History of the best thing in the universe
The first erasers were pieces of bread, made by the Ancient Egyptians. Though they really had no use for them since their writing was on pieces of papyrus and they used a sort of ink to do their writing. This proves that erasers are not only used for erasing (cause they're awesome and will soon be your president/dictator.) It is reported that in 1770 Edward Nairne discovered the erasing properties of rubber and began selling natural cubes of rubber erasers for 3 shilling per half-inch cube! Wow! That's about 30 cents per cube in those days, or about $6 in today's money. This was however the first practical use for the substance in Europe, hence the name ‘rubber’ as it was used to rub out pencil marks. But natural rubber has a tendency to rot over time! Yuck! What a disgusting idea! Can you imagine having the eraser on your pencil rot? Well thanks to Charles Goodyear you don’t have to! In 1839 Mr. Goodyear discovered the process of vulcanization, a process by which rubber is cured and made into a durable material. After this, erasers became commonplace. Today rubber erasers are made from synthetic rubber, which also has to be cured, and it is now made from chemicals, not tree sap.
There are four major types of erasers: the art gum eraser (1), the “pink” eraser (2), the kneaded eraser (3) and the vinyl, or plastic, eraser (4). The most commonly used erasers for writers are the ‘pink” eraser and the vinyl eraser. The art gum eraser and kneaded eraser are used most often my artists.
Art Gum Eraser
Made from soft rubber, the art gum eraser is suited for removing large areas of pencil marks without damaging the paper. However, this type of eraser is not very precise and tends to crumble with use, leaving behind a lot of erasure residue. This residue has to be blown or brushed away.
“Pink” Eraser
Although no longer confined to just the color pink this common eraser is a combination of synthetic rubber and pulverized pumice, that is volcanic ash! It’s the pumice that gives the eraser its abrasiveness. This type of eraser is found on the tops of wooden pencils as well as in some mechanical pencils. Sadly, it tends to smear and it leave eraser residue. This reside can smear the paper with pencil marks if care is not taken when brushing off the residue. Due to the addition of the pumice this type of eraser can also damage the surface of the paper if used too heavily or repeatedly over one area of the paper. This eraser is so abrasive it is used to clean tarnished contacts on computer circuit boards! This eraser needs some flexibility in order to work effectively, so you will find that stiffly made erasers or erasers that have hardened over time do t work well.
Kneaded Eraser
This unusual eraser resembles putty in consistency. It is generally white or gray in color and comes wrapped in plastic. It is pliable and can be shaped into points for precise erasing or used in bulk to erase large areas, though it is not well suited for this. It functions by absorbing and lifting light graphite and charcoal marks from paper or canvas, leaving no residue behind. It does not wear away as do other erasers but it can become exhausted, having absorbed too much graphite or charcoal, and will begin to make marks instead of removing them. If it becomes too warm it can smear and stick to the paper or canvas.
The Vinyl or Plastic Eraser
This is the most modern of all the erasers. It is made of PVC or some other soft plastic. It is a very pliable, non-abrasive eraser that erases small, light pencil marks easily without smearing or damaging the papers surface. The residue left behind clumps together forming strands that are easily brushed away. Although it can smear when erasing large areas or very dark marks, it is perfectly suited for precise erasing, especially when used in a stick (also called a “knock” pen) form.
There are four major types of erasers: the art gum eraser (1), the “pink” eraser (2), the kneaded eraser (3) and the vinyl, or plastic, eraser (4). The most commonly used erasers for writers are the ‘pink” eraser and the vinyl eraser. The art gum eraser and kneaded eraser are used most often my artists.
Art Gum Eraser
Made from soft rubber, the art gum eraser is suited for removing large areas of pencil marks without damaging the paper. However, this type of eraser is not very precise and tends to crumble with use, leaving behind a lot of erasure residue. This residue has to be blown or brushed away.
“Pink” Eraser
Although no longer confined to just the color pink this common eraser is a combination of synthetic rubber and pulverized pumice, that is volcanic ash! It’s the pumice that gives the eraser its abrasiveness. This type of eraser is found on the tops of wooden pencils as well as in some mechanical pencils. Sadly, it tends to smear and it leave eraser residue. This reside can smear the paper with pencil marks if care is not taken when brushing off the residue. Due to the addition of the pumice this type of eraser can also damage the surface of the paper if used too heavily or repeatedly over one area of the paper. This eraser is so abrasive it is used to clean tarnished contacts on computer circuit boards! This eraser needs some flexibility in order to work effectively, so you will find that stiffly made erasers or erasers that have hardened over time do t work well.
Kneaded Eraser
This unusual eraser resembles putty in consistency. It is generally white or gray in color and comes wrapped in plastic. It is pliable and can be shaped into points for precise erasing or used in bulk to erase large areas, though it is not well suited for this. It functions by absorbing and lifting light graphite and charcoal marks from paper or canvas, leaving no residue behind. It does not wear away as do other erasers but it can become exhausted, having absorbed too much graphite or charcoal, and will begin to make marks instead of removing them. If it becomes too warm it can smear and stick to the paper or canvas.
The Vinyl or Plastic Eraser
This is the most modern of all the erasers. It is made of PVC or some other soft plastic. It is a very pliable, non-abrasive eraser that erases small, light pencil marks easily without smearing or damaging the papers surface. The residue left behind clumps together forming strands that are easily brushed away. Although it can smear when erasing large areas or very dark marks, it is perfectly suited for precise erasing, especially when used in a stick (also called a “knock” pen) form.