Seeking advice on 16x20 enlarging easel

Alan9940 · Jul 23, 2018

Hi All,

I've got a Beseler 45M series enlarger that I use for enlarging up to 4x5" negs and I'd like to try my hand with 16x20 prints from some of my 4x5 negatives. I don't have any means to wall mount the enlarger or do any type of drop-table design. I've looked at the Saunders 16x20 V-Track easel, but the overall dimensions of that easel is too large for the baseboard. I think a Saunders 16x20 Single Size easel would work, but poking around various used outlets have turned up nothing.

If anyone out there has the same enlarger (or similar) and prints to 16x20, I'd love to hear your solution vis-a-vis holding the paper. I probably should mention that all my final prints are on FB paper.

Thanks!

M Carter · Jul 23, 2018

I simply can't afford a big 4 blade easel - when they do turn up, they're mega pricey and the shipping is often $100 or so. But wall mount for 16x20 is just adding a ton of hassle for a print the big beseler won't even break a sweat for. My local shop had a used one for about $500, and it sold in a matter of days.

I just use a t-square and cut a window in black posterboard (really the weight is like construction paper, not board), and tape it to the baseboard with one side hinged. Underneath this, I do an "L" shaped layer of masking tape to align the paper. I rest a pair of aluminum framing squares (big L-shaped pieces of metal ruler, essentially) on top of the stack of photo paper and posterboard to hold it all flat. As long as you cut the mask cleanly, it works great, done 20x24 with it.

David Brown · Jul 23, 2018

I can't help on finding an easel. Patience is a virtue. Do you have one of the older Beselers where the struts are in front? If that is so, then a 16x20 4 blade is probably not going to fit. Here's mine:

MattKing · Jul 23, 2018

I have a 16x20 two blade LPL easel that is quite usable. It certainly isn't as nice as the four blade models and I would certainly prefer a four blade model for production work, but for the small amount of 16x20 printing I do the two blade version works fine.

dpurdy · Jul 23, 2018

I use the saunders 16x20 easel and I generally turn it about 45 degrees and turn the negative holder the same. It is not like an Omega where the negative holder can't spin. I have many times printed larger than 16x20 on the baseboard.

mshchem · Jul 23, 2018

I have lots of really nice Saunders easels. So lovely and SO EXPENSIVE. Two ideas, I have used sheet metal on plywood for panoramic shots, paper held down with magnets. When I was a kid I made a vacuum easel with some pegboard , scrap lumber , used a shop vac for the vacuum source. Worked great, need to size to paper. Cost about 5 bucks.

I have a Saunders single size for 16 x 20 works fine, I have a 16 x 20 V track , now that I think of it I mainly use with Zone VI. I use Beseler 4x5 MXT enlargers, mostly use 11 X14 easels or single size.
Twenty years ago I built my enlarger table so I could print through table top to a 20 x 24 easel below. I rarely use.
Mike

Jim Jones · Jul 23, 2018

The long discontinued Gantz Speed-E-Zel is scarcely larger than the paper it holds. They should be available on ebay and other online sites.

btaylor · Jul 24, 2018

The Speed Ez-El! There were two camps, the people who hated them and those that used ‘em. I like my 8x10 and 11x14 versions, I find it a bit difficult to load the paper with the 16x20 version, but it’s the most compact easel there is and I am sure inexpensive on the used market and cheap to ship. Plenty of room on the baseboard for it. The downside is of course the fixed borders, but it makes no difference if you’re going to matte the print. I feel like I am running out of baseboard real estate when I use the 16x20 Beseler 4 blade (on my Beseler 45MCRX).

choiliefan · Jul 24, 2018

I use an ancient 2-arm wooden base Eastman. If you're making lots of big prints an expensive modern easel makes sense but if it's for an occasional task any substantially built easel will serve you well. IMHO the Saunders borderless is a good choice being a bit flatter and heavier than a Speed easel.

ic-racer · Jul 24, 2018

My Omega 4x5 enlargers are high-end, but still the baseboard is smaller than the available 4-blade 16x20 easels. It just has to overhang around the edges. At least with the Omega, the column is slanted back where it attaches at the base, so the easel does not hit the column. Not all enlargers are like that.

Alan9940 · Jul 24, 2018

Thank you, all, for the replies. Since I don't plan on making 16x20 prints on a regular basis--and this size easel seems to be, for the most part, dreadfully expensive--I'm going to construct my own out of 3/4" Birch plywood, galvanized sheet steel, and 4 rubber feet. I'll use magnets to hold the paper to the "easel." I priced out the materials, yesterday, and it looks like it will cost about $50 to build; that's a price I can live with!

tedr1 · Jul 24, 2018

Like you I rarely print 16x20. For the last project I pressed into service an unused 16x20 picture frame, it is a fabrication of four side pieces joined with corner pieces that are removable. I simply removed one side so that it is a three-sided frame, the paper is fed into the open side and held in place by the surrounding lips of the three sides.

Mainecoonmaniac · Jul 24, 2018

David Brown said:
I can't help on finding an easel. Patience is a virtue. Do you have one of the older Beselers where the struts are in front? If that is so, then a 16x20 4 blade is probably not going to fit. Here's mine:

I have a Beseler 45MXT and my 16x20 bladed easel fits on my baseboard. I prefer bladed easel because they offer greater flexibility. I bought a Beseler 16x20 borderless easel new which I never used. The edges curl and the bars on either side don't hold FB paper flat. If you plan to print them full frame, you probably don't need an easel. You can mark your baseboard with tape on the corners and just use the baseboard if you're printing with RC paper.

Alan9940 · Jul 24, 2018

Mainecoonmaniac said:
You can mark your baseboard with tape on the corners and just use the baseboard if you're printing with RC paper.

Yeah, I thought of that because RC paper lays so much flatter than fiber. It's just that...other than Ilford MGWT RC (sort of)...I really don't like RC papers. That said, I may get some just to play around with and see if I even like my images at nearly 16x20.

jvo · Aug 7, 2018

do a search for a borderless easel... i had one that was really a black metal sheet that had magnetic strips to hold the paper - totally flexible in terms of size print. it was great but just didn't use it that often , so passed it on and don't remember brand or manufacutre! they're well made and about what you're gonna pay for the diy project.
enjoy.

Seeking advice on 16x20 enlarging easel

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Seeking advice on 16x20 enlarging easel

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