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Message 1
From: David Harrison
Date: Fri, 08 Feb 2008 13:32:31 +0000
Subject: [Baren 35019] linseed oil and blocks
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Some while back I took up on Maria A's excellent advice about oiling a block
to make it easier to cut. I bought some boiled linseed oil and gave some spare
basswood blocks a thorough coating, then left 'em to dry for some weeks.

I haven't done any printmaking in ages so weeks became many months. Last night I
picked up my tools again and tried cutting a test design in a small block. The
surface actually felt tougher! Not granite exactly, but pretty stiff.

I'm trying to figure what happened:

a) using boiled rather than raw oil? I gather the boiled stuff is polymerized
and perhaps that makes it set hard?

b) with relatives staying, our heating has been up high all winter. Maybe that
did something to oil in the block?

c) too much/too little oil?

d) is there a time limit on this -- good after six weeks, tough after three
months...?

There is an upside though -- as it's harder to chip or splinter the surface,
fine lines might be easier to cut.

cheers,

David H

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Message 2
From: "Marilynn Smith"
Date: Fri, 8 Feb 2008 06:11:36 -0800
Subject: [Baren 35020] Re: Baren Digest (old) V42 #4224
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Our town is tiny. We have a half room post office that is run by contract.
The workers are mostly retired folks (and are my friendly neighbors) that
enjoy a part time job, not government employees. I was told last year when
I went to mail my year of the rat cards that it would cost me more because
they were in the cellophane bags and could not go through the machines. So,
it is not just government workers or a snarly person who is saying this. My
rat is post card size this year and I will mail them as a postcard!
Marilynn

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Message 3
From: Lynn Starun
Date: Fri, 8 Feb 2008 06:36:33 -0800 (PST)
Subject: [Baren 35021] Re: New Baren Digest (HTML) V42 #4224 (Feb 8, 2008)
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Hi Patti and Bareners,
My cellophane enclosed rat came with no postage due
and I love it. This is my first New Year's exchange
and I can see the fun of it now!! My rats are in a
bag waiting for me to finish emailing and go to the PO
but maybe I'll check on postage because the envelopes
I found are a little on the large side and maybe they
need extra postage. rats!!

Hi Mark,
I just started an Etsy shop and the next day had my
first sale which was quite a surprise and has filled
me with optimism!! No woodblocks yet...

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5178551

Constructive criticism welcome--I found that on one of
my computers my images look washed out and overexposed
and on the other they look fine. I would love to hear
from anybody who looks at them whether they look
extremely washed out.
Lynn

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Message 4
From: L Cass
Date: Fri, 08 Feb 2008 09:49:54 -0500
Subject: [Baren 35022] Re: linseed oil and blocks
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I have a feeling it's the boiled oil - I've used the raw linseed oil
on pine blocks and nothing like that happens - it just seems to
render the surface
of the wood kind of silkier to the touch - I still find the diluted
white shellac hardens the surface nicely...

Louise C.

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Message 5
From: "Barbara Carr"
Date: Fri, 8 Feb 2008 07:00:23 -0800
Subject: [Baren 35023] Re: linseed oil and blocks
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I use mineral oil, and put it on about two minutes before I start carving.
I've been using shina blocks and this has worked well so far. Linseed oil
would tend to dry like the surface of an oil painting. Barbara C

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Message 6
From: "Maria Arango"
Date: Fri, 8 Feb 2008 07:59:49 -0800
Subject: [Baren 35024] RE: linseed oil and blocks
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Hi David,

Probably too much oil and left too long to dry. Keep in mind that two coats
of linseed oil are considered a final finish for protecting wood. The first
coat penetrates the wood and the second seals it. Linseed oil will dry to a
hardened coat. Also, basswood is very absorbent (spongy) and will drink
quite a bit more linseed oil than my cherry. This means you are actually
getting more oil into the wood than necessary for smooth carving.

Having said all of that, try a light coat of mineral oil or even very light
coat of linseed and that should soften the wood again. But do this right
before, or at most an hour before, you plan on carving.
Another strategy is to wipe the wood with a bit of turpentine or standard
paint thinner, white spirits, anything!, that should wipe off the hardened
coating. Then recoat with oil right before you carve.

When I carve my blocks, after oiling, the knife just glides along and when I
put on my magnifiers, I can actually see the oil lubricating as I cut.
Incidentally I use the cheapest boiled linseed oil I can find from Walmart
or the nearest home improvement store...by the gallon.

Let us know how you come out.

Maria


Maria Arango
http://1000woodcuts.com
http://artfestivalguide.info

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Message 7
From: "Mike Lyon"
Date: Fri, 8 Feb 2008 10:13:38 -0600
Subject: [Baren 35025] Exchange #35 EXTENSION to Feb 15
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I have extended the delivery deadline for Exchange #35 ONE MORE WEEK to
FEBRUARY 15 which will be the final-final-final cut-off - prints delivered
on or before Feb 15 will be included in the exchange - this should allow for
slow mail as well as slow printers!



As of yesterday's mail:



NOT received: Chris Blank

NOT received: Sharen Linder

NOT received: Ivan Locke

NOT received: Rahman Mohamed

NOT received: Mellissa Read-Devine (but baren case has arrived)

NOT received: Julio Rodriguez

NOT received: Sylvia Taylor

NOT received: Robert Viana



received 01/22/2008: Claudia G Coonen

received 01/22/2008: Aya Rosen

received 01/25/2008: Barbara Patera

received 01/26/2008: John Center

received 01/28/2008: Tiberiu Chelcea

received 01/28/2008: Lana Lambert

received 01/28/2008: Connie Pierson

received 01/28/2008: Steffan Ziegler

received 01/30/2008: Peter Kocak

received 01/30/2008: Jennifer Schmitt

received 02/01/2008: Barbara Carr

received 02/01/2008: Michael Gaffney

received 02/01/2008: Tom Kristensen

received 02/04/2008: Gillyin Gatto

received 02/04/2008: Mary Grassell

received 02/04/2008: Ned Rosen

received 02/05/2008: Bobette Mccarthy

received 02/06/2008: Diane Cutter

received 02/06/2008: Annette Haines

received 02/07/2008: Viza Arlington

received 02/07/2008: George Jarvis

taken for granted: Mike Lyon



Mike Lyon
Kansas City, MO
http://mlyon.com

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Message 8
From: David Harrison
Date: Fri, 08 Feb 2008 16:36:38 +0000
Subject: [Baren 35026] Re: linseed oil and blocks
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Hi Maria,

Thanks for the advice.

I'll try re-wiping it first, and if that fails will use thinners and re-wipe.
It's only a test block so I'm more concerned with getting this part right than
whether the design comes out!

all the best,

David

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Message 9
From: David Harrison
Date: Fri, 08 Feb 2008 16:38:26 +0000
Subject: [Baren 35027] Re: linseed oil and blocks
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Thanks -- I'm sure it's a timing thing now, viz. Maria's message. Don't have
any shellac, but mineral oil sounds good too...

cheers,

David

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End of [Baren] Digest