Make Canvas Storage
Art canvases need to have a dry place to be stacked and stored, a place where air will circulate underneath and behind each painting. Even though a painting may be dry to the touch, the drying process will naturally continue for weeks, especially if the stretched canvas is covered with an oil-based medium.
Instructions
Building the Decks
1. Make a general assessment of the collection of painted canvases to determine what the sizes of the paintings that you need to store. Also count how many paintings you have.
2. Build a two-tier storage rack to hold the collection of canvases. For educational purposes this article will explain build a storage rack that is six feet high, seven feet long and three feet deep.
3. Build the base frame by cutting two 7-foot pieces of the 1-by-4 stock and five boards at a length of 34 1/2-inches.
4. Build a box frame that is exactly three feet wide and seven feet long. Nail all boards together, standing each board on edge so the finished structure will have a height of 3 1/2 inches. Two of the 34 1/2 inch pieces will fit on the ends, one will go in the center as a crosspiece and the remaining two pieces will be fitted at 21 inches from the outside edges, also as cross pieces. The box can be nailed together with the casing nails (finish nails are also acceptable). Or as an alternative it can be screwed together.
5. Measure the diagonals to make sure the frame is square before you begin nailing the top pieces.
6. Cut six boards at a length of seven feet, then nail them to the top of the deck (with the #8 casing nails) that you just built. If you leave approximately a three inch gap between every board your spacing should be about equal.
7. Build two more decks that are identical to the one you just completed.
8. Cut eight, 6-foot pieces
Putting The Unit Together
9. Lay two of the three decks on their sides so they are lined up next to each other. (You will most likely need an assistant for this.)
10. Separate each deck so the top and bottom are six feet apart. Attach the vertical uprights with the flat head wood screws. Pre-drill each hole with a drill bit and install three screws per junction point. Use the electric screw gun to insert the screws. Place one board at each end of the unit and make sure the bottom of the vertical support piece is flush with the bottom edge of the bottom unit. Also secure the top of the support piece flush with the top edge of the upper unit. Once the two vertical support pieces are attached at each end of the unit, you will have two more vertical pieces to install. Place these two remaining vertical pieces at a point that is about 28 inches from the outside edge. Attach these with the flat head screws.
11. Flip the unit over (you will need some help because at this point only one side has vertical support pieces). After you flip the unit over you need to attach the four remaining vertical support pieces exactly in the same manner as was done on the front side.
12. Install the middle deck or shelf at the four foot mark. Make a pencil mark at the four foot point (measured from the bottom of the unit) of the four vertical support pieces. Now slide the third deck or shelf into place so the top of the unit lines up with all of the pencil marks. Attach the shelf unit to the vertical 1-by-4s with the flat head screws.
13. Turn the unit over and attach the other side of the deck to the vertical support pieces in the same manner. Make sure the top of the shelf lines up at the four foot mark on each vertical piece.
14. Place the unit against the wall and attach the frame to the wall studs wherever possible using 2 to 3 1/2 inch long round head wood screws
