Saunders easel rubber pad

[erikg]

Everyone who owns an older one of these easels knows this issue: the rubber pad on the bottom starts to break down and sticks to the baseboard. It's getting pretty messy. What is the best way to remove it and where to get a replacement? I have an 11x14 four-blade. Thanks!

 

[reellis67]

A paint scraper should remove the majority of the decaying rubber and then a little 'Goo Gone' or related adhesive remover should remove the remainder of the gunk. Cork works very well for a replacement in my experience. Adhesive backed cork sheets are cheap and can be had at most home improvement or office supply shops. The main thing is to get all the gunk off and make sure the replacements are the same thickness (as each other, not necessarily the originals)

- Randy

 

[Aggie]

You can also go to the housewares stores and get that rubber drawer/shelf matting. With a bit of expoxy, it is almost as good as the orginal rubber backing except it has a mesh pattern. It is also a lot cheaper than cork and resists any kind of moisture.

 

[jd callow]

I am interested in knowing what people use to replace the rubber or in my case cork.

I have the old, really heavy duty 20x24 Saunders, that at one time had cork. The cork is long gone and the easle moves too easily on the baseboard. I have to tape it down once I've framed the print.

<edit> I love this place! in the time it took for me to pee and add my post 2 excellent solutions </edit>

 

[Lee L]

Craft shops have thin sheets of adhesive-backed closed cell foam in various sizes and colors. If you have a Michael's craft shop in your area (don't know where in the world you are) I think it's labeled as "Foamies" or something like that. I've used it on some speed easels that I picked up for 50 cents each. The shelf/drawer liner that aggie mentions is much more tacky, but the foamies are cheap enough to see if you like them.

Lee

 

[donbga]

You can also go to the housewares stores and get that rubber drawer/shelf matting. With a bit of expoxy, it is almost as good as the orginal rubber backing except it has a mesh pattern. It is also a lot cheaper than cork and resists any kind of moisture.

Aggie,

You stole the words right from my mouth. I use this material for my 20x24 Saunders easel, however there is really no need to glue it to the easel, it works great simply by laying it on the counter that the easel sits on.

Don Bryant

 

[Bruce Appel]

Old mouse pads.

 

[John Koehrer]

Old mouse pads.

droppings?

 

[donbga]

Old mouse pads.

Unfortunately my mouse pads aren't 20x24 inches!

Don Bryant

 

[glbeas]

If you are actually intent on mouse pad material try a dive shop. Wetsuits are made of the same stuff and I think you can buy swatches for making repairs. However I think Aggie and Dons idea is excellent. I bought a roll to make placemats for our camper table. Darn thing is so slick nothing will stay put if you bump it.

 

[jp80874]

<edit> I love this place! in the time it took for me to pee and add my post 2 excellent solutions </edit>

John,

Perhaps more than we wanted to know.

Michael Mutmansky showed me something to watch in the older larger Saunders 20x24 easels is that they may have bent or bowed over time. It certainly wouldn't hurt to check for that in any size or brand, but especially the larger sizes. This can be determined with a level and corrected with the level and the adhesive backed cork mentioned earlier. We used cork and contact cement, but either should work. Then of course aligning the enlarger, baseboard and easel confirms a good job.

John Powers who learned it from Michael.

 

[jd callow]

Mine is warping, but survived the laser test in it's rsting position -- lean on any corner and its another story.

 

[Papa Tango]

Most larger arts & craft supply stores carry an exact replacement for the Saunders material: a black, smooth on two sides foam material about an eighth in thickness. It is available in all size sheets, and is relatively inexpensive. Redid both of mine (they had gotten uneven), as well as the bottom of a couple drawers that lenses are kept in.

 

[Bob F.]

Hey Aggie & Don - you guys is geniuseseseses...! I've had 1/2 a roll of that stuff lying unused in a kitchen drawer for years AND have easels that skitter about if you nudge them and never thought of bringing the two together! Fits my baseboard perfectly... Yet another one of those "slap forehead and say: Doh! - why didn't I thnk of that?" moments, with which I am becoming increasingly familiar...

Cheers, Bob.

 

[hortense]

RUG GRIPPER for under rugs.

 

[glbeas]

RUG GRIPPER for under rugs.

Yep, this is a scaled up version of the same material Aggie mentioned.

 

[msage]

I bought these and other parts from the company.
Michael