Let the word go forth:

I have just tried PZ Cut. I hate it. I know I"m new, in the minority, and someday I could "grow up" and change my mind, but right now I find that PZ is TOUGH, I can't get the precision I can with Mastercarve, it takes FOREVER and my hand is KILLING me. I never had carvers hand before and when some of you were discussing that I was scratching my head thinking 'wow, I've never had that problem'.....so there it is. I would rather carver new stamps for all my boxes each year than use that stuff!! Flame me, if you must. There has to be someone out there who agrees.....


Painfully yours,
Dewdrop

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I can't get the precision I can with Mastercarve

I'm not going to flame you, but your statement surprises me. I was surprised at just how precise I could get with PZ Kut. I used the pink stuff before the PZ Kut, and I think the pink stuff is just too soft now.

By the way, how much PZ Kut did you order? Hopefully it wasn't a lot. :)

TG

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I have just tried PZ Cut. I hate it. I know I"m new, in the minority, and someday I could "grow up" and change my mind, but right now I find that PZ is TOUGH, I can't get the precision I can with Mastercarve, it takes FOREVER and my hand is KILLING me. I never had carvers hand before and when some of you were discussing that I was scratching my head thinking 'wow, I've never had that problem'.....so there it is. I would rather carver new stamps for all my boxes each year than use that stuff!! Flame me, if you must. There has to be someone out there who agrees.....

I wouldn't have said that I "hated" PZ cut, but I will give it to you on the toughness factor. When I first got mine, I was surprised at how tough it was to carve (I had been using the pink stuff before that.) But, I will tell you that I have gotten more used to it as I have used it for several weeks. I don't know how many times you tried it, but, since you have it sitting there, it might be worth just giving it a chance (if you haven't already) to see if you could get used to it.

Best wishes,
the PEAS

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I have just tried PZ Cut. I hate it.

Right there with you, Dewdrop. Now, if only someone felt the same way I do about the Speedball carving set. Hate those!

I didn't get a lot and I will attempt to use the rest of it. In fact, I was just thinking of carving a stamp called "Give PZ A Chance" :) It could be my carving tool, too, but it is a new speedball tip so I think it shouldn't be that bad. I'm used to my Staedler Kit tools and somehow the #1 tip is a bit more precise perhaps...


dewdrop

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Iwas just thinking of carving a stamp called "Give PZ A Chance" :)

I think that is beautiful! The idea gets my vote! :-)
Cheers!
S of the PEAS

....LOL I just touched on that in my last reply! Yah, well, somehow the Staedler #1 tip has been more precise. I figured it was dull after carving so many stamps so ended up getting the Speedball, but they seem to be much the same as Staedler, yet brand new...what do you use for carving tools?

dd

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what do you use for carving tools?

I love the Staedtler tools. I use them just as they came, never squeezed a tip or anything.

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what do you use for carving tools?

I use the Speedball tools. And I don't know how long it takes for a tip to get dull, but I have a couple of #1 tips in my kit and I have been using the two of them for months. And it hasn't affected the quality of my carving - in fact, it may be making it better!

TG

Have you ever found a place where you can buy them seperately?? I'm going to have to get the three in one pkg every time...I mainly just use 1 and 5...but I did wonder if I just got a great tip (as it were) or all Staedtler are like that...I'm glad to know all are!

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Have you ever found a place where you can buy them seperately?? I'm going to have to get the three in one pkg every time...I mainly just use 1 and 5...but I did wonder if I just got a great tip (as it were) or all Staedtler are like that...I'm glad to know all are!

I don't think you can buy one. I wish you could, then I wouldn't have a bunch of those blue handled ones lying around. They last a really long time. I'm not sure how long since I still have my first set.

I bought and tried a Speedball set and really hated the whole thing. I'm sure beautiful stamps can be carved with them, but apparently not by me.

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By the way, how much PZ Kut did you order? Hopefully it wasn't a lot. :)

And was it white or orange?

I had the same thought the first time I tried it. But then I tried it again and I love it! The trick that worked for me was to hold in my hot little hand for a few minuted before I started carving... or (GASP) microwave it for 10 seconds TOPS.. it is easier to carve when it is warm (body temp) it gives you less resistance.

Hope you like it better after playing.
BTW- I LOVE the idea for your stamp... did you consider making it a postal?? We would love to see what the image would be.

Lani
Team Springamajack

Does anyone know of anything finer that the #1 nib? I would really like to do some finer detail and the #1 is just a little too big.

SBD:

THere was a discussion on this not too long ago and the bottom line I believe was "no", however, some people take and squeeze the tip w/a pliers to make it more fine. THen I believe there was also some idea of using needles to get the really fine lines....

Twas white, and B grade.

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I bought and tried a Speedball set and really hated the whole thing.

Do you think the problem is in the tip or in the handle? Because if it's the handle, maybe we can do something about that. We've already heard one idea for mounting the Speedball tips on pieces of 1/4" wooden dowel, which would certainly make a difference. Maybe we can contrive some sort of homemade handle, or a modification of the plastic handle, to make better use of the Speedball tips.

Ah......well, I will just give that little trick a try tonite...
I'm a bit afraid of starting my own postal...I'm already involved in a number of them, however, I suppose I could do a PZ cut theme...hmmmmm.....I was thinking a giant peace sign (how original...NOT) I could post a picture when I'm done, too, I suppose...will give that postal some thought.....

dewdrop

It's true, these have lasted me forever...I've been carving since June and still on the first set...

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Do you think the problem is in the tip or in the handle? Because if it's the handle, maybe we can do something about that. We've already heard one idea for mounting the Speedball tips on pieces of 1/4" wooden dowel, which would certainly make a difference. Maybe we can contrive some sort of homemade handle, or a modification of the plastic handle, to make better use of the Speedball tips.

The tips, the handles, the ergonomics are all inferior to the Staedtler tools. I love the detail and control I get with those. I have a system going that works for me and I am happy with the results. I really encourage anyone using Speedball who is not happy with their stamps to try these. Yes, the cost is more, but they really are great.

-Screw

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Twas white, and B grade.

B grade doesn't make any difference, but the white is exactly what I expected to hear. The white is both very tough and somewhat flexible, so when you try to cut it it moves out of your way a bit. You can end up fighting with it. It gives me the impression that my blade is dull even though it's not.

I find the orange cuts much better. It's firmer, so it doesn't try to move when you're trying to cut it. It also seems "slicker", like the blade doesn't drag as much cutting through it.

I use a razor knife for my primary cutting, only using a Speedball carving tool for rubber removal after the outlines are finished. I suspect that, if you use a carving tool for your primary cutting, you might have more trouble than I do with the white.

I have both on hand, but once I use up the white I won't be buying any more. It cuts OK for me once I get used to it, but I prefer the orange.

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Does anyone know of anything finer that the #1 nib?

Besides the modified hypodermic needle tool that some boxers use, the only other way to get a narrower gauge than the #1 speedball nib would be to pinch it together yourself with pliers after you heat it over a flame. Be careful though because there's a fine line between heating it enough to where it's pliable enough to pinch or not heating it enough to where it outright cracks and ruins the nib completely. Remember less is more when you pinch it or you'll learn this lesson the hard way...

To get finer detail using the #1, you could also not dig as deeply with it (very, very superficially) and it will give you a narrower gouge in the medium OR you could slightly bend or wrap the carving medium (the thinner media work better with this technique) around something that's curved such as a soda can, mayonnaise jar or a rolling pin and use the #1 and this will result in a narrower gouge. This technique's worth attempting on some scratch media before you go hog wild with the technique on your actual stamp.

Hope this helps,

daelphinus

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There has to be someone out there who agrees.....

I agree!!!!!!
I love my Mastercarve and hate to use anything else.
And I'm ok with that.
If everyone uses the other stuff, that just leaves more Mastercarve for me!

Thanks for the suggestions, I will try the pilars, and I may try the other brand of tool, I have the Speedball.

Hi, Dewdrop!

If you want to play with it some more and see if grows on you, go ahead, but if you hate the PZ Kut, you can always send it back -- I'll give you a refund. Or you could trade it for Mastercarve or the Speedball pink stuff, too. Carving is supposed to be fun, not painful, so please don't torture yourself!! :)

Webfoot

AWWW, that is really sweet, but I am going to play with it more...besides a refund would mean no "experience", no "live and learn" and that's what it's all about...thanks for offering, though...I won't torture myself for too long, dont' worry!

dewdrop

Have you ever tried an x-acto blade for carving? It works great on PZ-Kut. I personally found I can have a lot more control and carve more detail by using PZ-Kut and an x-acto blade. When I first started carving I used the carving tools, and preferred MasterCarve. However two years ago I switched to only using an x-acto blade on firmer material and have been very happy with that method.

Wisconsin Hiker

THanks for the tip! I will give that a try too...I have a fresh Xacto blade in the ready...between that and heating up the PZ...who knows....stay tuned!!

*quickly donning a big white beekeepers outfit on that has spraypainted on the back "HAZZARDOUS PZKUT REMOVAL SPECIALIST"... carving tools sticking out from back pocket, pencils in other pocket*

<very heroically announced:>
I'll remove that PZKUT for you there, Sir or Ma'am.
Just contact me for a specially lined (for your protection), prepaid USPS mailer to dispose of your materials. ;-D

It's funny but the toughness that you don't like is the thing I DO like about it.The other stuff gives too much for me and I don't get as precise of a cut.

I don't like the speedball tips either. I have a set called a TIF, it's made in Germany. My Dad bought it a few years ago to do some leather work. He doesn't remember where he got it. The TIF works great though. It has a wooden handle shaped like the speedball only smaller. The tips have the angle reversed to what speedball has and it makes a difference.

Shiloh