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Step 5Cutting
The first step involves cutting away the white areas of the image. Linoleum printing is essentially a form of stamp printing, so whatever is cut out of the block will not be inked. The cutting tools are V-shaped and U-shaped gouges. ALWAYS CUT AWAY FROM YOURSELF. Cut slowly and and with a smaller gauge. When linoleum gets warm and you have sharp tools it cuts very smoothly and quickly if you slip you can really hurt yourself. I learned the hard way and have the scars to prove it. Just like any blade the sharper it is the easier it is to use and with less effort so sharpen your tools after every project.
This is when the electric blanket comes into play. Place a towel on your workspace then place the electric blanket on a very low setting. Place another towel on top and flip the block face down so you can warm the linoleum so it becomes easier to cut if you do not warm the block the linoleum will flake and your lines will not be precise.
1 is a angled pointed tool and is used for fine lines. This is the tool you use to go around the outline of the stamp you will carve. You may substitute this tool for a craft knife.
2 is a V shaped tool and leaves a fine line in the lino. This tool is essential to lino carving.
3 is a small curved too and again is pretty much essential. It removes a medium amount of lino.
4 is a flat chisel and removes a large area of lino.
5 is a large curved tool and is used for removing larger areas of lino. If you are only planning on making small of intricate stamps this tool can be omitted.
6 Is for straight cuts
You should hold the tool firmly in your hand with your index finger about where the blade is inserted into the handle this helps control. Cutting should be at a 30 degree angle. Buy an extra piece to practice cutting on. Because once you make a cut you cannot fix it easily.
This is when the electric blanket comes into play. Place a towel on your workspace then place the electric blanket on a very low setting. Place another towel on top and flip the block face down so you can warm the linoleum so it becomes easier to cut if you do not warm the block the linoleum will flake and your lines will not be precise.
1 is a angled pointed tool and is used for fine lines. This is the tool you use to go around the outline of the stamp you will carve. You may substitute this tool for a craft knife.
2 is a V shaped tool and leaves a fine line in the lino. This tool is essential to lino carving.
3 is a small curved too and again is pretty much essential. It removes a medium amount of lino.
4 is a flat chisel and removes a large area of lino.
5 is a large curved tool and is used for removing larger areas of lino. If you are only planning on making small of intricate stamps this tool can be omitted.
6 Is for straight cuts
You should hold the tool firmly in your hand with your index finger about where the blade is inserted into the handle this helps control. Cutting should be at a 30 degree angle. Buy an extra piece to practice cutting on. Because once you make a cut you cannot fix it easily.
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In grade school we just threw the linoleum in an oven for a few minutes to heat it up (but your electric blanket innovation sounds friendlier). A towel or pot holder is a good idea if the linoleum gets too warm to handle. Note that some linoleum comes already mounted on a wooden block. If the block is particle board, it may give off nasty fumes, like formaldehyde, when heated; so either work in a well-ventilated area or stick to unmounted linoleum.
thanks for all of the good, detailed information and memory joggers!
keep doing such great work!