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Masonite is vulnerable to crumbling at the edges, and especially the corners, if dropped or mis-handled, unless a bracing is glued to the back. Larger pieces stand a greater chance of being damaged than smaller ones, due to the weight differences and relative ease of handling. Once a smaller piece is installed in a frame, such damage is less likely to occur, but since paintings are removed from frames for photographing, varnishing and restoration, it is best to glue a bracing framework of wood to the back to reinforce it. Basswood is one of the better woods to use for this. I use 1" x 2" strips, miter the ends, and glue them in place using many small C clamps to hold them while the glue dries. I put a strip of wood between the C clamps and the front of the Masonite to spread the force and prevent the clamps from creating dents in the surface. I wrap the canvas around the edges of the bracing, and tack it down with copper-plated tacks, just as I would with stretcher bars.
I learned about the crumbling of the edges of unreinforced Masonite the hard way, after painting a picture directly on primed Masonite, many years ago. It was dropped, and lost a corner. Once damaged, it could not be satisfactorily repaired.
Virgil Elliott
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