Easel blade repair

[mexipike]

I have a Saunders four blade easel which came with an enlarger I bought. It was new old stock still in the box and plastic. I was super excited because I always end up with a rocked old easel.

Unfortunately this easel has one blade that won't stay straight. It seems to be off the track slightly. I started taking it apart but couldn't figure out how to get it on the track. Anyone know much about how to fix these?

 

[nsurit]

There were several kinds made by Saunders. Which one do you have. Oh, as your fiddle with it, don't force anything. Bill Barber

 

[mexipike]

It's the large four blade one. I don't know the model but I can try and get a pic in a bit

 

[Tom1956]

Every bladed easel I ever saw was crooked as a black snake. Seems like you have to keep a ruler or a triangle or something around all the time with those things. Just take your time when you adjust from size to size and check your work.

 

[rorye]

I have exactly the same problem with my Saunders 16"x20" and I need to figure out a permanent fix. At the moment I just tape it in place with painter's tape but it does cause a little resentment every time I use it!

 

[Karl K]

You have the box.
The model number should be somewhere on the box.
Brandess-Kalt-Aetna is the current USA Distributor for Saunders.

 

[tkamiya]

I have two Saunders 4 blade type and neither of them are that square or accurate.... I just tape all 4 blades to each other to my liking with pieces of masking tape.

Unless yours is actually broken, (is it?) that may be the way it is.

 

[mexipike]

You have the box.
The model number should be somewhere on the box.
Brandess-Kalt-Aetna is the current USA Distributor for Saunders.

I'll check my garage bit I think I threw it out

 

[mexipike]

I have two Saunders 4 blade type and neither of them are that square or accurate.... I just tape all 4 blades to each other to my liking with pieces of masking tape.

Unless yours is actually broken, (is it?) that may be the way it is.

It is actually broken. The other 3 blades move smoothly and are quite straight while the fourth is very lose when you turn its wheel and the top part slides all over the place.

 

[Vilk]

if you find out that some reasonably flat part A broke off a reasonably flat part B--i glued a blade of my V-track back together with J-B Weld a few years back, never a problem since

 

[Jon Shiu]

Take it off the rail and bend the spring. Then put it back on.

Jon

 

[mexipike]

Bend the string how? Which direction?

 

[Tom1956]

Bend the string how? Which direction?

Just to jump in briefly, allow me to answer that question by admonishing the #1 rule in being a good repairman/machnist. (aside from safety). Temperance is the key. Look at the mechanism. Think it through. Then apply your repair. Trust yourself and don't be flustered by doubt. You will repair it with no further help from anyone and it will be a perfect repair. Works every time.