Home › Forums › Explore Media › Watercolor › The Learning Zone › How to get staples out?
- This topic has 17 replies, 12 voices, and was last updated 11 years, 5 months ago by __Eric__.
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February 21, 2013 at 4:55 am #990636
Hi,
I just finished my first stretched watercolor-a portrait. I would like to get the staples out but am worried about rips in the paper. I would love to hear suggestions from more experienced people before destroying my painting. The paper is stapled to a piece of nontreated wood. Thank you in advance for any input.[FONT=Century Gothic]Celiahttp://watercolors-celiablanco.blogspot.it/
[/I][/COLOR]February 21, 2013 at 4:58 am #1182100Might try an ice pick under the paper to loosen the staple, then a small flathead screwdriver. that’s what I use.
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Beverly McLarty Burrows
C&C always welcomeFebruary 21, 2013 at 7:26 am #1182101is it around the outside of the painting or in the painting itself? I use staples but always staple on a generous border and then trim this section off.
February 21, 2013 at 7:43 am #1182093I use the point of a pen knife to lever them out with no damage to the paper.
Doug
We must leave our mark on this worldFebruary 21, 2013 at 8:58 am #1182104Very thin staples can be removed with a knife but if they are heavier than office staples you can get a staple remover from the hardware store. Some are even magnetic.
I staple my paper onto Gator Board and the staples are very easy to remove. I’ve never tried stapling to wood for painting, but I’ve pulled thousands when removing carpet and the tool is definitely better for that.
Jan
February 21, 2013 at 3:50 pm #1182105These are all great suggestions. Gator board is unfortunately not available here in Italy, which I imagine is an ideal surface ,it being so soft. Cutting around the paper sounds great. I didn’t leave an enourmous border but will do it next time. Maybe I should ask first and then do- but I was so eager to start my painting. The surface was much better and I didn’t get any buckling so I will try again.
Thank you again![FONT=Century Gothic]Celiahttp://watercolors-celiablanco.blogspot.it/
[/I][/COLOR]February 21, 2013 at 4:21 pm #1182096A small needle nose plier works very well
Better a small Vise Grip needle noseGrip the top of the staple
Twist slightly, like using a screw driver
This loosens the pins from the wood
Then the staple pull straight out of the woodNo damage to the paper
February 21, 2013 at 4:28 pm #1182097I use a Screw -Driver that has a Thin edge to it . A Cheap one if possible, just for that purpose .
June:)Follow your Bliss and the Universe will open doors for you , where there were only walls. Joseph Campbell
February 21, 2013 at 4:47 pm #1182103Agree with June. Once loosened, I remove the staples as Neeman suggested. When I Use the screwdriver tip in I go from the painting side to the external edge, that is, pointed away from the painting so if it slips, I won’t damage the painting. It sounds complicated but it isn’t with a little practice.
Karl
Florida, New Hampshire
USAFebruary 22, 2013 at 2:13 am #1182106I’ve used a fine tip screwdriver and it got the staples out no rips to the paper.
I appreciate the generous nature of the members in this forum. Thank you for your helpful insight.[FONT=Century Gothic]Celiahttp://watercolors-celiablanco.blogspot.it/
[/I][/COLOR]February 22, 2013 at 4:59 pm #1182098I have uses a screwdriver, a knife blade qnd a staple remover to pull the staples out of gator board and wood canvas stretching frames. The staple remover is the best, in my opinion. And I bought the staple remover cheap on ebay.
Celia, have you tried wetting 140 pound watercolor paper and stretching it on to the wood stretcher frames that oil painters stretch canvas on? When the paper tries it is very tight and wonderful to paint on, as well as being very lightweight.Teresa
Saint RagdollFebruary 22, 2013 at 7:04 pm #1182094There are several different types of staple removers. Which one do you prefer? Or can you elaborate on some good ones?
February 23, 2013 at 4:14 am #1182107I have uses a screwdriver, a knife blade qnd a staple remover to pull the staples out of gator board and wood canvas stretching frames. The staple remover is the best, in my opinion. And I bought the staple remover cheap on ebay.
Celia, have you tried wetting 140 pound watercolor paper and stretching it on to the wood stretcher frames that oil painters stretch canvas on? When the paper tries it is very tight and wonderful to paint on, as well as being very lightweight.Teresa
Saint Ragdoll:thumbsup:Teresa, I never thought about stretching it onto a wood stretcher for canvas. My thouht is that the paper would rip through but I will try and experiment. You realize there is always so much to know about watercolor, it is incredible! Do you then keep it on the stretcher once finished? Or take it off and reuse the stretcher? This is a nice way to be able to work on multiple paintings at once.I will look into finding a staple remover, sounds like a good option as well. Someone mentioned a magnetic one. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!:clap:
[FONT=Century Gothic]Celiahttp://watercolors-celiablanco.blogspot.it/
[/I][/COLOR]February 23, 2013 at 10:21 am #1182095https://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1190872&highlight=gallery+wrapped
Ona has a thread about gallery wrapped framing too. You can remove the painting once finished if you want.
February 23, 2013 at 3:50 pm #1182102A staple remover but do it very slowly so there is no tearing.
Reggie
Life is short so savor every moment!
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