I needed a custom "scaffold" to go with my new easel. No retailer produced exactly what I needed so I decided to craft my own.
Most of the materials I sourced from Michael's, however the screws, knobs, and rubber bumpers I got from Home Depot.
Most of my canvases are 18'' by 24'' so I needed the main scaffold to extend at least 24'' to be able to reach the center of the canvas from any angle. But I occasionally work on larger canvases, and for that I crafted a second (more traditional) dowel scaffold that has a 37'' reach.
The 24'' scaffold was constructed of 1/2'' Pine, which allows me to get very close to the canvas, without the scaffold flexing or bending at all (a giant pet-peeve of mine). On the flat exterior of the 24'' I mounted two strips of suede where my hand will rest. On the handle of 37'' scaffold I wound a suede strip for better grip.
At the head of each scaffold (on the interior), at the point where the scaffold will stabilize against the easel, I mounted a soft-rubber node with a screw, and placed the mount within a soft-sponge, which can provide lateral stabilization (while in the rare case where you mount on the canvas - it will be gentle on the surface).
The most important factor to me, and the one completely missing from all retail versions, was the perpendicular handle or knob.
Underneath the knob, I lined the wood with a padded rubber cover. On the reverse interior, I lined the wood surface with hard plastic nodes, including around the screw for the knob, which will protect the canvas and the work.
Here's the final product in action.
It's winter, the sun is long down by the time I get home from the office. I had to take these on my lunch break - no, I don't normally draft in white button-ups.
I'm as proud as a 2nd grader with his macrame masterpiece.