How to choose a mahlstick

Several types of mahlsticks of my own design are currently available for sale.

Each of them solves a similar task: it helps you work on a painting without touching the surface of the canvas with your hand. But they are designed differently, so each one is convenient for its own situations.

Below is a brief overview of the tools with illustrations. The images can be swiped.

The small mahlstick is the most versatile and quickest to use. It attaches to any corner of the stretcher, or to an easel using a special spacer.

It can be quickly moved to the necessary area of the painting or simply moved aside. It does not obstruct the view, does not leave marks on the painting, and is excellent for everyday tasks.

The small mahlstick is 72 cm (28.3 inches) long when unfolded. It is optimal for small and medium-sized paintings.

If you measure 72 cm (28.3 inches) from the left or right corner of the stretcher, you can estimate the area covered by this tool. The hand with the brush will add up to another 15 cm (5.9 inches).

More about the tool here.

The large mahlstick is 95 cm (37.4 inches) long and is designed for larger canvases. Because of the longer lever, it is slightly less rigid than the small or mini mahlsticks, but it remains quite convenient to use.

It can be quickly attached to the left or right side of the stretcher, and considering that the hand with the brush can add up to another 15 cm (5.9 inches) of reach, it can cover fairly large areas. The tool can also be attached to an easel.

The mini mahlstick is 50 cm (19.7 inches) long and is based on the same principle, but it is as compact and lightweight as possible.

It attaches only to the corners of the stretcher. It does not attach to an easel. It is ideal for small and medium-sized paintings and suitable for plein air work.
Perhaps this is the most convenient tool to use.

More about the tool here.

The vector mahlstick is 107 cm (42.1 inches) long when unfolded and is worth choosing if you often need to draw lines with a brush.

Essentially, it is a small mahlstick, but with an additional folding ruler. The vector mahlstick was specially developed for drawing with a brush.

It allows you to position the ruler above the necessary area of the painting and draw a straight line with a brush in any direction.

When the ruler is not needed, it folds away, and the tool is used as a two-section support for the hand.

The vector mahlstick will be useful in cityscapes, architecture, still lifes, and perspective work.
With the ruler unfolded, it can cover very large areas.

More about the tool here.

The support mahlstick is needed in cases where the most reliable support for the hand is important. It self-locks on the side edges of the stretcher or board and can withstand a noticeable downward load. The support mahlstick is not as quick to use as the others, but its main advantage is reliable hand support. This is the most powerful option for stable work and long painting sessions. This version can be especially useful for older artists and for those who find it difficult to hold their hand in the air for a long time.

The support mahlstick can be installed at different angles, up to vertical, and used as a guide for the brush. It is possible to draw lines with a brush using it, although it is not as convenient as with the vector mahlstick, because the guide rail is farther from the canvas. Nevertheless, it is possible.

The support mahlstick is very versatile in terms of painting size. Its working span is determined not by the tool itself, but by the length of the selected rail. For a small painting, you can use a short rail; for a large format, a long one, up to 2-3 m (6.6-9.8 feet) in length. The tool is suitable not only for painting, but also for working with graphics and drawing.

The disadvantage of working with this type of mahlstick is that when the tool is moved over fresh paint, some paint may transfer onto the grips and leave marks along the very edge of the canvas. Usually this is the area that is later covered by the frame. If you wipe the contact parts when moving the tool, you can work neatly. On a dry painting, this problem does not occur.

Also, if you press down strongly with your hand, small dents may remain along the edge of the stretcher. The rubber insert included in the set solves this problem.

More about the support mahlstick here.

The small, large, mini, and vector mahlsticks can be attached to your easel in a fixed position using an additional spacer. In this case, the tool works from the central rail of the easel. The working radius becomes noticeably larger because the tool is positioned closer to the center of the painting.

The spacer is needed to compensate for the thickness of the stretcher. More about it here.