'Lectric erasers

[Hamsta]

Does any one use an electric eraser? is it an useperable extension of your artistic soul, or does it just sit there?

If it is a big player in your art, and you think everyone should have at least one, what should I be looking for?

If you think this is a complete waste of good cash, what do you use instead?

[darth massacre]

http://www.flaxart.com/f/images/products/family/599092.jpg


Because its small, relies on 2 AAA batteries and its light. Unlike the cumbersome plug-in types.

[SJ Bennighof]

I'm afraid I'm not quite sure what this is that you're talking about. What does the electricity do, exactly?

[make/believe]

i got one from a fellow student who never used it. I suppose it has its place, but as its a wee bit cumbersome it rarely gets pulled out or carried around. It is battery operated, but compared to the allmighty magic rub its just too big.

I did use it consistently for about a week in a drafting situation. I think that was the original intention: to provide a no-smudge, precision-point tool for drafting and technical work. It might conceivably be good for people who work very small as well. The tip is always relatively point-like, which means you won't be dulling the four corners of a standard eraser and finding yourself at a loss for a precision eraser. Its fairly useless for smudging and area-erasing (small point), so i ended up carrying a standard one as well.

Personally, i'd just stick with (depending on the medium) a stick or "click" eraser if you want to get at small areas. Batteries + carrying it around just didn't add up to any sizeable benefit for the electric.

The sound drove me crazy, too. I like to draw in quiet little nooks and crannies. I'll stick with the "manual" kind, it's stealthier...

[Storyboard Dave]

When I was a student I wish I could've sprung for one.

While it might seem like a huge extravagance, I've seen people use them as a drawing tool. I remember seeing a professor of mine airbrushing a blue gouache sky background on hot press board and then using the electric eraser to "burn off" the clouds. I thought it was genius!

I also know some professionals that use them in conjunction with those eraser shields for precise erasing.

Is it essential? No, but it's another tool to have around.

[darth massacre]

Well if anything, I love the electric eraser (I don't own one though I hijacked my colleague's for a full day) because I'm LAZY!

I can just stroke my hands lightly and the spinning action takes care of all the hard work. So....easy.....just like an electric sharpener. :confident

[fukifino]

I originally bought one to try out something I saw JP Targete do in Austin. He did a badass charcoal drawing of a monster, and used the eraser to draw details out of the black charcoal. I still haven't tried the technique though. :/ So for now it's just sitting in my backpack.

I think |ntern uses his quite a bit though.

[|NTeRN]

ya i use mine a lot. it never leave my pocket if i can find it :nohope: honesty tho i do use it a lot to punch in highlights n such. also good for small errors where a magic rub would be too big to get. a cheap one works fine but if you must a huge one will work good too. Phil Holland says his will burn a hole thor paper if used on a spot long enough. thats some mighty fine erashing

it also douples as an ammusing scaring device in a quiet life drawing session.. heheh good times :}

[SJ Bennighof]

Okay, so I guess my next question is: About how much do these things cost?

[Profil]

hurricane use it alot.
At least he used it. Dunno anymore.

[cotron]

I know Sterling Hundley uses them, he erases highlights into ink washes... theyre like 8 bucks, nothing too expensive.

[Mr. Pale]

I bought mine for 30 bucks at an art supply store. One week later I was in an auto parts store and found the same damn electric eraser, just with a different name for $5. It was in the paint retouching section. I was pissed,... my friends were amused.

They still have them there, worth a look next time your in one of those stores.

[jawfish]

before buying anything you should ask yourself three questions...

...do I really want it...
...do I really need it...
...could I do without it...

...you'll almost always walk away...

[LaPalida]

Wow I would have thought it was a waste of money ... apparently not!

It just seems like a gimmick ... sort of like the electric toothbrush ... whatever happened to good old muscle?! :S

[Storyboard Dave]

whatever happened to good old muscle?! :S

Alas good ol' muscle went partially out with things like keylining.

Dang kids these days & their new fangled technology! ;)

[Mr. Pale]

It wasn't a gimmick for me. I used to do a lot of airbrush work. An electric eraser was one of the best ways to put highlights and texture in your work. Without it airbrushed work looks kind of plastic and dull.

[Denart]

it also douples as an ammusing scaring device in a quiet life drawing session.. heheh good times :}

:nohope: people might think it's something else that also relies on 2 AA's :^^;:

[DragonGX]

I've been thinking about getting one... What brand is the best value? I dont want to spend $30 on one, but i dont want one that sucks either... battery powered would be nice...

[darth massacre]

:nohope: people might think it's something else that also relies on 2 AA's :^^;:

C-sized cells you mean >:D




DragonGX, that Sakura one is about the cheapest you can get. I also don't believe there are any that small available widely in North America....but maybe the Japanese stationery stores carry them....err....in Japan.