How To Sharpen Linoleum Carving Tools

My next invaluable tool is probably the 95 a large U gouge used for really shifting larger areas of non-printing lino once the accurate work has been done.
How to sharpen linoleum carving tools. I use a range of U and V gouges as well as a small straight chisel for woodcuts and skew knife. After that you should push the tool away from you. Little and often is the key and a quick check and strop before each carving session should be part of your creative preparation ritual.
In especially dry areas you may need to do this more frequently. Honing a linoleum knife. Pfeil tools will need proper care of its handles.
Then your knife is sharp as can be. As with any U gouge it can also be used to create textural marks by just skimming the surface of the lino and subsequently controlling the printing of those marks through a balance of inking packing and pressure. Thats what youre looking for when sharpening a knife.
With one end of the leather clamped or held down draw the blade its edge pointing away from you towards you at the angle of the blade making sure you catch up some of the honing paste. These are a step up in quality over the Speedball Linoleum Cutter and must be sharpened with a water stone honing block and honing compound like all the other tools mentioned below. Although these cutters will work on traditional harder linoleum if you mostly carve the softer linoleum the Speedball lino cutters work great.
Look down at the cutting edge. Being frugal I began with Speedball lino cutters. Blades cost a few dollars each and a lino cutting tool set can run you between 10-20 CDN depending on how many blades and handles it includes.
Power Grip Carving Tools. Turn the knife up so the blade is directly under a source of light. I will demonstrate carving Wonde.