Lino Cutter with 5 Blades

ESSDEE BASIC LINOCUT SET, MODEL L5S

This simple, highly affordable linocut set is entirely made in England. The handle is bright red, palm-sized and comfortable for most people to use. The clutch has been upgraded to knurled aluminum for strength and durability (previous models used a plastic piece.)

Five blades are included: two V-shaped cutters, two U-shaped cutters, and one straight scraper blade. These are all the shapes needed for basic relief printmaking — that's why this is such a popular starter set for students.

ABOUT ESSDEE

The Essdee brand started during World War II, when British designer Stanley Dixon (that's S.D.) couldn't find any scraperboard for his studio. The only manufacturer was in Austria, so it hadn't been imported since before the war, and supplies had run out. Dixon created his own scraperboard formulation and branded it with his initials, and the name has stuck around for more than 75 years.

Today's Essdee brand is equally well-known for printmaking supplies, because the scraperboard company merged with a lino cutter company in the 1980s. (Scraper tools and lino cutters are made with the same industrial equipment.)

Essdee products are proudly made in the United Kingdom.