20x24 or 16x20 4-bladed easels: Beseler or Saunders

This question is about which of 2 designs of easels is favored. Both Beseler and Saunders make 16x20 and 20x24 4-bladed easels. (For Saunders, I'm speaking of the non-V-track easel.) I've examined both and found that the blades on the Saunders are more "limp" and tend to bow extensively when the easel is opened. Conversely, the Beseler blades seem more "stiff" and bow much less when the easel is opened. Examining (with my eyeball) how flat they hold the paper, I can't see any difference. The Saunders blades also don't seem to move as easily in that, since each end is attached, the end with the movement knob always moves ahead of the other end and you have to take your hand and help the far end of the blade track along as it is moved across the top. This seems a little less than "robust" design, to me. Also, the Beseler is counter-balanced with a bigger spring when opened. What are your opinions on this? Do you like one easel better than another? Do the blades on both stay strictly in place when printing several copies of the same print? The Beseler design seems better to me at this point, but I have owned other Saunders darkroom equipment that was very good in the past, so don't know if I am being to critical of things that don't matter. Thanks in advance for your adivce.

Stay away from the Beseler!!! The Saunder's blade are straighter. Trust me on this one. I have the 16x20 and I think it was a waist of money. Also,

with the Beseler, The screws on the blades are very cheap... I use the Saunders at work everyday and have never been let down. I do highly

recommend the V track also if you can swing the extra money.

Steve,

 

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I agree with Scott.... I got my money back on the Beseler, went to

the Saunders Heavy(?)Duty,and Settled on the V-Track. I now have one

under each enlarger and they are GREAT! Well worth the extra money.

I have known people to buy used easels and they have been very

unhappy. I think easels are a lot like tooth brushes. I'm not sure

it's the kind of thing you want to buy used. Aside from that, a good

easel can make or break a print.

 

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My 2 cents,

 

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Mac

I, too, agree with the others. We have both types of easels, and were

trying to save money by ordering the Beseler in 16x20 size, but in

retrospect I wish we had gone with a Saunders. I'm more inclined to

just not use that easel at all when making prints that big, as it's

never had the "feel" that the Saunders easels have.

One option you might explore is to use mat board cut out just like

you are framing a print. Cut it to size for the image you want while

the outside dimensions match the paper size. Tape one end to the

baseboard when you have the composition & framing set & then slip

your enlarging paper under it, matching the edges & lower the mat

onto the paper. Weight the edges with small canvas weighted bags &

you will get clean, sharp edges every time. Or, use it turned over

and you will get edges that dissolve in the last couple of

millimeters or a soft edge look.

This is a lot less expensive than the metal easels and you can make a

number of sizes easily, just as you do for framing he images.

I must agree with the consensus on the Saunders V-Track. I made the

mistake originally by trying to compromise on the lesser expensive

Saunders easel and it was a mistake. I first purchased the 16x20 V-

Track and then the 11x14 v-track. A real joy to use. The blades are

nice and wide and hold the paper tight. I have a friend that has the

Beseler and she used my 11x14 V-Track in my darkroom when we were

running some tests and fell in love with it.

Hi I have a Kaiser(40 x50cm) which I am led to believe is the same as

Saunders, however DUNCO is another beautiful 4 blades

Thanks to everyone for the good advice. I have decided on the

Saunders 16x20.