An easel, or an artist's tripod is a stand used to hold a canvas while an artist creates his masterpiece. It can also be used to support artwork for display. Constructing your own easel is fairly easy. With a few pieces of lumber, some basic hardware and a few tools, you can build your own easel with ease.
Instructions
Constructing the Legs
1. Using your saw, cut the tops off the two 82" boards at a 15 degree angle.
2. Using a 3/8" drill bit, drill a hole through the center of the 15 degree angle on the two boards you just cut.
3. Holding the 80" (back leg) board perpendicular to the ground, line up one of the side leg boards on the wide side, one inch from the top and flush with the angle. With the pencil, mark where the hole from the side leg is located on the back leg. Drill a 3/8" hole through the back leg where marked.
4. Line up the holes in all three legs with the angled boards flush with the wide side of the back leg board and thread the 3 ½" bolt through the holes. Place the washer and nut on the end of the threaded bolt and tighten. Do not over tighten bolt as legs must be able to move.
Adding The Crossbar Tray
5. Adjust the back leg position to create the desired angle for the easel.
6. Measure up 38" from the side leg and mark the location. Repeat on the other side leg.
7. Drill a ¼" hole in the center of the leg at the marked location. Repeat on the other side leg.
8. At the location of the holes just drilled, center the 36" board up against the two side legs with the 1" side facing the legs.
9. Mark the 1" side of the 36" board where the two holes meet the board.
10. Drill through the board at the marked locations using the ¼" drill bit.
11. Attach the crossbar tray to the side legs using the 6" bolts. Thread the bolts through each set of holes with the bolt head on the tray side. Secure with butterfly nuts.
Stabilizing the Tripod
12. At the same height of the crossbar tray, drill a 3/8" hole through the back leg.
13. On the back side of the crossbar tray, locate the center and attach the 1/2" eye screw by twisting it into the wood by hand.
14. Thread one end of the 18" piece of cord through the eye of the screw and tie off.
15. Make final adjustments of the legs to the desired spacing. Run the other end of the cord through the hole in the back leg and tie off, taking up any extra slack. Trim off excess cord.
