How to Build an Artist's Easel for Painting
Artists use an easel to support the canvas while they paint. Easels make outdoor painting much more convenient and they can even hold the paintings after completion for display. Ideally you want to be able to fold your easel without much difficulty so that you can store carry and transport it with ease. You can save a significant amount of money by making your own painting easel with parts found at most hardware stores.
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Things You'll Need
- 20 feet pine board, 2 3/4-by-1 1/10-inch
- Doweling, 15 3/4-by-7/10-inch diameter
- 1 yard sash cord
- Paint tray, 36-by- 31 1/2-inch
- Brass hinge
- Wood screws
- Drill
- 7/10-inch spade
- 7/10 inch drill bit
- Saw
- Wood glue
- Tape measure
- Pencil
- Ruler
- Fine grade sandpaper
- G-clamp
Instructions
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1
Cut the pine board down with the saw. Cut two 63-inch boards. Cut one board 51 inches long then cut another board 27 1/2 inches long with an angle at one end.
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2
Cut the last board at 15 3/4 inches in length. Cut the dowel in two 7 4/5-inch pieces.
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3
Clamp the 63-inch pieces of pine together. Measure 3 feet down the board from one end and drill half way through the wood with the spade bit. Measure down in another 6 inches from this point and drill another hole in the same manner. Drill the final hole using the same procedure an additional 6 inches down from the last drill hole.
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4
Spread the bases of the two 63-inch pieces 23 1/2 inches apart. Spread the tops of the pieces 5 inches apart. Measure 29 1/2 inches up from the bases of the 63-inch boards. Glue the 27 1/2 inch board along this line and drill holes where the board meets the longer boards. Screw this board against the two longer pieces. Flip over your easel frame. Screw the 15 3/4 inch long piece to the two longer boards 8 inches down from the top.
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5
Glue your paint tray to the top part of the lower rail that bridges the two long boards. Hinge the back leg to the rail that bridges the two remaining legs of the tripod together.
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6
Drill holes through the center of the lower rail and the back leg of the easel. Thread rope through the holes to connect the pieces and knot both ends.
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7
Set the easel upright and open it up by pulling the back leg apart from the two front legs. Sand the easel down so the feet sit completely on the floor.
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References
- Photo Credit painting image by Dmitri MIkitenko from Fotolia.com
