Adjusting Saunders V-Track easel (VT1400)

Marco Buonocore · Sep 3, 2015

I've got a Saunders VT 1400 easel, it's a fantastic piece of equipment. I'm not the first owner, I got it used. One thing about it bothers me, and that is that the blades on the right hand sides are off by about 1/8". So If I want make a 8 x 8 print, The blades on the right hand side have to be set at 8 1/8 x 7 7/8 to get my borders consistent. Do you follow me? The other two blades on the bottom are spot on.

Everything else is perfect with the design, so to me this seems like something I can correct. Any ideas? I don't see anything obvious, but I'm a bit thick sometimes. Thanks!

Newt_on_Swings · Sep 3, 2015

When you put your paper in do you push it against the side of the groove? Try pushing the paper all the way to the left and see if you still get that result.

Marco Buonocore · Sep 3, 2015

Oh absolutely, I push the paper right into the groove, and shift it over to the top left side. I've been using Saunders easels in the darkroom for about 15 years now, and am familiar with them.

Bob Carnie · Sep 3, 2015

Marco

This is a pretty dam nice easel, too bad the bent track .. I have a bunch of Saunders with the same problem so I will follow this thread to see if there is some better answers than what I can give you., they just go out of whack over time.
I use a measuring tape and gorrilla tape to lock the size down, I know its a bit bush league but this issue will always be there and its the only simple solution I have came up with.

Bob

Newt_on_Swings · Sep 3, 2015

Hmm I guess I'm lucky this hasn't happened to both my vtracks. I have this easel and it's bigger brother. I really like this 11x14 version, the 16x20 is a bit overkill and weighs a ton but is rock solid. On older easels I have used, I usually try my best to bend them back and tape them down onto each other.

Photo Engineer · Sep 3, 2015

Hmmm, not sure this is bent so much as out of calibration.

IIRC, there are set screws on the side(s) which allow the bars to be moved a tiny bit. This might be the problem. I have not used or calibrated one in years though.

PE

StephenT · Sep 3, 2015

I'm going to go put some Gorilla Tape on mine right now. I got one that had a slightly bent blade, got that back in alignment, and don't want that to happen again.

Thanks for the tip, Bob

Marco Buonocore · Sep 3, 2015

It's definitely not bent; it's just that the ruler on the right hand side is off by approximately 1/8". The other ruler on the bottom is dead on.

PE, I'll look for the set screws and see if they give me any joy. I'll be in the darkroom tomorrow and will check.

I'd love to get a 16x20 version - they're beautiful easels, and everything else seems like a toy after using it.

Photo Engineer · Sep 3, 2015

Marco, good luck. I wish I could remember more. Mr. Saunders was a friend of my first boss at EK and stopped by once to visit. I met him just for a few minutes and he showed me some tricks with the easels. He also showed me how to work the newest easel that we just got. It allowed 4 approximately 4x5 prints with borders to be made on one sheet of 8x10. My boss had just ordered one from him and he was delivering it.

I wish I could remember more. All I remember is the dozens of prints I made using that new easel. We used the replicate prints for stability testing.

PE

Sirius Glass · Sep 3, 2015

Photo Engineer said:
Hmmm, not sure this is bent so much as out of calibration.

IIRC, there are set screws on the side(s) which allow the bars to be moved a tiny bit. This might be the problem. I have not used or calibrated one in years though.

PE

I am glad that I tuned in for this thread. Good information.

frobozz · Sep 4, 2015

I've got a big Beseler 20x24 easel (used) and the scales in one direction are off by a few inches! Someone just put the stickers on wrong. Both of the stickers in that dimension :-( Could that be the case here? Not mis-calibrated, just mis-manufactured? Needless to say, I have to adjust it using an actual sheet of paper every time I want to change it.

Duncan

Keith Pitman · Sep 5, 2015

Here are the instructions for adjusting a V-track easel.

Marco Buonocore · Sep 6, 2015

Hi Keith,

Thanks for the pdf. I'll try loosening the blades and lowering them by 1/8". If I can get that sorted, I'll be really happy!

Bob Carnie · Sep 7, 2015

Marco

If you get really good at this I have about 5 easels you can practice on to keep the skill set high.

Bob
QUOTE=Marco Buonocore;1953785127]Hi Keith,

Thanks for the pdf. I'll try loosening the blades and lowering them by 1/8". If I can get that sorted, I'll be really happy![/QUOTE]

Adjusting Saunders V-Track easel (VT1400)

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