Comments about Best Dulce Easels:

I have had the oak Giant Dulce for several years now—and the bottom tray has fell 3 times during the first year. Now I make sure that the tray is level (I got a small level from the hardware store) and I really tighten up the screws on the tray. My tray has 2 large black knobs on the front to tighten down the tray. I assume the current ones do too.

This is going to sound really weird, but I put plastic bags over both trays and learned that you can hear slight crinkling sounds just before the tray falls. That gave me just enough time to grab the tray before it fell very far!

If I ever get another easel I will buy one with a winch, but cost made me choose this one. I really do like it. It is very stable, has a groove in the tray to hold panels, and can be put in a true vertical position. But, I always move my wet canvases to another easel to dry.

I do recommend this easel for canvas and lightweight panels.

Comments about Best Dulce Easels:

I have had this easel for a couple of years, and like it very much, especially the size. I got casters at the local OSH, which fit perfectly, and were much less expensive than Richeson's option.

THE MAJOR CON: I am experiencing a problem that has become extremely frustrating. The clamp that holds the tray/platform that supports the painting surface (canvas, panel, etc.) will not hold tightly enough, so the canvas just sinks the platform when placed on it. I have tried all kinds of remedies, including using a pliers, but it doesn't make any difference. When I tried to get in touch with Richeson Customer Service using an email link from their site, but the email was returned as undeliverable.

Now I wish I had purchased an easel with a winch to raise and lower the platform, even though it means having less space in my small studio.

If it were not for the clamp problem I would recommend the easel for its good quality and price.

I do not consider this problem related to anything Dick Blick has done, but it is really annoying. Has anyone else had the same issue? If so, what did you do to fix it - beyond replacing the easel?

Comments about Best Dulce Easels:

I paint large canvases, 30x40, 30x30 etc. Needed a stable easel which this one seems to be. But, I am only five ft. tall and after painting for just a few minutes am finding it very difficult to work. The center bar of the Best Classic Dulce easel cannot be lowered enough to work comfortably. Wish I had know about this before ordering this easel.

Comments about Best Dulce Easels:

Solid frame and very stable/sturdy. The assembly could have been tricky if I didn't have a smart husband! Very easy to adjust and wonderful for standing or sitting to paint. So far I love love this easel.

Comments about Best Dulce Easels:

As most people know this is a well made, solid, affordable, popular easel I'm only bothering to write this review to answer a question I had about this easel I couldn't figure out from any of the descriptions or photos online:
The bottom tray is very adjustable and independent of the mast.
Two spring coiled tension knobs lock it in to place and it can be positioned up or down a few millimeters anywhere on the mast you like. The tray is completely independent of the base and the back legs and can go all the way down to the floor if you like. There aren't any areas where the back legs connect that get in the way of it going all the way down. The spring coiled knobs basically let it "float" on the mast completely independently. If you do a lot of detail work requiring long hours and back strain and need to adjust your painting a few centimeters at a time or like to work low to the ground this is quite a nice feature.
Unfortunately the top lid which has only one center knob can only go down until it hits the fat part of the mast but you don't really need it to secure most smaller, lighter paintings so that is OK. .

Comments about Best Dulce Easels:

Solidly constructed and great for my small studio space. I paint mostly on medium-sized canvases though this easel is weighty enough to accomodate larger ones as well. Note: Assembly instructions are sketchy and poorly stated for putting on the newly-designed bottom canvas tray. They would be more clear if stated as: "To attach Bottom Canvas Holder, loosen both wedge-lock systems by turning the black knobs. Slide bottom of canvas holder onto top of outer mast and tighten black knobs to secure at desired height." I bought casters locally to avoid the shipping surcharge but couldn't find locking ones to fit; I wish I'd ordered optional casters with the easel since those do lock. I'm very happy with this easel.

Comments about Best Dulce Easels:

Good size easel for medium size canvases. Instructions for putting it together were not very good. Definetly get the casters!