why on earth are easels so much money

[clayne]

I make prints to 20x24 - however it is very rarely that I exceed 11x14. I almost never use anything larger than an 11x14 4-blade, and then it is often only used to hold a speed-easel in place.

Buy an easel that accommodates 90% of your work, and use a sheet of Masonite and some masking tape (or a sheet of thin steel and some magnets) for the occasional large prints.

Another alternative is aluminum stock. Readily available a home depot and easy to cut and sand. Making 4 free standing blades would be a piece of cake. Steel is heavier and harder to work but would keep paper flatter - although a random lens or two placed on aluminum slats would keep it down.

 

[declark]

I like the idea of using a mat board, but maybe even better would be to just use a cheap black picture frame, remove glass and a mat, cut a piece of MDF for a base to fit close and add some wood dowels to locate paper.

 

[rphenning]

Ugh! so i found one on craigslist by using a "search all of craigslist" engine, but the seller wants me to use money order instead of paypal. damn! No go for me.

 

[perkeleellinen]

Last year I found an ebay auction for a 16x20 Kaiser 4 blade easel, the type that Silverprint sell for £600, with a buy it now set at £50. I couldn't believe my eyes and in the 15 seconds it took to check if the buyer was legit, someone else hit the BIN. Damn! Too slow.

 

[jovo]

I guess I lucked out on easels. When I bought my Saunders 4x5 enlarger from B&H it was on sale (a hefty discount too as I recall) and they threw in a Saunders 11x14 easel for free. (I think it was when Saunders LPL was being bought by Omega). And then a few years later, I found a really great deal on the bay for a 20x24 Saunders easel that was in terrific shape. (less than $200 IIRR) So...patience, patience, patience, and keep looking. Good deals are still out there.

 

[Neil Poulsen]

My strategy was to continue using my 14x14, four-bladed Saunders for 11x14 and under. For 16x20, I bought a two-bladed Saunders. That gives me up to a 3/4" border on two sides. That works fine for my purposes.

Although I don't use it, I lucked out in getting a 20"x24" four-bladed Saunders for $60 from someone selling out all their darkroom equipment. It has kind of a 2" diameter dent on the bottom where someone dropped something on it. But, I don't really think that would affect image quality.