Wood prints as a hobby?

Question

As my new hobby, i am making wood block prints (search 4 Gwen Frostic for more) and i need a good woodcarving set.

Anyone know any good Cheaper ones? I was able to do my first with a carving knife, but that takes too long and is too sloppy.

Answer 1

The weather is getting better so go to some yard sales and see if you can find a Dremel motor tool, it would be a handy item for it uses a lot of cutting and grinding down items. Heavy duty exacto knifes and blades are not to bad in price as well as the wood carving tool sets. Check a discount tool place also. Making prints of wood carvings is a very old art. The ancient Chinese have been doing it since probably the Shang Dynasty 1766-1154 BC or even before. In the Zhou period of that dynasty wood blocks were carved in the shape of coins with Chinese Characters and pressed into clay to make a mold, then the cooper was cast into that mold to make a coin. Good luck in your endeavor. You are joining the ranks of the artists of ancient times.

Answer 2

Most of the national name-brand Craft stores ( like Michaels, Total Crafts, A.C. Moore, etc ) have a wood section with rouch and delicate carving blades, many fit X-acto handles. They're not excessively expensive, you'll probaby spend $20-30 for a set of blades and a handle. This is cheaper than a Dremel. Go check a well-stocked Craft show ( ask your Mom to go, she'll love the trip! ).

Answer 3

You can geeet aqn X-acto knife set in any craft department or craft sore, but if you are going to do a lot of detailed work, may I suggest a Dremel tool?
I wore out my first Dremel and moved on to the Nikota automotive rotarym tool set with ALL the attachments for the same price as the basic Dremel with none.