Hi there,

I've never seen a 16x20 Saunders V-Track easle, but I'm considering getting one.

Am I right in thinking the adjustable blades 'click' into place in 'V' shaped grooves at both ends of the blades, thereby ensuring perfect alignment? How far apart are the grooves? Also, is the overall size about 20x24 so you can have a small border on a 16x20 sheet of paper without having to remove the blades?

Murray

I'm not familiar with the 16x20 but do have an 11x14 V-Track and it has a very large footprint so be sure you have a lot of space. I also have a conventional Saunders 11x14 four blade that fits inside of the BIG V-Track. The V-Track is very nice to use though so I do like it.

Cheers,
Bill

Am I right in thinking the adjustable blades 'click' into place in 'V' shaped grooves at both ends of the blades, thereby ensuring perfect alignment? How far apart are the grooves? Also, is the overall size about 20x24 so you can have a small border on a 16x20 sheet of paper without having to remove the blades?

I've got one.

The blades were already attached on mine when I bought it, so nothing 'clicked' into place. I doubt if a purchased new version would require any assembly...suffice to say that the blades are very securely attached to the base.

Both sides of each blade are mounted into a track, so yes, you get perfect alignment. And yes, the easel is large enough to print 16x20 with only a small border.

It's a great easel.

Thanks for the info Bill & Ken.

Murray

I picked up a second-hand 11x14" V-Track over on the LF forum recently, and I'm really pleased with it. Before I had an old Honeywell-Nikor 4-blade easel kind of like the traditional style Saunders easel with the knobs, and it was never in good alignment. I was always having to tape down the paper positioning blade to keep it square. The V-Track is perfectly aligned and smooth to adjust. The footprint is larger than other easels, but there is nothing outside the footprint to catch on objects or cords next to the enlarger, and it's heavy with a nice grippy pad, so it doesn't slide at all on the baseboard.

I'm sure Murray's got his easel by now, but if anyone else is looking for a four-blade easel, I highly recommend the V-Track.

I picked one up a few months ago and it just oozes quality. It hasn't help expose any prints yet, as Life, with its many wonderful and one singularly awful turn has kept me from finishing the darkroom. The only thing it has developed is a dry scum from my evaporated drool.

Murray