Needing two new easels I settled on the universal type (vertical mode plus watercolor mode) and small enough for easy storage. Those easels always have design faults, however. The legs tend to spread while you work for a start, so I made some improvements - chain stays for the legs and a cross brace for extra watercolor stability.
After centuries of making easels you would think the manufacturers could get something as basic as an easel right, but it seems not. I remember a story of Vincent going to a blacksmith to make an improved painting tool, so it seems to be a long term problem. The only easels I have that work well without modification are the eight I made myself about four years ago and my Stanright aluminium easel. Every wooden easel made in Italy or France that I have purchased has needed improving. The chain stays should be standard. They make the easel more user friendly without preventing the easel from folding up. Stability is especially important if I am going to trust putting my laptop on it.
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