Using easels for large prints >11x14

[2F/2F]

In lieu of a vaccum easel, I use a few long strips of double-sided masking tape on my 4-bladed easel whenever I print fiber. I "prime" it with lint to reduce the tackiness. Before printing, I place the paper as normal on the easel, then I press the print onto the tape with a cotton cloth. Then I blow off the print with compressed air that I have piped throughout the basement/garage area where my darkroom is. You must take care when "peeling" the print off, so you don't kink the paper, and it may take a few prints until the tape gets to the right balance between too sticky and not sticky enough. But I have found that doing this has eliminated any problems I was having with uneven sharpness corner to corner, especially when using older paper.

[youngrichard]

I have previously posted on this and still swear by this method for RC paper. I don't use FB so am not sure it would hold curly heavy weight paper. Incidentally the great advantage is the very narrow half inch selvage. When you get up to 20 x 16, easels with wide borders are fouling the enlarger column. See http://www.apug.org/forums/forum43/74927-borderless-easels-2.html[/URL] and here http://www.apug.org/forums/forum41/6...nlarger-3.html
Richard

[youngrichard]

Try again http://www.apug.org/forums/forum43/7...-easels-2.html http://www.apug.org/forums/forum41/6...nlarger-3.html
Richard

[darkroom_rookie]

I too found the price of 16 x 20 easels beyond my reach.
I managed to snag a brand new 16 x 20 borderless easel for $35.

$35 was approximately what I paid for a perfect 20x24 2-bladed RRB/Beard. Just keep looking.

[mwdake]

$35 was approximately what I paid for a perfect 20x24 2-bladed RRB/Beard. Just keep looking.

I have been looking for 2 years and I am still looking; maybe I will get lucky like you did.

[MattKing]

The person I bought my Omega D6 enlarger from threw in a two bladed, 20x24 easel for free

[jeroldharter]

You can buy an inexpensive Saunders 16x20 easel. The border is thin which will be a disadvantage with curly paper.

One option is a sheet of metal, or perhaps a magnetic greaseboard lying flat. Then use metal strips that are heavy enough to hold the paper flat for the borders. The problem with that is trying to make a run of prints with identical boarders.

Another alternative would be to make a jig out of mat board, basically a window mount with a full sized sheet on the bottom and a masking window on top for the borders. You would need to use metal strips or magnets to hold the window flat on top of the curly papers. I would try this way first.