Mahlstick substitute

Tom Edgerton · 06-11-2004, 09:45 AM

Kim--

To each their own, but isn't it heavy?

I use an old yardstick with a funeral home advertisement stamped on it. (common here in the South). I like the flatness of it for some reason.

Regards-TE

Mike Dodson · 06-11-2004, 09:48 AM

Kim,

I have a pencil eraser capped over the end of mine. Mine is a piece of alminum tubing I bought from Home Depot. It is extreeeeeeeeeemely light.

David Bottoni · 06-11-2004, 10:23 AM

I also have a wooden dowel, but this swiffer handle is excellent. Its light weight, compact (for storage), extendable from 12" to at least 48", without sacrificing rigidity. It has a wide grip handle, and at the end of each section is a threaded rod on which you can attach a threaded wooden ball or anything that has a threaded hole of the same size. Here is the Swiffer website, if you are really interested: http://www.homemadesimple.com/swiffe...ucts/dry.shtml. I just started using it, and I still laugh at myself for being so 'frugal'.

David

Kimberly Dow · 06-11-2004, 10:43 AM

My left arm often 'forgets' what it is supposed to be doing and will move - so the heaviness of mine helps my arm to remember. If I used a light one like Mike's or David's I'd bet I would end up pushing into the canvas too hard. Perhaps it is just a concentration issue for me. No blonde jokes please

Jean Kelly · 06-11-2004, 11:43 AM

I have a dual duty cane, it has a nice curved handle that hooks on the top of the canvas. It's stable, lightweight, rigid, and when I need it, it helps me walk!

Jean

Julie Deane · 06-11-2004, 02:31 PM

I hold one end of course, and the other is on the edge of the painting. Well, actually the end of the dowel is past the edge of the painting, so only the side of it is touching the edge. Other than once, when I wasn't used to it and it slipped, it has worked for me. This "dowel only" is due to my laziness (and cheapness, I suppose) - I got a wooden bead for the end and was going to drill it to fit, and got some leather to tie around it, and was fully intending to make it the right way....but never got around to it.

Terri Ficenec · 06-11-2004, 02:56 PM

I've been using the EZ Rest which is a mahl stick sort of thing that clamps onto your easel and pivots around to wherever you want it.... Since it's attached you don't need to hold it with your free hand. It's maybe a little further out from the canvas than I'd have prefered at first, but I've gotten used to it and feel lost without it now.

I also use a cane when I'm painting on my travel easel, but am much less comfortable with it.