I have used softoleum almost exclusively, but have purchased it from
Nasco.
http://www.enasco.com/artsandcrafts/BrowseProducts.do?majorIndexText=Block+Printing&minorIndexText=NASCO+Softoleum&quickIndex=415

I don't know if it is the same thing, but I would presume it is. I've
used the pink stuff and also small blocks of mastercarve. I've found
the mastercarve to be less firm. I carved a trail stamp for my brother
from Mastercarve and it fell a apart within a few months. The pink
stuff was more expensive and I've never used Speedy Cut.

I've found this page helpful to understand the difference in carving
media.
http://www.ruthannzaroff.com/carving/how-to3.htm

I happened to get lucky one day a few years ago while at the Nasco
warehouse sale and was able to pick up a whole box of at least 36 4x6
pieces of softoleum for only $5. At the time I was very new to
letterboxing and just had no concept as to what a great deal that was
and only bought one box, but they had a whole pallet of boxes and I'm
kicking myself now for not picking up more.

We have 18 boxes planted and all but 3 of them were carved with
softoleum and I'm not aware of any problems with any of them yet. I
think Softoleum is a tad bit more porous, but it carves easily and takes
the ink well. I have even stopped mounting my stamps. I think
unmounted stamps make a better image the 1st time, and the thickness of
the softoleum allows for that.

Just my thoughts....

Mrs. Puddlejumper in Wisconsin

Kathy wrote:

> Has anyone used softoleum for carving? I like the depth of 3/8" that
>
> it comes in, but someone I talked to on the phone, an art supply store
>
> who carries it, was unclear about just how soft it is and couldn't
> compare it to the only two products I have used, MasterCarve and
> SpeedyCut. I'm a little shy about trying PZ Cut because it is not as
> thick as I'm used to and I'm still pretty new at carving.
> http://www.currys.com/printmaking/prodinfo.asp?SubcatID=4350&catID=15
>
>
>
>
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Kathy, I am new to lb ing and tried speedy cut. for me
it was too soft and I have ruined several pieces ....
this is me being a novice too, I know. then I ordered
some orange PZ Kut grade A. I LOVE IT. it is
thinner, but it is so easy to cut (I did buy the
cutter too. use the #1 for just about everything) I
have since seen a couple PZ's in lb's and they are not
backed and look and work great. I am backing mine with
thin wood, but not sure it's necessary. anyway, I'd
recommend trying it. I haven't made any mistakes or
had pieces fall apart with it. just my 2 cents.
charPEZt

--- Kathy wrote:

> Has anyone used softoleum for carving? I like the
> depth of 3/8" that
> it comes in, but someone I talked to on the phone,
> an art supply store
> who carries it, was unclear about just how soft it
> is and couldn't
> compare it to the only two products I have used,
> MasterCarve and
> SpeedyCut. I'm a little shy about trying PZ Cut
> because it is not as
> thick as I'm used to and I'm still pretty new at
> carving.
>
http://www.currys.com/printmaking/prodinfo.asp?SubcatID=4350&catID=15
>
>
>




__________________________________
Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005
http://mail.yahoo.com

Charlotte,
If you back your PZKut with thin wood the wood will warp if (and when )
it gets wet.
And they always warp the wrong way (cup) making it hard to use the
stamp.
Just my 2 cents......
I have been leaving the backing off ,or use a 1/4 " thick foam rubber.

franzsolo...

well thanks, obviously I did not know that... I've
seen them without backing and it seems so sturdy
anyway, so I guess I'll just go backless...lol...
thanks

--- motofranz@webtv.net wrote:

> Charlotte,
> If you back your PZKut with thin wood the wood will
> warp if (and when )
> it gets wet.
> And they always warp the wrong way (cup) making it
> hard to use the
> stamp.
> Just my 2 cents......
> I have been leaving the backing off ,or use a 1/4 "
> thick foam rubber.
>
> franzsolo...
>
>




__________________________________
Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005
http://mail.yahoo.com

Thank you all for the responses. I'm going to try some softoleum
since you like it so much. There is a person in my neighborhood who
can get PZ Kut at a really good price without shipping, so maybe I
will just try some of both and see what I think. Thanks again for the
opinions.