Read Thread: And while we're at it...how about this carving medium?
Re: And while we're at it...how about this carving medium?
Board: Stamp Carving and Mounting
Reply to: #483377 by Poodle Circus
Feb 8, 2010 6:12am
I got a sample of the green stuff. It is ... interesting. Here are a few photos of it.
So I liked it and I didn't like it- but I think some people might like it a lot. It's rather harder to carve than PZKut, and not as forgiving. I chose an image to carve that had both detail and portions of uncut medium so that I could see how it took ink and stamped. It did well enough with that, although I had the same problem with dye ink that I did with PZ Kut- it beads up and doesn't stamp evenly. (that photo was too big and I couldn't upload it- will try to resize it tmw. when I'm not at work)
The top texture of it is fairly smooth and takes transfer quite well although it did seem as I went along that the transfer became a bit fainter, as though the ink was being absorbed into the medium. The texture under the green surface was kind of "ground glass" feeling- I had a harder time carving detail than I normally do but on the other hand, carving those long circular lines was easier. I think it was because there was more resistance and they didn't "give" as easily. My hand was definitely fatigued after carving this stamp! I did not get nearly the level of detail that I could have with PZ Kut but that may have just been because it does take a different touch to carve and I'm not used to it. Using a lighter touch for finer lines wasn't enough to carve through the green surface (the carver just skids along the surface). I suspect that knife carvers would hate it.
So there's my .02- it's 6 am so I hope it makes some sense! Did I forget to mention anything?
So I liked it and I didn't like it- but I think some people might like it a lot. It's rather harder to carve than PZKut, and not as forgiving. I chose an image to carve that had both detail and portions of uncut medium so that I could see how it took ink and stamped. It did well enough with that, although I had the same problem with dye ink that I did with PZ Kut- it beads up and doesn't stamp evenly. (that photo was too big and I couldn't upload it- will try to resize it tmw. when I'm not at work)
The top texture of it is fairly smooth and takes transfer quite well although it did seem as I went along that the transfer became a bit fainter, as though the ink was being absorbed into the medium. The texture under the green surface was kind of "ground glass" feeling- I had a harder time carving detail than I normally do but on the other hand, carving those long circular lines was easier. I think it was because there was more resistance and they didn't "give" as easily. My hand was definitely fatigued after carving this stamp! I did not get nearly the level of detail that I could have with PZ Kut but that may have just been because it does take a different touch to carve and I'm not used to it. Using a lighter touch for finer lines wasn't enough to carve through the green surface (the carver just skids along the surface). I suspect that knife carvers would hate it.
So there's my .02- it's 6 am so I hope it makes some sense! Did I forget to mention anything?
Re: And while we're at it...how about this carving medium?
Board: Stamp Carving and Mounting
Reply to: #489234 by Poodle Circus
Feb 8, 2010 7:31am
I just ordered a sheet of this last night. If it causes that much hand fatigue I'm in trouble. I may have to pass this off on my friend or my kids.
How did you transfer? And when you did the areas with more detail, did you still get the beading ink?
How did you transfer? And when you did the areas with more detail, did you still get the beading ink?
Re: And while we're at it...how about this carving medium?
Board: Stamp Carving and Mounting
Reply to: #489234 by Poodle Circus
Feb 8, 2010 8:15am
Thank you for the review. Since I'm already high risk for carpal tunnel I'll have to skip this stuff.
Re: And while we're at it...how about this carving medium?
Board: Stamp Carving and Mounting
Reply to: #489264 by songwriter
Feb 8, 2010 9:36am
I do acetone transfer, from a copier at work. (on an aside- I have discovered that if I reset the copying to the darkest setting I have better transfers) I didn't try pencil transfer but I suspect that the surface wouldn't work that well- it has a sort of "satin" finish (I'm thinking of latex paint type of satin here).
And... I can't quite remember if I got beading ink on the detail portions but I think I did. I will check when I go home.
It's quite possible that the hand fatigue came from me not really having figured out the best way to carve with this stuff. I am used to PZKut, so that's how I was approaching the carving of this stuff. I also had the thought that maybe wood carving tools might work better than the staedtler I was using. I did sharpen up before carving but kept wishing it was a little sharper.
Re: And while we're at it...how about this carving medium?
Board: Stamp Carving and Mounting
Reply to: #489234 by Poodle Circus
Feb 9, 2010 12:33am
Yeah, I got a couple of sheets of this stuff, too, but haven't taken the time to work on it yet. I think it's going to be pretty rough for blade/knife carving, which is mostly what I'm going these days. It seemed VERY smooth on top -- almost like counter-top at first, but then I ran my fingers over it some more and it had a little more rubbery texture than I'd thought at first.
As the stuff is designed to be used for big wood-block-type pieces, I'll bet you're right, PC, about wood-cutting tools working GREAT with this stuff. I have yet to take it for a run, as I said, but I'm interested to try it out. I may have bunches to share... stay tuned. ;)
-Cat Eyes
As the stuff is designed to be used for big wood-block-type pieces, I'll bet you're right, PC, about wood-cutting tools working GREAT with this stuff. I have yet to take it for a run, as I said, but I'm interested to try it out. I may have bunches to share... stay tuned. ;)
-Cat Eyes