Problem Need ideas to design adjustable easel shelf

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echavez123

echavez123

MGF, Master Grumble Framer
Joined
Jan 24, 2008
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Las Vegas, NV
I need to photograph about 50 large original paintings on canvas. My standard wood easel works fine for up to 36" x 48" canvas. But for larger pieces (6' x 7'), I need a much larger adjustable easel. So, I built one from a design I found on the web on THIS site.

The design calls for a series of holes drill on the front of the two rails. Round dowels are used to hold the easel shelf. I am looking for new ideas. I would like the easel shelf to slide up and down and be held in place by a mechanism that holds the shelf in place by putting pressure on each of the two rails. A crude method would be to use a large spring clamp on each rail and lay the shelf on the clamps.

Any brilliant ideas?
 
If you want something quick, easy and cheap you can just use peg board from any home improvement store. If you want it easily portable just have them split a 4x8 into two 2x8 segments and attach those to 2x4's. You can now lean those back against the wall as close or far apart as needed and rise and lower the painting in seconds.
 
Jeff - if I had a wall to spare, a permanent easel would be ideal. But I dont, so the easel must be adjustable and portable, ie, on casters. Got it built. Just need to work on refining the vertical adjustment for the shelf and the top support as well. Some kind of braking system would be cook - like a large knob with a bolt that could be used to put pressure on the vertical supports for adjustment. Still thinking about it.
 
It looks like a few people on that site under the gallery selection have altered the easel so no holes were used.
I would use some kind of toggle bolt and tighten it with pressure.
 
framestudio said:
It looks like a few people on that site under the gallery selection have altered the easel so no holes were used.
I would use some kind of toggle bolt and tighten it with pressure.
Click to expand...

That is exactly what I did. Toggle bolt pushes wood in slot against wood on frame as a brake.
 
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