As the abrasives in your eraser are rubbed against paper, friction produces heat, which helps the rubber become sticky enough to hold onto the graphite particles.
Kneaded erasers are made with a non-drying oil; that's what keeps them pliable without drying out. If it's very sticky that's probably some of the oil leaching out. Try kneading it a lot to even the oil out and pop it in the fridge overnight.
Eraser smudges happen for a number of reasons, including: the paper type, weight and quality used About Paper Weights | Paperworks . the type and quality of the pencil used Graphite Grading Scales Explained - Pencils.com. how hard you pressed when using the pencil and how hard you press when erasing.
Rubber pencil erasers get hard and brittle over time and don't work well because the rubber is oxidized.
You can't really stock up on erasers because they dry out.” (This idea inspired the slogan on a t-shirt the Erasable podcast sells: “Pencil is forever.”) Advincula explained: “Over time, some of the rubber properties can be lost because of oxidation or chemical degradation.
As the abrasives in your eraser are rubbed against paper, friction produces heat, which helps the rubber become sticky enough to hold onto the graphite particles. As the rubber grabs the graphite particles, small pieces of combined rubber and graphite get left behind.
1. Don't use them dry. Part of the magic of these erasers is that all you have to do is add water to activate them. However, it turns out that these plushy pads are even more abrasive — and can, therefore, do more damage — when dry, so adding water actually helps soften them.
Eraser being heavier than water will sink in it.
What are some hacks to cleanly erase pencil writing on paper when a pencil eraser is not available? I have used white bread, not the crust, rolled into a little ball Just keep rubbing and it will help a lot. If the paper is sturdy enough you can use an emery board as well.
One of the simplest ways to use a kneadable eraser is to press it gently into an area you want to erase and then lift it straight back up again. This is effective for small, precise areas. The advantage of using a kneaded eraser like a stamp is that you can re-knead the eraser to clean it and use it again.
“These days they're usually colored to be pink because that's the color we've come to expect them to be, which can be credited to the trusty Pink Pearl.” Pink Pearls are still produced today, under the Paper Mate brand. They're now made of synthetic rubber, rather than natural rubber and pumice, says Weaver.
Check if the eraser isn't too dried out to use. Press your fingernail into the surface to test its hardness. If it firmly resists the pressure, it may be time to toss it out.
Here's why you need to ditch the pink eraser:
Eraser is fresh, not hardened, and first time used. Here's the deal with white erasers, not only do they erase pencil marks better than the old-school style pink eraser but because they're non-abrasive, they leave the paper fibers relatively intact.
Dirty erasers leave streaks and marks across your work and anything else that you use your eraser on. You can prevent these unsightly smears by cleaning your eraser regularly and removing the build-up of the dark colored gunk that accumulates from erasing pencil marks.
While these erasers were cheap and plentiful, they had a distinct disadvantage: They were, you know, made of bread. They were susceptible, like all bread, to mold and rot.
Today, erasers are usually made from synthetic rubber, which is a polymer. When it is made, a chemical called an accelerator is added to help join the monomers, or small molecules, into a polymer. The original accelerator had a pink color; the erasers sold well and the tradition has been maintained.
Certain brands of erasers work more effectively than others because erasers from different brands are composed of different proportions of vinyl and synthetic rubber — another organic substance. Vinyl erasers are softer than the rubber, and allow parts of the eraser bonded to graphite to rub off more easily.
In terms of performance, plastic erasers are generally considered to be superior to rubber erasers because they erase pencil marks more effectively and with less tendency to smear. They are also less likely to damage the paper surface, although this can depend on the type of paper and the amount of pressure used.
Less expensive erasers are made from synthetic rubber and synthetic soy-based gum, but more expensive or specialized erasers are made from vinyl, plastic, or gum-like materials.
White plastic erasers not only erase pencil marks better than the old-school style pink eraser but because they're non-abrasive, they leave the paper fibers relatively intact. ... Sometimes the pink residue won't scrape off - it's embedded into the paper and is at some angles, a very noticeable discoloration.
Most erasers are made of materials that will degrade and damage surfaces with time. Start with eraser crumbs – they are the least damaging. Erasers are versatile cleaning tools that combine abrasion and slight solvent action. They are good for removing grime and some residues from surfaces.