I paint, and when I sketch in the first sketch I like to keep the canvas rolled up rather than stretchered. These and other clamps (for now) hold a 24" x 36" screen on aluminum poles without losing support and with minimal sag, even when the screen is upright. inches, which allows me to use them with a thicker stem (and thus larger tarps), and the plastic grip coating provides ample grip with wet hands. So expect to either double some of these or keep them in the toolbox (3 out of 15 in 1 month). Expect the plastic coating on the working end to come off (maybe stuck to your work) on first use. Bare metal is a U-shaped channel with square walls running towards the hinge and without a plastic cover it can damage or gouge the work. As other people have posted, there are ways around this problem. At the price of Sweet Clamp!