Making your own easel can save on its cost
If you are beginning your career as an artist, odds are you don't have a lot of money for supplies. You'll most likely want to spend your funds on paint and canvas for your masterpieces. But you'll also need an easel for painting. If you want to save money, building your own easel is very easy if you follow a few simple steps.
Tools and Materials
You will need two pieces of 2-by-3, one 82 3/8 inches and one 81 inches long. You will also need one 4-foot piece of 2-by-4, one 4-foot-by-3-foot piece of ¾-inch plywood, two 7-inch carriage bolts, one 5-inch carriage bolt, nuts for the bolts, 2 1/2-inch nails, drill, a hammer, a rope, saw, and wood glue.
Cutting and Drilling
Start by angling the top of the easel's front legs. The front legs will be the longer 2-by-3. Starting from one corner, measure out a 15-degree slope and cut the wood. The angles will be against the back leg. Once you have made the cuts, measure up 78 inches from the bottom of the wood (the non-cut side), and drill a hole in each one at a right angle to the angle cut. Next, take the back leg (the 81-inch 2-by-3), measure up 39 inches and 74 inches, and make marks noting where these measurements are. Drill holes through the wider side of the board at both marks.
Assembling
Once all the boards have been cut and drilled, put the easel together. Lay the legs on the ground, with the back leg in between the two front legs (make sure that the angles in the front legs are pointed toward the back leg). Line up the holes on top and place your 5-inch carriage bolt through it. Spread the front legs apart until they are about 45 inches wide and tighten the bolt using a nut. Place the legs back on the ground and place the 4-foot-long 2-by-4 on top of them. Make sure the 2-by-4 is centered on the legs in all directions. Drill holes through the 2-by-4 and the front legs and bolt it down. This will be your crossbar where you will place your canvas. Spread the wood glue on the fronts of the front legs and place the plywood on the front legs flush the 2-by-4. Nail the plywood down to the legs. Finally, stand the easel up and position the legs to the most comfortable angle for your painting and tie the rope through the still open hole in the back legs and the 2-by-4.
