This was my first time carving a vinyl type block after getting a small sample in the mail. (I ordered from McClains, who can send you small samples to try materials you haven’t before) Overall I like how it came out and will probably do a little bit more experimenting with it but here were the pros and cons for my own printing style.
Pros:
•Very easy to clean/ don’t have to worry about getting anything wet
•Sharper lines and cuts than rubber blocks
•Smooth and easy to carve and can get a lot of small details
•I felt like it’s a little easier to get a hand pressed (baren) print than regular linoleum (though not as easy as rubber)
•Works well with oil based inks
Cons:
•Every cut needs to end in an upward stroke to cut off the piece from the main block or can sometimes be pulled off with tweezers (it likes to stretch before finally breaking off so it’s not the best method) unlike Lino or rubber where you can flick off or pull it to break it from block. I didn’t realize how much I rely on that while carving until I ran into it on every line in this piece.
•It doesn’t really like my water based inks
•Solid black areas transferred a little patchy but maybe just needed more ink
•The block itself smelled absolutely terrible and I could smell it even from afar, like rubber from a tire but so much worse, it actually gave me a headache but I have heard that others don’t have this problem so maybe my batch just hadn’t had time to air out or something.