It’s a pain in the butt – but with the proper tools it can be less so. So a 1mm, 1.5mm, 2mm, 4-5mm, then a 7-9mm.īefore I go on about tools, a quick word on keeping them sharp. Now with the U tools, I like a small to large set. And with a little more pressure you can just cut deeper and wider. Much smaller is pointless b/c with the 3mm you can cut a line just as small and fine as with a 1mm V. It’s an expensive way to figure out what you like, but you could always start with the more inexpensive Warren tools and decide which you like best.As for me, a 3mm V tool is the only V I need. It took me a few years to decide to actually get the good ones, but I could have saved a couple of hundred dollars in the long run if I’d just gotten the good ones to begin with.And as far as selecting which sizes and shapes, you just have to try them out. It might dull your tools quicker than you can cut a line.ĭepending on your budget, I’d recommend ONLY the Japanese ‘style’ or some actual Japanese block carving knives. Not terribly cheap, but I hear it works okay. It’s used for cheaper cabinets and entertainment centers and shelving today. Not the particle board that LOOKS like chunks of sawdust and wood chunks glued together, but the stuff that looks like powder glued together. I don’t recommend it for the serious artist. You’ll have students who hate it because it doesn’t take good detail and crumbles and flakes, but it is easier to cut than the gray and golden stuff. I hate this stuff but it’s good for student work. The only difference I see is the color though. Very similar to regular old gray linoleum.

you can find big sheets of the stuff at Dick Blick art supply.

Works fine but it’s expensive and you can’t find big sheets of the stuff, only long rolls. If I were doing this for a living I wouldn’t think twice about buying the best. I did find some Russian Birch locally, but it was prohibitively expensive. Read this.īut really, if you can get some good quality Chinese birch you’ll still be very happy. And if you can find it, marine ply wood be great too. You want Russian birch b/c there are less voids. Go to a lumber yard and ask for the stuff. Lowe’s and Home Depot and Sutherland’s don’t have any good birch. Whatever you have access to and can afford. Later I’ll be adding a section about honing and maintaining your tools – hopefully with some help from other print makers. Next the carving tools themselves and where to buy them. Wood blocks, lino blocks, golden cut, plywood, etc. If you’d like to add to my reviews I’ll include them here.įirst on the list I talk about different materials to carve from. These are just my opinions and may be worthless to you – but I still feel it’s a valuable resource since there’s no place else on the web with individual tool reviews. Here’s Everything I have to say about all the materials I’ve used and what I recommend.

Futatsu wari moku hanga to