Oct 8, 2026, 12:07 AMSo, now that I'm finally using oil based inks:
- it is so much easier to get coverage
- you've got more working time
- cleanup is not that much worse once you know the secret (vegetable oil. The secret is vegetable oil)
- the ink is a little tackier so the paper is less likely to shift as you lay it down
- you have to plan ahead to make sure you've got somewhere to keep your prints for the better part of a week while they cure
Oct 8, 2026, 12:10 AMThis isn't really my first time using oil based inks for block printing, but the last time I was using a rolling press and had it locked up in a chase with type. And it was 1995.
@phooky yessssss
Personal notes on that:
- cleanup is even easier if you use something like Caligo Safe Wash; it's still oil-based but the formulation makes hot water and a little soap suffice. All I use at this point if doing oil prints. (Water-based is still nice for proofing or quick gifts though.)
- I put a bunch of nails in a rafter in my basement, a few inches between each, and looped the spring of spring-driven clothes pins over those. Good dense overhead storage for drying.