Easel kluge?

[Holly Snyder]

I recently bought a number of inexpensive wood tripod display easels. We modified their design a little, including allowing each leg to stretch out wider, for more stability, and sanded and stained them a nice cherry. Last night was a beautiful, albeit a little windy for a small art venue downtown next to our marina, around a fountain. In setting up the easels I wrapped wire through the eyeholes of the frames and around the easels, so that the paintings would not blow off the easels. No sooner had I finished setting up when the easels with the two largest paintings blew sideways and back, fortunately falling onto a bed of coleus I had set them up in front of, so no damage was done. I then had to move everything to much less conspicuous, but more protected site, and take all the paintings off the easels and rest them on the easel legs on the ground.

How could one weight down easel legs so they could be used in a little wind? Perhaps drill a hole through the bottom of each leg, string wire through and wrap around a weight of some sort, ideally a non-intrusive flat disc that the legs could then stand upon. Short of pouring cement into a mold and painting the weight, I don't know what to use, however. I would guess others have run into this problem, is there a kluge for those of us who tried the cheap route with display easels?

Thanks,

Holly

[Michele Rushworth]

You could hang a weight of some kind down through the middle of the three legs, suspended from the apex of the easel. If the weight is just a bit off the ground it has the most effect, I believe.

As for what to use as a weight: photographers use little black cloth bags filled with sand to weigh down their lighting stands. Our local professional photographers supply store, Glazers, would probably sell them and I know they have an online store too. Hand held weights for exercising would also work but be a little wierd looking perhaps.

[Holly Snyder]

Michele,

Sounds like a good idea. I'll try it out in the yard this weekend, as it's windy from a cold front blowing through.

Thanks,

Holly

[Marvin Mattelson]

Use flake white which contains lead.

[Michele Rushworth]

A few of those big honking Flake White tubes, tied around the necks should do just fine. Then if you want to do some touch ups during the show, you'll be ready for that too.