Dollar Tree eraser - review

I was generously sent this eraser and asked to do an honest review of it.  It came from dollar tree (cost $1.00).  Apparently it comes in many different designs. This one happens to be a sweet cake of some kind.

Close up of the front

This is the back of the eraser.  As you can see it will need work before carving.

I used Acetone to remove the writing - the painted cake is on the other side.  You can see eraser left overs from rubbing the material.  I was hoping this was just from treating the material with acetone to remove the writing. That was not the case.  I dealt with those the entire carve.

To finally get a smooth crumb free area.  I took a rag with acetone and laid it over the top and gently wiped the material. This took a few minutes.

After letting the material sit until it was no longer wet or tacky (30 min.) I transferred an image using acetone.  I did not dare try anything else as I finally have a clean area.

Ready to carve

I started off with a 1v gouge around the outside.  It was a "getting a feel for the material."  I also started with an exacto knife.  The knife did not cut this material well at all.  The eraser does not have a constant consistency to it.  I found hard areas in the block. You can see on the picture that there are jagged cuts where the blade went around something in the material.

I grabbed the gouge.  I tried to show some markings in the material.  In some areas the gouge slid right through, but in others it skipped. 

Here is the printed stamp.  It you can really see the jump marks and issues right away.

Personally this is a terrible carve for me and I am embarrassed that I could not get a cleaned cut not matter how hard I tried.  It is extremely rubbery.

Summary:

You can carve this material.  This would be a great block to learn your tools on as long as you eventually move to aother.  I have been carving both wood and rubber for over 10 years and struggled to get clean lines.  My fear would be that if someone stayed on this material they might get discouraged that their carvings are not getting better.

This material will hold up well in the heat.


This material might be good to make background shadows for LTCs as it hold ink well.

Amazed

Having good friends is a blessing. 

Thank you for such an amazing gesture

 and display of love to all of those involved.  

Here is the beautiful carving competed by a good friend.  It is amazing!  What a wonderful gift.  Since I carve I know how much time and creative pressure goes into something like this.  Very honored to receive it.

Here is the standard block print.  Look at the details she added.

Water colors added

The piece put together with resin and glitter.

Miss C - Beautiful Carving. Thank You!
 

Pental Hi-Polymer Eraser

Amazingly this is the first time that I have handled this material.  After being asked about how it carved and what I knew about it (sadly I did not know anything) I went hunting for a package.  I happened to see that it was on sale in the "school supplies" at Wal-Mart - off I went.

I only purchased one package at that time.

The material is very flexible and yet sturdy.  It was thicker than I am use to using.

I carved a simple S with the material.  Truth be told I thought I would have nothing good to say about this medium.

I got caught in a one lane, lead car directed construction site.  I had a very long wait and decided to take a good look at this material.  In the car I have a sharpie and an old rusted exacto knife. Which was very dull.

So I drew a "S" backwards and cut away at the block.  Surprisingly it cut and cut cleanly.  I used the rusty exacto knife and carved up a simple s.  The s took well,  It did not crumble, and wear easily.  I stamped it with marker and ink when I got home.

The ink stamped very well.  Very easy to ink and stamp. Stamped it 100 times without the image changing,

I had a friend pick up a couple more so I could try transfer methods.

Acetone, wintergreen, or xylene transfers did not work.  I was only able to get a pencil transfer to work.

There is definately a use for this very inexspensive.  (the ones I picked up were .49 for 3)


The size is small, but for:

• background designs
• some LTCs 
• Stamps without fine details
• temporary plants
• new carvers to learn on
• kid carving
• Carving on the road.  

I did not use gouges with this material just a dull exacto. 

I do not recommended with markers.  In my opinion the image/stamp would wear away quickly as it will peel.  It is an eraser and I used it to erase the pencil transfer.  There was eraser debris.  So it will wear away.  Limited or short term use.