Today's postings

  1. [Baren 31544] Re: Baren Digest (old) V36 #3586 ("DePry Clan")
  2. [Baren 31545] RE: Hello Fellow Printmakers ("Maria Arango")
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Message 1
From: "DePry Clan"
Date: Mon, 21 Aug 2006 15:19:27 -0700
Subject: [Baren 31544] Re: Baren Digest (old) V36 #3586
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I have used a product called Sanalite. It is basically industrial cutting board and comes up in 3/4 inch thickness. Has no memory (ran it over with my jeep and made no mark), resists solvents and is slightly orange peeled textured. You can find it at most plastic and plexi-glas distributers. Its lighter than steel and aluminum giving you the ability to lift it and install it yourself, plus a lot cheaper. Hope that helps.
Double D
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Message 2
From: "Maria Arango"
Date: Mon, 21 Aug 2006 15:48:21 -0700
Subject: [Baren 31545] RE: Hello Fellow Printmakers
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Go to www.rockler.com or www.woodcraft.com and check out their birch and
other hardwoods plywood, like the Cairn's cherry plywood. Birch from these
sources is far better than anything you can buy at Home Depot.

Many people like shina plywood available at www.imclains.com, easy to carve;
look for all shina.

For solid cherry and other hardwoods www.lakeshorehardwoods.com; after
trying solid cherry, I will hardly carve anything else without whining
loudly. They will put together joined blocks of any size for you.

For smaller pieces in 31 flavors, search eBay for a myriad of suppliers that
handle all types of wood in all sizes and shapes

Wood is relatively inexpensive, no matter the flavor. Shipping is idiotic,
no matter where you are or where the wood comes from, it seems. I buy bulk
to minimize the shipping shock and maximize my wood pile :-)

Alternative to online shopping would be to find a full-service lumberyard
near you and make friends with the "wood guy." You might pick up a few
smaller pieces of various species and try them out.
If you like the softness of birch I would recommend shina, or you might want
to try soft maple if you want to achieve a lot of detail. Solid basswood is
soft to carve but too stringy for my taste. Cherry plywood is very nice to
carve and a bit harder but the layers are quite thin and make it easier to
carve than solid cherry.

Oh, one last thing, 1/4" might be too thin, especially if you are going to
go hanga (which is different from going tango). That thin wood is probably
why you are having warping problems. I would go at least 1/2" or 3/4" to be
absolutely safe on the warping issue.

Hope this helps,
Maria


Maria Arango
www.1000woodcuts.com