An Overview of the Best Supplies for Linoleum Block Printing
Welcome! I am excited to share this list of tools and supplies I have collected and find especially helpful in any printmaking practice.
Find what works for you and have fun with it! Setting up your printmaking space should be part of the creative joy, so play around and see what works best for you! This guide highlights some of the best supplies for linoleum block printing for artists based in the USA. If you’re located elsewhere, you may find it more affordable (and just as effective) to shop from local art supply stores in your region.
Keep in mind: this isn’t an exhaustive list. If these tools don’t give you the results you’re after, there are plenty of other fantastic options out there. Every artist has different preferences, and discovering yours is part of the fun.
At the end of the day, the most important part of printmaking is finding joy in the process. Trust your hands, follow your curiosity, and carve what makes you excited to create.
Creative Space
You don’t need a special or fancy space to create beautiful prints. While having a dedicated studio is nice, the most important thing is to work with what you have. Pay attention to your lighting, posture, and overall comfort; these make a big difference in your carving and printing experience.
For example, I often work in my small garage studio, but when it gets cold, I move inside to print at the dining room table instead. The key is to find a setup that fits your lifestyle and keeps your creative energy flowing.
Carving Blocks
Tan Speedball Linoleum Blocks (Mounted & Unmounted)
This is my favorite type of lino for block printing, and it holds fine detail well. You can print it either by hand or using printing presses. These lino blocks are the most durable and do not break or crumble with repeated use. You can choose unmounted or mounted linoleum based on your preference. Hessian-backed linoleum is made of natural materials and is compostable. This material comes in a range of sizes when mounted and is also available unmounted in a roll.
Tip: If your unmounted hessian-backed linoleum gets wet, the best way to dry your block is to dry it with a towel and lay it flat with a weight on top to keep it from curling as it dries.
Speedball Speedy-Carve
This pink printing block is made of a proprietary material by Speedball. It is easy to carve and holds details well. I use this most for printing on fabric and making small blocks for cards or labels. This material comes in a range of different sizes. One disadvantage of this material is that it is not compostable.
Carving Tools
Speedball Linoleum Cutter Kit
A beloved option for beginners and experienced printmakers, this tool set has one handle and five different-sized replaceable blades that fit inside the plastic handle for storage. It is ideal for cutting linoleum and Speedball speedy cut. This tool is made in the USA.
Flexcut Carving Tools
Over time, I wanted to be able to carve more detailed work and create crisp, intricate designs. I found the Flexcut tools to be a dream! I love the micro-palm set with high-quality steel blades and wooden handles. The fine edges work very well for carving tiny details without crushing the surrounding areas of the lino block. Flexcut tools are available in a variety of gouge sizes. They have larger tools for clearing larger areas quickly and making clean lines when you are relief printmaking.
Tip: Over time, your tool blades will start to get dull. I recommend using a Flexcut Slipstrop to sharpen your linoleum carving tools.
To go more in-depth, read The Best Carving Tools for Printmaking.
Brayers
Speedball Soft Rubber Brayer
Made from soft, natural latex gum rubber, Speedball Soft Rubber Brayers are ideal for any relief medium. You can order these brayers in sizes 1.5″ to 6″. I like the flexibility of sizes. This is what I used for my first several years of printmaking.
Takach Hand Brayers
This brayer is made with a combination of rubber and buna nitrile blend. The design has self-lubricating bronze bushings, making this brayer a smooth roller. The handle doubles as a stand to keep your roller off the paper. Store these brayers away from direct sunlight to keep the integrity of the rollers. Note: These brayers are an investment; I included them in an overview of the best supplies for linoleum block printing in case, for some reason, the Speedball soft rubber brayer isn’t working for you so that you have an idea of another type of brayer to try.
Barens
A Trusty Wooden Spoon
Printmakers have often used a trusty spoon to hand press their prints, grab a large flat metal or wood spoon, and use the back of it to apply pressure and transfer your image to paper.
Speedball Baren
This baren is a classic tool. It features a wooden handle and a plastic body. The base is a flat surface covered with a durable nylon material base to prevent friction. This was my first baren, I still reach for it. It is made in the USA.
Studio Print Frog
A baren with style! Made with hand-blown glass in Texas, I enjoy its heavy weight and elegant glide. This tool is especially useful in hand-printing warped or damaged blocks.
Bench Hook
A bench hook catches on the table edges and holds your block, keeping it steady as you carve. This keeps your hands safe from being cut and allows you to use two hands to carve.
Wood Bench Hook
A wood bench hook, like the one available at McClain’s printmaking supplies, is what I use most when carving.
Speedball Bench Hook
Speedball sells a metal bench hook that can be easily placed on the edge of a table for more controlled carving. It also doubles as an ink plate, so you can use it to roll out your ink when you are done carving.
Tip: Some people put their blocks on a scrap piece of non-slip cabinet shelf cabinet liner to hold it steady on a table instead of a bench hook.
Inking Plates
Glass
I use an old 9 x 12 piece of 1/4″ thick glass with rounded edges as a space to mix ink in my studio. Think outside the box here – a sheet of glass from an old tabletop works well for this, If there is a glass shop near you ask if they can make you a thick piece of glass with rounded edges.
Plexiglass
You can source this at a local hardware store and have it cut to size. Take care to tape sharp glass edges so you don’t cut your hands on the ink surface.
Palette Knifes
Russel Ink Knife
I love a good stiff pallet knife for mixing ink. My favorite is the stiff Russel Ink Knife in the 1.5″ size. It allows you to push around the ink when mixing up custom colors.
Spackle Knifes
Head to your local hardware store and look at the spackle knives. They are a nice, affordable studio option.
Ink
Cranfield Caligo Safe Wash Relief Inks
These non-toxic, oil-based inks are washable! They can be cleaned with liquid soap and water. They are my favorite! This is archival ink, meaning it will resist color fading and should last a long time.
VersaFine
When doing a quick test print or making something I want to dry quickly, I use VersaFine inks. This archival ink comes in a variety of colors and dries fast.
Speedball Fabric Ink (Not Pictured)
This is the ink I recommend for printing on fabric made from natural fibers.
To go more in-depth, read Top 3 Relief Inks That Are The Best for Printmaking.
Paper
There are so many paper options on the market. Use what you have, try paper you are curious about, and use what you get the best print results with. Below is what I use most often. I wanted to keep this list simple since it is an overview of the best supplies for linoleum block printing. To get more in-depth information about additional paper options, check out my other post on the best types of paper to try for block printmaking. I included additional printing paper options you might like to try over time.
Scrap Paper
Computer paper, newsprint, and miss prints are what I use for test printing works in progress or new blocks.
BFK Rives White
This is a lovely paper for hand printing or running through a press. It is widely available and a staple paper to have on hand. It is easy to cut or tear if you would like a deckled edge. This paper’s weight is 280gsm.
Handmade Paper
I love the paper Kelsey Pike Paper Co. makes; her paper comes in a variety of weights. I like using heavier-weight paper to run through a flatbed press and get a nice embossed look. The lighter-weight paper is better for hand printing. This paper is available in three weights – 180gsm standard, 220 gsm, heavy-weight, 300gsm double-heavy.
Tip: GSM is the most commonly-used unit globally for measuring paper thicknesses. The higher the GSM, the thicker the paper will be.
To go more in-depth, read The Best Types of Paper to Try for Block Printmaking.
Drying Prints
Paperclips on a line!
You can keep drying prints really simple! Grab a box of large paper clips and attach them to some twine. Hang it up, and you have a quick place for your work as it dries. Use what you have – alligator clips and clothes pins work too!
Cookie Sheets
When making small prints, I often grab a cookie sheet from the kitchen and lay my work on it to dry. It makes moving them around easy. In a pinch, use a sheet of cardboard in the same way!
Ball Drying Rack
I struggled to find enough room in my studio to dry prints. I saw this Beechwood 12 print drying rack – and knew it was just what I needed! You can find this type of drying rack at Lawrence Supplies, a company based in the UK that ships to the USA.
Other Handy Things:
- Sketchbook
- Pencil Pouch/Box
- Apron
- Tool Box
- Permanent Markers
- Tracing Paper
- Carbon Transfer Paper
- Small Brush and Dustpan
- Magnifying Glass
- Moveable Table Top Light
Soap & Mineral Spirits
There are two soaps that are especially handy in the studio for washing up blocks. The first one is Dawn Dish Soap. The second one is Savvy Soap, an environmentally friendly cleaner that safely removes ink from tools, blocks, and hands.
If you need something stronger to remove stuck-on ink, use Gamsol mineral spirits with good ventilation.
Shop Online
My recommendations for online shops are listed in the free printable PDF guide, an overview of the best supplies for linoleum block printing.
