A couple of years ago, I made a few large wooden display easels out of 2x2’s. I made them to display chalkboards and mirrors, with no plan to sell them. People asked to buy them, but I priced them very high so that I wouldn’t accidentally sell them and have to make more.
I recently decided it was time to perfect my wooden display easel plan, and do a tutorial so you too can make one if you’d like.
This small display easel can be made from one 2x2 and a scrap piece of trim. If you want to make a larger easel, you’ll need to buy two 2x2’s.
I start by cutting 2 pieces at 32” and one at 31” out of the 96” length of 2x2.
I have made a pattern out of a scrap piece of 2x2 to draw my angle. I also wrote on it what size bit I need to use. (yeah, I’m a little forgetful)
click this link 2x2 cut template for easel to download a template.
I cut the angle with my jigsaw.
I have this great little clamping work bench that works perfectly for this project.
Doesn’t it look great after I sanded it?
This is how I get the right angle for drilling. I lay a paint stick on the straight edge of the middle piece and draw a line.
I used the 9/32 bit to drill the holes trying to follow the angle of the pencil line.
If you want your piece to lay flush, you can draw a line and cut the small corner off of the back leg.
I only bought one 2x2 for this project, so I used a piece of molding for the cross piece. I cut the end on a 45° angle.
The bolt for the top is ¼” by 5” long. I used a washer on each side and a wing nut. The bolts for the cross piece (molding) are 3 ½”. If you use a 2x2 for the cross piece you’ll want your bolts to be ¼” by 4”.
It’s also totally up to you where you want the cross piece. High? Low? I suppose it depends on what you want to display.
Here’s the best tip!! I bought a small rod (¼”) to thread the pieces on for painting. It works for small and large easels. You could paint it with the bolts in place, but then they would get yucky. So, after threading the pieces onto the rod, it gets 2 coats of paint with my HomeRight Finish Max 
.
If you have a Finish Max or A Finish Max Pro, be sure to check out my post Safety Tips for using a Finish Max on the Homeright Blog. If you haven’t visited the Homeright Blog, you should because it’s filled with inspiration from some of THE best bloggers (Homeright Brand Ambassadors).
While I was at it, I made a few more. The tall black one in the middle is from my original batch, but I reconfigured it using bolts on the cross piece instead of screws. Being able to take it apart will make it easier for me to transport to my craft show in Glendale later this month.
I actually made some small chalkboard easels in the Spring of 2013, but didn't give full details on how I made them.
There are so many uses for these display easels at outdoor shows. Have a large piece that generally hangs on the wall? Use one of these diy easels to display it. Not to mention they work great for mirrors and or chalkboards.
gail
Gail Wilson is the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. She is obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believes that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful again, including herself!
Gail reinvented herself during a midlife crisis and has found purpose again. She hopes you will find new ideas for old things and pick up a few tools along the way.
Lucy Langlois
You are brilliant, thank you, just what I was looking for!...formerly of lucydesignsonline.com 🙂
Gail Wilson
Yay Lucy! I'm so happy you found this tutorial helpful! I use these for every craft show I do. Sometimes people ask to buy them, and I quote them a high price because I don't want to sell them. Maybe I should start offering them up for sale. 🙂
I hope yours help you as much as mine have helped me.
gail
C.
Thank you-- looking for a easel pattern to make to use for out Ladies painting class at our Church...Awesome
Gail Wilson
I'm so happy that you found this! You may want to check out these smaller ones I made that can be tabletop easels. https://www.myrepurposedlife.com/how-to-make-small-display-easels/
gail
Lynn Rome
Thanks for the lesson! I make wooden signs that "lean" against walls. They are usually about 4-ft. high, but I am showing at a venue without walls. Do you think these will hold the weight of a smallish around 15 pounds 4-ft sign? The larger one I am assuming might. Thanks for your help!
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
Lynn,
Oh yes, I had really heavy mirrors displayed on these easels. They are real work horses (the large ones) When people ask if they are for sale, I put a really high price on them because I don't want to sell them. 🙂
happy you stopped by to see my tutorial.
gail
Patricia
Well those are wonderful! These aught to come in pretty handy at Glendale and other venues!
You're so clever!
Patricia
Mindi
You have hands down the best tutorials! I love these and am pinning for when I get a chance to make one. Love them Gail!
Debora Cadene
Hi Gail. These are awesome and "exactly" what I've been looking for to put my glass window on. Although you've not given a tutorial for the smaller ones...would you mind sharing the sizes for the smaller and medium ones, and possible bolt sizes?? I'd like to make all three sizes
thanks bunches,
Debbie
Debora Cadene
Hey again!! I think I found the measurements for the other ones. IF all else fails, read the "entire" article...lol.
Debora Cadene
sorry...last one. Are the bottoms of the easel all cut at 15* so they sit nice when open? and what would you say the angle is on the top? did you measure in so far, then down and draw a line?
thanks...
d.
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
Debbie,
First, let me say I am math challenged. I tried on one of the easels to cut the bottoms so they would sit flush, but was unable to successfully figure out and achieve the right angle on my miter saw.
I do not know what the angle is on the top. I will try to edit the post to include a template of what mine is. I've made many and only recently made the template (pattern) so it's not necessary to be perfect. 🙂 I made one that worked, and then used that one to make the pattern.
Hoping that answers all of your questions. I love your enthusiasm about this project. 🙂
gail
Debora Cadene
Thanks Gail...I think me and many others would LOVE to see the template.
enjoy the rest of your day!!
d.
Debora Cadene
I really do need to get all the questions in my head at one time BEFORE hitting post. If you were to measure in from the back side of your top cut, and measure down to where the bottom of the cut finishes...what would those measurements be? That would simplify as well.......
k....i'm quite sure that is the last one...possibly.
debbie.
Julie @ follow your heart woodworking
Fabulous idea and wonderfully executed!
Donna Grainger
Gail, thanks so much for this tutorial! I could see using these stands inside and maybe using something decorative like knobs on the crosspiece do dress it up. Or you could just use screws and paint over them.
You always make my creative juices bubble!
Take care.
Donna
Mary
Good job! WOW! one board makes the easel, affordable and more likely to enjoy.