Saunders 11x14 easels

[punkzter]

Hi! I've mostly used speed ez-els when I have a chance to make prints, but I've always had a Saunders 11x14 easel as well. The style without knobs. A friend of mine is selling what I guess is a better version of the 11x14 easel, which has the knobs. I've got photos linked below.

2 new photos · Friday, May 2

Tap to view

photos.app.goo.gl

Is it worth the upgrade? I know that everyone in the forums seems to love the v-track easels. None of these things are cheap anymore, that's for sure.

 

[MARTIE]

I only have the Saunders with knobs a 16x20" and it's a dream to use. I wouldn't change or swap it for anything else.

Whenever I've had my hands on a v-track version they didn't seem to me to be of the same standard or quality (lighter, flimsy by comparison).

 

[Ben 4]

Mine looks like the one on the right (with the knobs), and I second Martie's opinion: it's well made and easy to use. I don't think I've ever used one of their V-Track models.

 

[GregY]

My 16x20" is a V track, 20x24" Saunders easel has knobs....my 11x14" Saunders does not. They all work as designed...& IMO no one works better than the others.

 

[logan2z]

I have both styles of 11"x14" Saunders easels. I think they're both well made, but I find the version with the knobs a bit smoother in operation. The 'sliders' on the V-Track style tend to stick a bit on mine and aren't quite as easy to adjust precisely. OTOH, I find that the blades of the knob version tend to need more frequent tweaking to keep them aligned correctly. Again, maybe that's something peculiar to mine. The only other operational difference I'd point out is that the version with the knobs requires you to pull the hinged portion containing the blades forward in order to unlock/lower it. I'm always worried that I'll move the whole easel when doing that. The V-Track version only requires you to raise the hinged portion a bit higher than its locked position in order to lower it.

If you're happy with the version you already have then I probably wouldn't bother buying the other one, unless there's something about it that you like much better.

 

[punkzter]

Probably, as I look them over, the biggest difference between the one with the knobs compared to the sliders (or whatever you want to call the one I currently have), is that the one with the knobs (and maybe the v-track?) can have their alignment adjusted

 

[GregY]

Probably, as I look them over, the biggest difference between the one with the knobs compared to the sliders (or whatever you want to call the one I currently have), is that the one with the knobs (and maybe the v-track?) can have their alignment adjusted

They can all be squared..adjusted, which i check frequently. My experience is that on the big 20"x24".... it takes a lot of wrist power to make adjustments. On the smaller ones i find the V track the smoothest.
With the price of paper, I use my non-V, no knob 11x14" the most..
BTW... new prices for what's available are crazy. B&H & Fstyle just show the Beseler @ $400 !

 

[punkzter]

Maybe I just don't see a way to do it on my current one. I know that the one with knobs has some screws. Mine is just rivets.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I have the Saunders with knobs a 16x20" and I like the way it works.

 

[avandesande]

I have both types the vtrack is faster to adjust and it doesn't require flipping it up as high so that it doesn't hang up. I wouldn't consider it an upgrade really.

 

[GregY]

Maybe I just don't see a way to do it on my current one. I know that the one with knobs has some screws. Mine is just rivets.

Really the blades are quite thin & flexible & all 4 blades run in tracks....which have to have some room for the blades to slide.That's enough space for the blades to go out of square. I keep a large metal square handy & check mine. Someone else suggested that when you have all 4 square for the size you're printing you can put a piece of masking tape on each corner.
I float mount my prints with a 3/8-1/2" border.....so i need to either make sure my easel blades are square or i need to painstakingly make sure to "square" the print when i trim the excess borders. For me it's easier to square the easel.

 

[jvo]

I only have the Saunders with knobs a 16x20" and it's a dream to use. I wouldn't change or swap it for anything else.

the bee's knees!!!

 

[GregY]

the bee's knees!!!

They sure were. I don't think they're still in production. All 3 of mine are Saunders (11x17" - 16x20" - 20x24") The last time B&H had them a 20x24" was well over $1k. I bought mine used and still marvel at the packing job the seller did. It must have taken him hours...but it arrived unscathed. Lots of love for Saunders!

 

[Patrick Robert James]

I currently have 11x14 and 20x24 Master easels (the one with knobs). I used to have the regular one until I lent it to someone many years ago and it was fine. They all work. And I have a smattering of other easels which I use from time to time. A 16x20 Beseler. One is one of those 4-in-1 easels that I modified for full frame 7x9ish from 35 so it is permanently that size. I think I still have a couple two blade easels and a couple of Leitz easels too. Then there are the Speed easels. Don't know what I even have of those. But the Saunders four blade are the ones I use the most.