Making Changes to a New Easel
After my wife's objections died down, I acquired my sixth studio easel. It is a Richeson Dulce (Italian for dum ass) pine easel.
I actually wanted the minty beechwood one from Curry's in southern Ontario. It has a ratchet system, however the store people wouldn't know for another 4-6 weeks whether they would be restocking that model. So I bought the one in the adjacent picture from Delta Art & Drafting Supplies in Edmonton, Alberta. It is made with interlocking sections of pine or a kind of wood that the Brazilians call 'pine'. It seems harder than white pine.
There are a few modifications which I make to most of my easels, the need for which should serve as a warning about easel design flaws in general. Most easels have a base that allows for wheels (castors or casters -Am.) to be mounted with truss head screws. I have wood floors, so off I go to Ikea's Home Organization Dept. for a set of four soft castors $12 CAD. They don't need to lock, but they should have urethane or thermal setting plastic wheel edges that do not scratch wood floors.
Why So Many Easels?
I have too many unfinished paintings. A situation which I hope to change by keeping the canvases viewable on the easels.
Wheels
All six H-framed Studio easels are on wheels. My home modified set of wood drawers which passes for a rolling tabouret is also on wheels. This makes everything instantly mobile.
Winches
Three of the studio easels now have hand winches. Recently I added one to a heavy beechwood easel as it was impossible before to raise and lower it while a large canvas was mounted.
Inadequate Knobs and Bumpers
Often the supplied knobs are too small with cutting edges; I replace the important ones. Bumpers with a good grip are not only added to the lower shelf/box and upper clamp but also to the front of the base in order to stand a folded easel safely on a wood floor.
The modifications listed here (and others) make the easels more useable, secure in holding large canvases, render them mobile and generally create a better piece of equipment. studio furniture.
Changes made to my new H Frame Easel
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