The local Dollar Tree store has started stocking **big** erasers! They're 6"x1-3/4"x1/4". They're supposed to be gag erasers, and the package is marked "For Big Mistakes". I have a far better use for them! Buck a piece! Yippee!!!
-- Dagonell the Pirate

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They're supposed to be gag erasers, and the package is marked "For Big Mistakes".

I tried carving a stamp with one of those and didn't really like it much. I had a hard time getting my image to carve onto the erasure, then when I did, the erasure was so hard I had a difficult time cutting into it.

It's cheap, but I won't be buying anymore of them. =)

-- Ryan

I buy them everytime I see them and they are great! I wonder if maybe there are different types of big mistake erasers out there. Maybe we easterners just have access to better bigger mistakes! The ones I have hold an image better than the fancy carving rubber, pink, white or orange. Nor

I've carved several stamps with these, including my sig stamp. While I personally would not trade in my pzkut for them, I find they hold their own quite well. Plus, they are nice and thick for double-sided carving projects.

After almost a year, my big-eraser-sig-stamp is begining to show signs of wear, but I totally think I got my money's worth!

MoonBunny

Dagonell -
I don't do very well with those erasers and still have a couple. Send me your address via AQ mail and I will send them to you!

LW

I love these erasers as well. With my finances the way they are I can't afford to mail order any carving material. But I can find $1 on the way to the Dollar Tree :-D

My only problem is that I've bought out all the local stores ;-)

-Aahz

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My only problem is that I've bought out all the local stores

I wish we had big mistake erasers. I find erasers have shrunk over the years, and the one place I found a couple last week I bought out!

It is hard to practise carving stamps when you worry that you might be wasting an irreplacable eraser!

YT

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I wish we had big mistake erasers. I find erasers have shrunk over the years, and the one place I found a couple last week I bought out!

It is hard to practise carving stamps when you worry that you might be wasting an irreplacable eraser!

I went looking for these online... you can get them on eBay (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4879576515&category=52473), but for $2 plus $2 shipping to US (worldwide shipping available) -- not so cost effective. For some reason they're listed under 'Music > Accessories'. Maybe they're targeting the violist market <rim shot>.

Or you could order from here: <http://www.alibaba.com/catalog/11304895/Eraser_For_Big_Mistakes.html>. Minimum order, 3000 boxes of 12. That'd definitely end your worries about irreplaceability...

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I went looking for these online...

Wow, thanks for your trouble I shall certainly be ordering the 3000 boxes of 12!

But seriously, you have given me the idea of looking online in the UK. I am still getting used to this Letterboxing on the Internet business.

YT

I've tried some of the pink BIG MISTAKE erasers and they may be the ones that GT was referring to as not taking an image well and too hard. That they are, they are gritty and crumble. The erasers I use when I can find them are white, 2" X 6" (usually printed with Canada souvenir stuff on them ("Gomme CANADA Grand Default, Big Mistake Eraser" bilingual no less!), smooth and just firm enough to really take a nice impression. I don't recommend the pink ones. Nor

Yes, I saw those Canadian white erasers everywhere in Kingston boxes! They seem to be a lot like white PZ cut, so I was really jonezing for them. Didn't find any of those but got some great little spiral bounds. Thanks for the tip!

LW

I used one of these for a stamp planted on the 24th.
I don't like it near as much as my mastercarve or white PZ but it was MUCH better than pink pearls erasers. So...the will do in a pinch but not my first first or second choice for carving.

dixiekin

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it was MUCH better than pink pearls erasers

ditto! the pink pearls seem to succumb to heat damage much more easily. I personally think these giant pink and red and orange erasers are a great choice for beginning carving practice and for kids who tend to just hack away at a stamp.

MB

I didn't see a price. Maybe you have to be a member to get prices but if I'm going to buy 36,000 of something I want to know how much it's going to cost me first.

Shiloh

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I love these erasers as well. With my finances the way they are I can't afford to mail order any carving material. But I can find $1 on the way to the Dollar Tree :-D

My only problem is that I've bought out all the local stores ;-)

The one i bought was 6" x 1.8". That's more expensive per square inch (9.25 cents) than Grade B white PZ Cut (8.42 cents), or obviously orange Grade B which is even less expensive.

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The one i bought was 6" x 1.8". That's more expensive per square inch (9.25 cents) than Grade B white PZ Cut (8.42 cents), or obviously orange Grade B which is even less expensive.

Ah, but you're forgetting shipping which more than doubles the cost of a single unit, and 20 units would literally wipe out my bank account right now, so my first PZ Cut experience is going to have to wait 'til I find new housing and employment.

-Aahz

I used an eraser for a stamp once, it was the type for mechanical pencils. I don't know why they need different erasers lol, but it's just like the creamy little eraser you get in the top of one when you buy it. So far it's held up fairly well and it was nice to carve.

Works when you can't find anything else! ; )

Moonduck

Uh,Moonduck, are you talking about those tiny little white erasures? How the heck do you carve that?

Shiloh

I went out yesterday and bought 2 "For Big Mistakes" erasers and carved part of one. Seemed to work pretty well for me, but I'm not nearly so advanced as some as a carver. I could get about 4 reasonable sized stamps from one eraser.
zoemomma

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Uh,Moonduck, are you talking about those tiny little white erasures? How the heck do you carve that?

Very very carefully, lol!!!! Small solid image to limit detail and cutting into the image itself and then very slowly... very slowly and carefully.

They're a little smaller than a pink pearl and they have a piece of thin cardboard around them when you take them out of the package. I forgot to find out what they were when I went home last night.

Moonduck

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They're a little smaller than a pink pearl and they have a piece of thin cardboard around them when you take them out of the package. I forgot to find out what they were when I went home last night.

Those could be a bunch of things...
Staedler makes small erasers like those, with the cardboard box around most of it....and a couple of other brands, too.

I usually pick up one and cut it in thirds, or even sixths (three stamps to a side, cut lengthwise for six) and make HH's out of them.

Who says you have to limit detail, though? :D

-CQ

OH...Those erasures. When you said for mechanical pencils I thought you were talking about the little round ones that actually go in the pencil under the cap thingy. Those are are only about 1/8" diameter, that's why I asked how the heck do you carve it. :) I was about to kneel and bow to your carving skills.

Shiloh

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Those are are only about 1/8" diameter

That is what I was thinking too. I was about to abandon all hope of improving my carving skills to match with your American standards.

YT

I was about to abandon all hope of improving my carving skills to match with your American standards.

No kidding......I suddenly felt like I was useing a hammer and chisel.

Shiloh

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No kidding......I suddenly felt like I was useing a hammer and chisel.

Oh PSHAW!!!

Michaelangelo used a hammer and chisel, right?

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No kidding......I suddenly felt like I was useing a hammer and chisel.

Oh PSHAW!!!

Michaelangelo used a hammer and chisel, right?

Yea, but so far I haven't found any stamp material that was 8.5 ft. X 14.5 ft. X 6 ft.!

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haven't found any stamp material that was 8.5 ft. X 14.5 ft. X 6 ft.!

I'm doing a Dixiekin, the coke has spluttered all over the keyboard and tears are streaming down my eyes!

YT

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OH...Those erasures. When you said for mechanical pencils I thought you were talking about the little round ones that actually go in the pencil under the cap thingy.

Oh no! I meant that they were the same type of "material" in how they feel and look, that's all! Oh, I am so NOT that good!!!

Moonduck

Michaelangelo used a hammer and chisel, right?


On stone yes,on a rubberstamp no.

Shiloh

Oh, I am so NOT that good!!!


Well Moonduck, you created quite a thread just the same. :)

Shiloh