Martin Universal Design Avanti II Easel

Comments about Martin Universal Design Avanti II Easel:

I am in a wheelchair and required a sturdy easel that was adjustable to suit my specific needs. Searched for a long time until this easel was suggested. A great value and an excellent product. Shipped quickly.

Comments about Martin Universal Design Avanti II Easel:

I bought 10 of these to use in my high school classroom. We had problems almost immediately. No amount of tightening knobs seems to prevent these from coming apart with the slightest move. I finally resorted to using super glue and duct tape and still have problems. Last year I bought a few of the square post design easels by the same company for only a slightly higher price and have not had a single problem. It is totally worth the extra bit of money. I guess I will be replacing an entire class set of 3 year old easels this summer. On the plus side, when they do stay assembled, they are easy to fold up for summer storage.

Comments about Martin Universal Design Avanti II Easel:

I had one of these - the same easel that I bought about 20 years ago, and it was wonderful. The new one is anything but. It may be the worst-made anything I've every bought.

The machining is so poor on bar the governs the tilt that I had to use a wrench just to get the knob to insert, and again to tighten it enough so that it wouldn't fall down. (It's supposed to be hand-tightning so it's easy to change.) The cross piece at the top that holds the canvas in place is only about six inches long but it's so crooked that it only touches the canvas on one end. The other end is more than 1/4 inch off. The tilt can't be changed, it was welded that way.

The shelf support tube was bent on one end like someone had driven over it. The shelf is very crooked (again from poor welding) and the hole the support fits into is way too big (almost twice as large as it should be so the shelf wobbles when you move it. Not a little wobble, about an inch up and down. Also, the shelf height is so short I have to bend over to touch it.

I would only recommend this product to someone I hate.

Comments about Martin Universal Design Avanti II Easel:

After destroying several wood easels, I purchased Avanti 2 easel. 30 years ago. I simply LOVE this easel, the only complaint I've ever had was when I banged my bare toe on the bottom of the frame. After all these years, the only trouble I've had with it, was when I banged my bare foot into the bottom of the frame, when I put too much weight on the shelf, while it was in an extended out position, and I slightly damaged the hole in the bottom of the frame the shelf sits in, it's still workable, just a little warp; and one of the level stabilizers on the bottom of the frame has come loose, and I can't figure out how to fix it. This is a wonderful studio easel. It's sturdy, hard wearing and has survived numerous moves with little trouble. If you're an aggressive painter/scrubber this is the easel for you. it hold all sizes of canvas, supports, magnets for references easily applied, the swing shelf is great! I've not had to oil the shelf for ease of movement, ever. The support ledge, is still easy to operate and secure when I move it up or down. After 30 years. This is a lifetime easel!

Comments about Martin Universal Design Avanti II Easel:

I have used the easel for oil painting so far and the tray is great. The center mast was slightly crooked and couldn't be fixed since it is welded. The tilting mast doesn't really bother the painting since the top canvas holder is still mostly on the edge and holds the canvas securely. The stand slips off the rods when I move the easel, so I don't move it anymore.

Comments about Martin Universal Design Avanti II Easel:

I received my easel very quickly from the supplier. It arrived and one part was out of alignment. When I contacted the supplier they quickly shipped a replacement for the part. I really like this easel as it is very portable around the studio and adjust easily. For the price as a studio easel it can't be beat.

Comments about Martin Universal Design Avanti II Easel:

Easy assembly. I like the size & light weight of it. The only problem was that the clamps to hold the canvas/boards won't hold them. I took pieces of wood with grooves from another easel to solve this. Wish this company would offer something to solve this problem.

Comments about Martin Universal Design Avanti II Easel:

I paint on the easel. The easel is sturdy & strong!It will take a small to a large canvas.A thin to thick canvas! it does not take up much floor space.

Comments about Martin Universal Design Avanti II Easel:

Wanted an in-studio easel that has a square footprint to keep puppy from dumping it. Little tricky to put together (not the puppy, the easel), but then I'm not particularly mechanically inclined. FANTASTIC product for the money!

Comments about Martin Universal Design Avanti II Easel:

I have used this easel for 20 years. Mine looks different than the current model as it is - or was all white. Other than that it appears to be the same sturdy design. I realized how much I loved it when recently woeking on my other wooden easel. I was forsed to do this as another knob from the Avanti has stripped out :(. I was getting by with just the one to support the boards I work on but it is now time to replace all the knobs.Not bad for 20 years of heavy use though. I hope to be able to contact the mnufacturer to replace the knobs and continue to use the easel for another 20 years.