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Read Thread: soft Kut from Dick Blick

soft Kut from Dick Blick
Board: Tools of the Trade
Feb 1, 2015 5:57am
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Has anyone tried this carving medium? It is inexpensive. But any good??
Re: soft Kut from Dick Blick
Board: Tools of the Trade
Reply to: #886688 by FloridaFour
Feb 1, 2015 6:10am
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I love soft Kut. Easy to carve on. If you sign up online at Dick Blick, they will send you coupons and it will make it even cheaper. It is very inexpensive for a large slab.
Re: soft Kut from Dick Blick
Board: Tools of the Trade
Reply to: #886688 by FloridaFour
Feb 1, 2015 6:48am
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If you try it, let me know your results, please.
Re: soft Kut from Dick Blick
Board: Tools of the Trade
Reply to: #886688 by FloridaFour
Feb 1, 2015 6:54am
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I did a search at Dick Blick's and did not find soft kut.

I did find: Ready Cut, E-Z Cut, and Speedy-Cut. Did you mean one of these? Or is it really Soft Kut and it just doesn't show up in their search?
Re: soft Kut from Dick Blick
Board: Tools of the Trade
Reply to: #886699 by airstream dreams
Feb 1, 2015 7:14am
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Re: soft Kut from Dick Blick
Board: Tools of the Trade
Reply to: #886701 by Penfeather
Feb 1, 2015 8:40am
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It states you should only use it with water-base ink
Re: soft Kut from Dick Blick
Board: Tools of the Trade
Reply to: #886709 by shutterbug2012
Feb 1, 2015 9:26am
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They just mean dont use it for etching. Our inks are fine to use. However, I am not sure what acetone would do to it or xylene, etc if you do transfers.

I may try it out....
Re: soft Kut from Dick Blick
Board: Tools of the Trade
Reply to: #886701 by Penfeather
Feb 1, 2015 9:32am
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That website says $94 for 24 4x6 pieces and 24 tools. Not bad if someone wants to teach classes.
Re: soft Kut from Dick Blick
Board: Tools of the Trade
Reply to: #886712 by FloridaFour
Feb 1, 2015 9:33am
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Per the product description:
Soft-Kut Printing Blocks are meant for use with water-base block printing inks only. Solvents will ruin these blocks.
Re: soft Kut from Dick Blick
Board: Tools of the Trade
Reply to: #886688 by FloridaFour
Feb 1, 2015 10:57am
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I tried it many years ago. It was so awful that I wondered why they had the gall to call it a carving material. You could press a thumbnail into it and it'd leave a crease surrounded by ridges, like a block of clay. I threw it out.
Re: soft Kut from Dick Blick
Board: Tools of the Trade
Reply to: #886727 by Kirbert
Feb 1, 2015 12:36pm
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OK, that's food to know, kirbert. I don't like soft material, since it won't hold details or survive handling.

I'm going to order some watercolors from Blick and get free shipping, so I may just order the small $2 block to try out.
Re: soft Kut from Dick Blick
Board: Tools of the Trade
Reply to: #886744 by FloridaFour
Feb 1, 2015 4:28pm
Thread (disabled) Board
It is extremely soft and extremely rubbery & squishy. But it does not crumble at all, which is great. Fantastic material to use for teaching kids to carve. Not my first choice for detail work. Definitely worth giving it a try, it's very unique.
Re: soft Kut from Dick Blick
Board: Tools of the Trade
Reply to: #886757 by nosox
Feb 1, 2015 4:55pm
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It's crap.
Re: soft Kut from Dick Blick
Board: Tools of the Trade
Reply to: #886757 by nosox
Feb 1, 2015 5:57pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Thanks for that interesting description, nosox. Since I like to do mixed media work, and it looks flexible and soft, it might give interesting impressions for less detailed stamps, using different types of ink, like blockprinting ink or even block style watercolors. Maybe even watered down acrylics. I like to flex my pattern stamps to get partial impressions for mixed media work. I may place a small order along with some other items. As long as it doesn't crumble, it could be interesting. Like press into it, using textured items, then use it to make monoprints.
Re: soft Kut from Dick Blick
Board: Tools of the Trade
Reply to: #886757 by nosox
Feb 2, 2015 4:22am
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It is the grey stuff from the days of letterboxing yore. Like nosox said, very rubbery and tricky to work with. Sharp tools are rather helpful.

I still have slabs of it that I use when I am trying to go rustic in my carves.

LB