For static frames, also known as stretch-and-glue frames, you’ll need the following tools:
- Something to apply the adhesive (brushes/spatulas)
- Razor knives for trimming off the excess mesh
- Bottles to mix the glues (if using two-part glues)
- Something to grind the face of the frame. Handheld grinders with an abrasive disc can do the job, but proper ventilation is a must if working with cyanoacrylate (CA) glue. If you are starting with blank frames, the grinder can be used to rough up the surface for better adhesion. Frames with CA glue can be re-glued with CA without grinding, but it is not ideal. Frames with two-part polyurethane glues can also be re-glued without grinding, achieving excellent results. Two-part poly glues will not adhere to CA glue. In this instance, the CA glue must be completely removed.
- A device to tension the mesh. This can be as simple as an oversized roller frame, one of the bar stretcher systems sold by equipment manufacturers, or a high-end clamp stretcher
- Last, but most important is a good tension meter. The inexpensive ones will give an idea of tension, but like many things in life, you get what you pay for.
