Homemade erasers are better than store-bought ones because they can make them unique. They can give the desired shape, choose colors, or decorate. In addition, erasers can make not only ordinary, erasing a pencil, but “magic.” Erasers of this type can even cope with serious marks, such as those left by ink. In this guide on how to make a kneaded eraser below.
Types of Erasers
All erasers are sticky and leave some traces of the material they are made of (powder, plastic, oily). Keep this feature in mind because sometimes it can interfere with drawing.
Let’s look at 2 main types of erasers.
- Kneaded eraser
- Nag
Absorbing color, the nag “slides” over the surface and does not damage the paper. It can be both very soft and quite hard, but not abrasive.
This eraser is great for drawing with soft materials (charcoal, graphite, pastels, sauce). Unlike other erasers, nag has excellent absorbent properties. As a result, the drawing is not smearing and does not contain crumbs from the eraser.
Since soft drawing materials stick to the eraser, the dirty part should be “wrapped” inside by kneading the nag with your hands or “pinching off” the used piece.
The usual way to use the nag is to stick it to the drawing and lift it. The color sticks to the eraser and is removed without wiping. Nag helps to give any size or shape to the object of the picture. It will also cope with removing both small details of the image and its large areas.
Types of kneads vary in softness – from very soft and smooth to super-hard, almost like a hard rubber eraser.
Some sources report that the nag is made from carbonated rubber and vegetable oil. Thus, especially soft nags have more oil in their composition. It is recommended to knead the nag before use thoroughly. This will allow the oil to distribute better and prevent the formation of traces on the paper’s surface in the form of grease spots.
The manufacturer packages several nags in small containers to keep them clean and prevent oil from getting on other items.
Nags are not suitable for complete high-quality erasing. If you need to erase an area of a drawing, use a nag to prevent the graphite from soaking into the paper, then use a harder eraser to finish erasing.
This group includes rubber erasers (rubber erasers), rubber erasers (gum erasers), and vinyl/plastic.
They all remove a layer of the picture, collecting color and discarding particles from themselves. Each type has a different hardness.
Rubber Erasers
Previously, they were all made from natural rubber, but now many of these erasers are made from synthetic rubber.
Rubber erasers are average on the strength scale. Some contain abrasive materials such as pumice, but this is usually the case with simple diamond-shaped school erasers. Abrasives are designed to erase a ballpoint pen.
Rubber erasers feel a little powdered (powder) to the touch. For some people, this makes them uncomfortable.
It is not always easy to distinguish synthetic rubber erasers from plastic erasers if nothing is written on them. In this case, I recommend being guided by the feeling of “powdering.”
Rubber Erasers (Gum erasers/art gum erasers)
Quite soft, less damage to paper, but very easy to crumble and short-lived in connection with this.
Plastic/Vinyl Erasers
The most durable and most popular erasers. These modern erasers usually provide the complete removal of graphite.
The word “plastic” might make you think that they are unsuitable for erasing. I mean the fact that you can’t wash any of the other plastic items on your desk, right?
However, two things must remember here: plastics can be based on various formulas of substances. Moreover, “plastic” can mean “pliable”, plastic, i.e. sculptural.
Many plastic erasers are packaged in a paper clip.
Particles of the eraser residue come together, leaving fewer small particles that are still on the paper, but you can’t see them until you take a close-up shot. They can give various shapes that allow you to erase fine lines.
Rubber is most often used to create erasers. You can make a pommel for a pencil or a large full-fledged eraser figure. Uniform rubber is easily painted and can mold. To create an eraser, you need:
- Protective equipment: goggles and a gown or apron
- Uniform rubber, no more than 30 ml
- 40 ml water
- White distilled vinegar – as much as rubber is taking
- Talc can replace with flour
- 10 ml river sand
- Kneading tool
- 3 working containers
It is better to use a container that does not react with other substances to connect the components. As a rule, it is plastic or glass. In a deep bowl, combine the components of the eraser and mix. Substances should mix well. If desired, the number of components can increase. However, the proportions of substances must always maintain.
Steps for Making Kneaded Eraser
- Wear protective goggles and a gown. Although all materials are non-toxic and can cause only minimal damage to the skin, it is better to protect yourself. In addition, the apron will not allow you to stain your clothes because the rubber is difficult to wash off.
- They take one container, pour 30 ml of water into it and dilute all the uniform rubber. The main thing is to choose a container from such material so that it does not enter into a chemical reaction with rubber at this stage. glass or plastic is safest.
- Depending on how the future eraser is conceiving, the number of components can reduce or increase. The main thing is to keep the ratio 1:1 and achieve complete mixing of the components.
- Mix everything with vinegar. Since it is impossible to make an eraser at home without acid, it is recommending to use distilled white vinegar. 30 milliliters of this substance should pour into a separate glass container. After that, a mixture of water and rubber can add to the vinegar. It’s essential to keep the proportions. If more components are using to make the eraser, then vinegar should increase. In this case, the proportions of vinegar, water, and rubber should maintain and be 1:1:1.
- When stirred, the mixture should turn into a dense mass, which resembles clay inconsistency. You can add a little sand in the resulting composition, about 1 teaspoon. This component is optional. However, sand can improve the properties of the eraser. Salt can also use for these purposes.
- To improve the quality of the eraser, sand is adding to it. It is necessary to use sifted through a fine sieve so that foreign objects do not get into it. If there is no sand, it is easily replacing with table salt.
- As long as the clay-like mass of rubber has not hardened, it can paint and shape with your fingers into the shape you want. So that the material does not stick to the hands, they are dipping in talcum powder. If not, then flour can use. You can also use molds and other modeling tools. The main thing is not to forget to sprinkle them with talc.
- Finally, take the third container and fill it with water up to half. The finished eraser is immersing in it entirely and held for 5 minutes. Bubbles will appear on the plastic in the water – they should squeeze out manually. The eraser can take out and dried
- when they are no longer there.
- It is better not to touch the eraser during the drying period, and this should happen by itself. Do not blot it with paper or cloth; leave it in the air. This may take several hours.
Eraser for Erasing Ink
This eraser is especially appreciated by those who often make mistakes while writing. The peculiarity of this eraser is that it copes with its task better than the others and removes not only pencil marks. In addition, it is quite easy to create, and you need very few “ingredients.” These include:
- Melamine sponge
- Something cutting
- Water
How to Make the Kneaded Ink Eraser
- To create one eraser, you will need quite a melamine sponge. The peculiarity of this material is that its texture has almost the same degree of abrasiveness as sandpaper. This helps an eraser made of such material erase marks from a writing pen so well.
- In addition, such a sponge has a porous structure into which all rubbish is clogg. This gets rid of dirty streaks on paper after erasing.
- If you can’t find a melamine sponge at a hardware store, you can look at a hardware store. Sound insulation pads are making from a similar material. In addition, it freely sold on the Internet.
- Use a clerical knife or scissors to cut a piece of the desired shape from a small piece of material. It should select based on whether it will be convenient to hold such an eraser in the future.
- There is no specific advice at this stage, but it is usually most convenient to hold a block 10 cm long, 5 cm wide, and 1.5 cm thick in your hands.
- The melamine is then lightly moistening. To do this, use either warm running water or a spray bottle. The most important thing is to ensure that the eraser is slightly damp, not completely wet. This is necessary so that the interaction of water and melamine enhances the cleaning properties of the eraser and, at the same time, softens it. Dry melamine may be too hard and will tear the paper.
- After that, the stain is washing off. Melamine eraser perfectly fights not only traces of ink but also stains from crayons or felt-tip pens. In addition, they can “clean up” shallow scratches. Melamine can use on large surfaces, but if painted, varnished, or easily scratched, it is better to choose a different cleaning method.
Eraser Tips
- Most erasers become more pliable and less likely to tear the paper if they are slightly warmed up. Therefore, before using the eraser, you can hold it for several minutes in your hand.
- To avoid smudges after erasing, resist the urge to brush away crumbs from the eraser with your hand. This can cause unwanted smearing, and blowing off the crumbs will add moisture to the paper. Instead, get in the habit of lifting the paper and brushing off the crumbs. A brush or brush for painting will also be helpful.
- When using any eraser, remember how vital pressure is. If you accidentally rub too hard, the paper may curl and wrinkle.
- Erasers are not only for removing mistakes; they can also create drawings. One of the most common methods is to cover a piece of paper with graphite or charcoal completely. Then use the eraser to set the outline of the image. If necessary, you can always refill any areas that were previously erased.
- You can give the eraser the desired shape or size using a clerical knife. Some artists prefer to have a sharpened eraser.
- Most erasers remove pastel (hard and soft), but the results are mixed for many people. So, if the surface has a pronounced texture or the paper is very soft, problems may arise. In this case, an eraser-nag is best suited.
- If you erase small areas, you can try a special mechanical eraser—a wonderful little device to complement your drawing kit.
- You can cut out a stamp from a hard eraser, similar to rubber stamps.
- The nag must be mashed before first use to evenly distribute oily substances and expose a porous inner surface that picks up graphite well.
In conclusion
Creating your own unique eraser is easy. It only takes five minutes and an understanding of the process of its creation. We hope you found the above how to make a kneaded eraser helpful.
