www.grainger.com Opening: Unleash Your Inner Artist with a DIY Easel! Ready to ditch the expensive store-bought easels and create a customized masterpiece tailored to your needs? Building your own artist easel is a rewarding woodworking project that's surprisingly simple, even for beginners. This guide will walk you through a straightforward design, providing clear steps and tips to help you craft a sturdy and functional easel that will elevate your artistic process. Let's get started!
Step 1: Gathering Your Materials & Tools Before diving into the build, it's crucial to have everything you need at hand. Here's a list of essential materials and tools:
- Wood: Pine is an excellent and affordable choice. You'll need various lengths and thicknesses, typically 1x2s, 1x3s, and 1x4s, depending on your desired easel size. A detailed cut list will be provided in subsequent steps.
- Fasteners: Wood screws (various lengths, e.g., 1 1/4", 2") and wood glue.
- Finishing (Optional): Sandpaper (various grits), wood stain or paint, polyurethane or varnish.
- Saw (Circular saw, hand saw, or miter saw)
- Drill with drill bits (for pilot holes and driving screws)
- Screwdriver or screw gun
- Measuring tape
- Pencil
- Square
- Clamps (helpful for securing pieces during glue-up)
- Safety glasses and dust mask
Step 2: Cutting the Wood Pieces Accuracy is key! Carefully measure and cut the following pieces. These dimensions are for a medium-sized easel, adjust as needed for your preferences.
- Front Legs (2): 60 inches (1x3 or 1x4)
- Back Leg (1): 65 inches (1x3 or 1x4)
- Top Crossbar (1): 24 inches (1x2)
- Bottom Crossbar (1): 24 inches (1x2)
- Middle Support (1): 18 inches (1x2)
- Adjustable Shelf Supports (2): 6 inches (1x2)
- Adjustable Shelf (1): 24 inches (1x4)
- Hinge Support (2): 4 inches (1x2)
Step 3: Assembling the Front Frame Start by creating the front frame using the two front legs, the top crossbar, and the bottom crossbar.
- Apply wood glue to the ends of the crossbars.
- Position the top crossbar approximately 4 inches from the top of the front legs, ensuring it's square.
- Clamp the crossbar in place and pre-drill pilot holes through the crossbar into the legs.
- Secure with wood screws.
- Repeat the process for the bottom crossbar, positioning it approximately 6 inches from the bottom of the front legs.
- Add the middle support between the front legs. This support should be positioned between the top and bottom crossbars, and secured with glue and screws like the others. This adds extra rigidity.
Step 4: Attaching the Back Leg and Hinges This step creates the easel's adjustable support.
- Attach the Hinge Supports to the top of the front frame using glue and screws. Ensure they are flush with the top of the front frame.
- Attach hinges to the top of the back leg.
- Attach the other side of the hinges to the hinge supports on the front frame. This allows the back leg to fold in and out.
Step 5: Creating the Adjustable Shelf This is where your canvas will rest.
- Attach the Adjustable Shelf Supports to the inside of the front legs. Space them according to your needs. (e.g., 12 inches apart) Use glue and screws.
- The adjustable shelf can sit on these supports at your preferred height. Add small wood strips to the shelf as guides to prevent it from sliding forward.
Step 6: Sanding and Finishing (Optional) Sanding will smooth out any rough edges and prepare the wood for finishing.
- Begin with a coarser grit sandpaper (e.g., 120 grit) and gradually move to finer grits (e.g., 220 grit).
- Wipe away any dust after sanding.
Conclusion: Your Custom Easel is Ready! Congratulations! You've successfully built your own artist easel. Adjust the back leg for the desired angle, place your canvas on the shelf, and let your creativity flow. This DIY easel is a testament to your craftsmanship and will provide a personalized space for your artistic endeavors for years to come. Enjoy!
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