The Best Carving Tools for Printmaking

Starting Out: My Favorite Beginner Carving Tools for Printmaking

When I first started block printing, I used the Speedball Linoleum Cutter, and I still recommend it to beginners today. This classic tool stores five interchangeable blades right in the handle, making it easy to try different carving styles without buying multiple tools. It’s one of the most popular linoleum cutters out there—and for good reason!

The Speedball Lino Set No. 1 is especially beginner-friendly. It’s affordable, thoughtfully designed, and comes with six different gouges to help you explore a variety of cuts and textures. For anyone just learning the basics, it’s one of the best carving tools for printmaking.

As you grow more confident and discover your style, you may want to expand your toolkit. That’s when I suggest checking out Flexcut Tools. Their blades come in more specialized shapes and sizes, and they offer interchangeable systems that can grow with you.

That said, you don’t need a huge collection of tools to make beautiful prints. A small set of thoughtfully chosen carving tools, like those from Speedball, can take you a long way. But if you’re curious about exploring more carving styles and want to see what’s out there, read on! I’ll walk you through some of my favorite brands and the best carving tools for linocut and block printmaking.

Smart Handle Design

Speedball’s linoleum carving tools feature a clever, beginner-friendly design that uses a single handle with interchangeable carving gouges. Swapping blades is simple: just loosen the metal chuck near the blade, remove the old gouge, insert a new one, and tighten the chuck back up.

There’s even a hidden storage compartment at the end of the handle—unscrew the cap to stash your extra blades right inside the tool. It’s one of those small details that make carving easier and more organized, especially when you’re just getting started.

Steel Carving Gouges

Speedball’s carving tips are made from high-quality steel and hold up well for several projects before needing to be replaced. When your blades eventually wear out, you can easily reorder replacements—no sharpening required.

These tools pair beautifully with both Speedball Speedy Carve blocks (great for making custom rubber stamps) and traditional linoleum blocks used in relief printing. Best of all, Speedball tools are made in the USA, and they’ve been a trusted name in printmaking for generations.

Tip for Teachers & Young Artists: Try the Speedball Linozip® Safety Linoleum Cutter: Working with young students and worried about the risks of sharp carving tools? The Speedball Linozip® Safety Linoleum Cutter might be just what you need. This tool was specially designed to reduce the risk of cutting injuries—making it a great option for classrooms, workshops, or family art days. What makes it different? The Linozip features a unique inward-facing blade that uses a pull-style cutting motion. This design helps students maintain better control of the tool while carving, reducing the chance of slips or accidents. While it’s ideal for soft blocks like Speedball Speedy Carve, it also works on traditional linoleum blocks with a bit of extra care. Thanks to this new safety-focused design, the Linozip is one of the best carving tools for printmaking with students or anyone just learning how to carve.

Flexcut Block Printing Tools for Carving

Flexcut offers a wide selection of high-quality carving tools in a variety of sizes, and they’ve earned a strong reputation for making some of the best printmaking tools available. Their blades are incredibly sharp, slicing through linoleum and Speedy Carve like butter! These tools are a worthwhile investment, especially for artists who carve printing blocks with lots of fine detail.

Made from high-carbon steel, Flexcut blades hold their edge well and last a long time with proper care. You can resharpen all of them at home, and every Flexcut tool is proudly made in the USA.

I’ve used the Palm Tool Sets, the Premium Palm Sets, and the ABS Handled Quick Connect system. My personal favorite is the Palm Tool line—it fits my hand the best and feels the most comfortable while carving. You can easily keep each set razor-sharp using Flexcut’s gold polishing compound and a slip-strop sharpening tool. Just don’t forget to use a bench hook to keep your block secure while you work!

Safety Note: Keep Your Carving Block Secure. To stay safe while carving, always make sure your block doesn’t shift or slide around. A moving block can lead to slips and unexpected cuts, especially when working with sharp tools. Use a bench hook or a non-slip carving mat to keep your block firmly in place. These tools help protect your hands and give you better control while you carve, whether you’re using soft rubber or traditional linoleum.

5-piece Premium Beginner Palm Carving Tool Set (Cherry Wood)

The 5-piece Premium Beginner Palm Tool Set features broad, short knob handles in the European tradition. These high-quality tools have handles cut from fine cherry wood. They feature a polished brass ferrule for strength, stability, and long working life. The five gouges in this set are nice for carving larger designs with big spaces to clear. I find these tools to be a bit small because of how I like to hold them. I think this set would be best if you have smaller hands. 

Micro and Mini Palm Carving Tool Sets

If you’re a detail-loving printmaker like me, the Micro and Mini Palm Tool Sets from Flexcut are a dream to use. These are my go-to tools for making small, crisp marks and carving tiny spaces with precision. The fine gouge tips are perfect for working around tight corners and adding delicate textures to your linoleum block.

Both sets feature Flexcut’s comfortable palm-style handle, which I find works especially well for medium-sized hands. The design gives you excellent control, ideal for artists who prefer a close-up carving style.

Want to speed things up? You can also pair the same palm handle with larger gouges to quickly clear away bigger areas of your block. Whether you’re refining fine details or making bold cuts, this system gives you the flexibility to do both with ease.

Quick Connect Carving Tool System

Pictured below is the Flexcut Quick Connect ABS Handle, made from durable plastic. This handle comes in the Craft Carver Set, which includes ten interchangeable blades and one universal handle.

Because the ABS handle is on the larger side, it’s an excellent choice for artists with bigger hands or anyone who prefers a more open grip while carving. All of Flexcut’s interchangeable gouge sizes are compatible with the Quick Connect system, giving you lots of flexibility in a compact tool setup.

If you’re working in a small studio or like to carve while traveling, this system is a game-changer. It’s space-saving, efficient, and incredibly portable, making it one of the best carving tool options for linocut printmaking on the go.

Flexcut has also expanded its interchangeable handle options, offering several styles to suit your carving preferences. If you’re looking to streamline your setup without sacrificing performance, this system is worth exploring.

Gold Polishing Compound & Slip-Strop Tool Sharpener

The Flexcut SlipStrop Tool Sharpener Set makes it easy to polish and deburr both the inside and outside of V-tools, gouges, and bevels. When paired with the Flexcut Gold Polishing Compound, you’ll keep your high-carbon steel carving tools razor-sharp and ready for detailed work.

Curious about how to sharpen your tools? Flexcut has a helpful YouTube video that walks you through their sharpening system step by step, definitely worth watching!

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Where to Find the Best Carving Tools for Printmaking

Don’t have a local art supply store nearby? No problem—you can find plenty of top-quality linocutters and printmaking tools online. Here are a few of my go-to shops:

• McClain’s Printmaking Supplies – Offers a curated selection of professional-grade carving tools and materials tailored for block printmakers.
• Blick Art Materials – A trusted online retailer with a broad range of printmaking supplies, including Flexcut, Speedball, and more.
• Michaels Craft Stores – Great for beginners and budget-friendly options. I often buy Speedball products from Michaels to take advantage of free shipping and regular sales.

Wherever you shop, investing in the right tools makes all the difference in your linocut experience!

Tip: Try before you buy! If you have any printmaking friends, ask them if you can try their tools! It’s fun to try things out before investing in your own set if you can.