also gives a very slight bevel to the edge, making it less likely that the linen will peel.

[Squeaky Swan]

If these pads are the same as I think, the sheets have been gessoed. The gesso would have already done any shrinking.
Squeaky

[css]

A little update on these - the canva paper seems to be much easier to get set on the masonite with the Soft Gel Matte than the linen. You really have to cover every single inch of the linen.

Gonna try Dan's spray adhesive next.

[MChesleyJohnson]

I don't like spray adhesive. In my experience, it goes everywhere - even on your eyeglasses! I use a brush and Lineco Neutral pH Adhesive (although I think I may soon switch to BEVA gel, which is heat-reversible.)

But Dan's right. Do you want to make art materials, or paint?

[RandyP]

I'll second the "no" vote on spray adhesive. Spray adhesive is nasty stuff and unless you're wearing a respirator, dangerous as well. We want ya to stay healthy!!

Randy