Klopfenstein Spectrum KS100 Easel

Comments about Klopfenstein Spectrum KS100 Easel:

I use this easel daily and I love the solid construction and ease of changing the canvas height to bring the canvas to the perfect position. Unlike ratchet or crank easels this one changes height quietly. I would recommend this easel to anyone who paints. Plus it is made in the USA.

Comments about Klopfenstein Spectrum KS100 Easel:

I have been using my easel for 10 years now (having originally bought one because the same were used in my art classes in college), and have had zero problems whatsoever. It is very easy to adjust for whatever angle/position you need - I especially like how easy it is to adjust the canvas tray up and down. If you are a serious artist, I definitely recommend. All in all, definitely a good, sturdy easel.

Comments about Klopfenstein Spectrum KS100 Easel:

We bought 50 KS100 easels for our art school. The heavy easels will fall without warning. There is a fundamental design problem. The metal rod that slides inside a metal tube to adjust the angle of the easel is too small in diameter. The locking device is poor as you are threading a metal bolt against a metal rod. A student may do their best to lock the tilt, but in normal usage, dragging the heavy easel can cause vibration and loosen the bolt. This can result in the whole thing suddenly falling. So far no one has been badly injured even after getting beaned on the head. The company sells a cheaper model that uses a safer system. The rod in this case is square in cross section and slides inside a square tube. This retards slippage. I am at a loss to explain why no other customer reports on this tendency. We've had multiple incidents, including having the top section slamming down without warning.

Comments about Klopfenstein Spectrum KS100 Easel:

Ordered this easel summer of 2011, consider it an heirloom easel as it will last for a 100 years or more compared to wooden type easels. When your era in painting concludes, another painter will surely use this item decades later. Solid construction, heavy base ensures easel will not move on you, adustable brackets for large size canvases, and folds down flat for easy stowage, I would highly reccommend the additional easel tray (50355-1001) that clamps on also.

The only drawbacks to this easel are the bare metal chrome sliding parts. The manufacturers workers use bare hands to touch the polished surfaces leaving palm and fingerprints. Later, if exposed to moisture they will start to rust where their workers touched the bare metal. If you order this item (which I recommend for any painter) wipe down all shiny metal, get an old brush and brush on vasoline on the bare metal parts. It will inhibit any corrosion.

One of the best purchases I have ever made, and will pass it down to my niece when I cannot paint anymore.

Comments about Klopfenstein Spectrum KS100 Easel:

I got one of these at the store on Bond Street about a year ago. It is an excellent easel - easy to move the canvas up / down while you are working, rock steady, folds up quickly for storage. I looked at a lot of similar size and price wooden easels before I found this at Blick's; steel makes all the difference.