• Welcome to Photrio!
    Registration is fast and free. Join today to unlock search, see fewer ads, and access all forum features.
    Click here to sign up

Options for large (20x24") easels

DutchDarkroom

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Nov 5, 2025
Messages
55
Location
Netherlands
Format
Medium Format
Hey all,

I've recently built a new darkroom, it's built to be capable of printing up to 20x24". I have the trays and enlarger to do so but i'm missing one final piece, the easel. I bid on a 20x24 saunders one but the seller seems to send his messages by carrier pigeon and has deleted the ad today. I've also looked into building one myself, i've seen options for ones with fixed frames but since i change around my composition with every negative this doesn't seem practical to me. Or can i just cut my print afterward? I've also seen someone built a vacuum easel but this seems a bit complicated and not very useful in the end. I've found little resources on building a normal style easel. I am decently handy and have a good amount of tools, my brother is studying mechanical engineering so i could ask for some help. I'm based in the Netherlands.

What do you guys think a fair price is if i find a 20x24 easel again?
And does anybody know of other options to build one myself?
 
There's one on my local Craigslist here in Northern California, but that won't be too useful to you in the Netherlands. But it might give you some idea of (asking) prices...

Saunders 20 x 24 inch Darkroom Easel. - photo/video - by owner - electronics sale - craigslist

Selling my Saunders 20 x 24 inch Darkroom easel. Good condition. These are no longer being made. The only one being made today costs $1100 so this is a bargain. Get it while it lasts. Pickup only....
sfbay.craigslist.org
 
Thanks for your response,
I've only seen them go for around 1000 on ebay, the one in Germany was €500. So that's a good deal, i could try to ship it here but with import and shipping costs it's probably not worth it. Thanks anyway!
 
I bought my RRB 20*24 easel through Marktplaats some 7 years ago for €100; saw one a few years ago for €50
 
Getting an RRB easel might be a bit easier but i probably won't get it for that price, you must have been very lucky! How is that easel working for you? It looks pretty nice but you have to offset it a lot to make smaller prints right?
 
DutchDarkroom said:
Thanks for your response,
I've only seen them go for around 1000 on ebay, the one in Germany was €500. So that's a good deal, i could try to ship it here but with import and shipping costs it's probably not worth it. Thanks anyway!
Click to expand...

Why would there be import fees within the EU? Plus it might be cheaper for you to just go and pick it up in person.
 
Pieter12 said:
Why would there be import fees within the EU? Plus it might be cheaper for you to just go and pick it up in person.
Click to expand...

My mistake, i see how i was unclear. I meant import fees on the one in california, the one in germany was a good deal but the seller didn't respond and the ad has been deleted.
 
I didn't really make a 20x24" 4-blade easel. But, I did find a beat-up one within my driving distance a few years ago:


Making a 20x24 4-blade easel...

I have always held the contention that when making something, you should get raw materials that are as close to the intended size and shape as you can. This makes fabrication and construction easier. In this case I found a collection of parts that were already in the rough shape of a 4-blade easel:
www.photrio.com
 
My advice would be to place a WTB listing on Marktplaats.
By explaining your situation and showing some darkroom pic's, it could trigger a (charitable) response.

Show some flexibility in make and model, include relevant search terms and refresh from time to time. You could also place it in several categories.
 
If you know what crop sizes you'll want on 20x24, you could get a piece of particle board cut to a large enough size and cut crop masks out of 1/8 hardboard that's the same size as the particle board. Not the most convenient but it would work.

Otherwise, the Want to Buy ad is a good way to go. Also actively search out general darkroom equipment. I got my big Saunders easel when looking for a 4x5 enlarger. It was thrown in with the purchase.
 
DutchDarkroom said:
It looks pretty nice but you have to offset it a lot to make smaller prints right?
Click to expand...

For 12x16 or smaller, get a smaller easel - RRB's 2-bladers are durable and much less restrictive in some ways than Saunders 4-blades, but the trade off is that they can be more awkward (unless you are working with a floor-standing or wall mounted enlarger with a large table assembly) for smaller sheets and deeper margins.
 
I use a Beseler Universal 20x24. It's big and heavy, but EZ to use and MATTE BLACK with adjustable spring loaded frame. Part # 8502.

 
I love my vacuum easel. It's all I use for large prints. You can make them with pegboard and a shop vacuum. I had one that someone had made many years ago.
 
While not a perfect solution, when I print using 20x24 paper I use a comparatively inexpensive borderless easel and "crop" when I mat the print.

Good luck!
 
DutchDarkroom said:
Getting an RRB easel might be a bit easier but i probably won't get it for that price, you must have been very lucky! How is that easel working for you? It looks pretty nice but you have to offset it a lot to make smaller prints right?
Click to expand...

The RRB easel works perfectly fine for me. Lucky to buy one for that price? Maybe, but patience saves lots of money. If you want to buy one immediately you'll pay a fortune; if you patiently wait and watch Marktplaats (or similar sites, not eBay) daily, sooner or later you'll run into a good offer. For smaller prints I use smaller easels (Dunco, Leitz)
 

It looks like all your photos are missing from that post - any chance you could update it so we can see what you built and how you did so?
 
David R Williams said:
It looks like all your photos are missing from that post - any chance you could update it so we can see what you built and how you did so?
Click to expand...

I noticed the missing pictures a few years ago and reposted them starting with post #14
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register