Artist Easel

April 2, 2006

 

I found myself in need of another easel and made this one from scrap lumber and discarded metal. The fasteners(bolts, screws), however, were bought. The frame is constructed from wood cut down to size(3/4" x 1.5") from a packing crate I picked up for nothing. Half lap joints were used throughout the piece and glued, however, the center support is just screwed, at the moment, in case I decide to modify the attachments. I used for a model a easel that I had picked up at Michael's but I made some modifications to suit my needs.

(click on picture for a larger view)

Front and back views of the easel out on my little deck.

I carved a Glasgow rose in the top clamp. The tightening bolt is made from a carriage bolt. Inside the block, and out of view, is a nut brazed to a piece of 16 gauge steel. A thin shim prevents the bold from dinking up the vertical support.

The bottom canvas frame support. This clamp keeps the bottom of the frame support firmly against the vertical support. I'm not really pleased with the esthetics of the clamp but it is quite functional.

The 'sliding dovetail' on the vertical was cut with a 45 deg camfer bit. I had to do considerable diddling in order for the two slides to move easily past each other. This little project is my first attempt at fabricating wood projects that incorporate the sliding dovetail,

The back leg clamp is different from the other clamps on this project. Note the nut brazed to the steel plate. If you look carefully, you can see the thin metal shim that prevents the bolt from digging into the leg.

I made the leg hinge from pieces of metal laminations from an old microwave oven transformer. The pin is a section of yard sign wire. Sure, I could have bought a nice hinge but that would spoil the metaphor of the piece. If, over time, the hinge shows signs of failure I will make another that is more robust.

Just a side view of the two sliding dovetail members.

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