This is the series of oil paintings Heather received. The two small ones are 14.5" x 29"; the larger ones are 19.5" x 29". Since this is an odd size, stretcher bars would have to be custom cut. She got a quote for $300 to mount them. I'm sure the work would have been done quite well, but instead she asked me to lend a hand.

I started with nineteen dollars worth of 1" x 3" (unspecified softwood, dried, #2 and better.)

I cut them to length at the miter saw, and hogged out half-lap joints with the stacked dado blades at the table saw.

All the parts are ready for glue-up.

I pinned each corner with a #8 x 5/8" screw to keep it square while the glue dried. I ripped some of the stock with a 30 degree bevel on each side, then ripped it down the middle to take the place of quarter-round moulding that would typically be used. I knocked off the sharp corners so they wouldn't rip the canvas. That would be bad.

Using an electric staple gun, I started in the midpoint of each side.

I figured that since these would be hung vertically, and the sides would be exposed, I wrapped the corners so the only visible fold was hidden. Not museum quality, but good enough.

Here are all four. The unpainted part of the canvas will be painted black before being hung.