Gallery Stretcher Preventative Maintenance

Preventative Maintenance

Oil-less System

All of the Gallery Stretchers are equipped with our “oil-less” pneumatic cylinders. These cylinders are rated for “One Million Miles of travel” per cylinder. Needless to say they will last a lifetime. Because they are oil-less you should never introduce pneumatic oil into the machine via the air hose. The only component that requires occasional oiling is the pneumatic staple gun and this is done directly at the inlet port of the gun. (You must remove air to the gun and remove the hose first)

Each week a couple drops of pneumatic oil should be applied to the inlet port of the staple gun to prevent metal fatigue and friction and to lubricate the “O-rings”. If you have not oiled your staple gun you may hear air escaping from the gun constantly, this is caused by a damaged “O-ring”.

The Air Out There

Your air compressor pulls air in from the shop and even though it may be filtered it is full of air-born dust and oil. Compressing air requires a lot of energy and that results in heat. The air is heated and then is allowed to condense in the tank and airlines. The tank accumulates moisture, dirt, oil and rust and believe it or not it becomes entrained in the airline where it accumulates inside the pneumatic components. The resulting “sludge” tends to gather where the orifice is smallest and it can cause components to fail or operate erratically.

Quick Exhaust, Flow Controls & Regulators

The quick-exhaust valve, flow control and pressure regulators are very sensitive to debris and moisture. The best course of action is to eliminate moisture altogether by installing a moisture separator on the inlet side of the machine. It is also strongly recommended that you vent the air compressor tank weekly to discharge the moisture at the bottom of the tank.

If moisture and debris do get into your system there are a few steps you can take to possibly clean these components or at least force the obstruction out. Please follow this link on how to flush the debris from your system.

Mechanical Motion

The constant motion of your machine can cause mounting screws to vibrate free. If a sufficient number of screws should loosen their grip they will create excessive play which can lead to binding. The operator of the machine should make a mental note of how the machine behaves when it is first operational. This will help them identify a problem before it has a chance to fully develop.

Excessive Force & Proper Placement

The Gallery Stretcher will produce a tight uniform stretch with only about 30-40 psi, rarely is it necessary to use more force. In fact, if the stretching force exceeds 50 psi the canvas will slip out of the grip of the clamping bar and release to prevent damage to the art. Excessive pressure will also distort the aluminum frame.

Proper placement of the art during a stretch is also important. The operator should work from the center of the machine and not favor one side or the other. Favoring one side can cause the bars to bind during operation.