Ranger Mini Blending Replacement Foams Review

Thought I had ordered a newer domed blending tool but I think it was mot. I got the regular foams to blend but the packaging must be old as the plastic cover around the foam taped and lifted around just a little bit, causing the foam pads to spill all over the place. Unfortunately, all the foam smells like mold. I will hand wash the foam pads and hope the mold goes away.

They appear to be of lower quality than the previous Ranger foams I have had which came in a set of 4 foaming and two mixing tools were supplied. They have a slight fuzz that makes work I've painted with lighter inks look messy, and they appear less stable and more brittle. Still usable, but will not buy this set again.

I wanted these so I could use different pads for each color of ink. I bought my blending tool a few years ago and the quality of the pads that came with it was much better. The foam rubber on the new pads is different and even breaks when removed from the tool. I haven't tried washing the pads but I don't think they will hold up. These pads are definitely disposable.

Really enjoyed using these blended foams. until the foam and pad have been replaced. Basically everything. The old version was SUPER! They are easy to remove, easy to attach and detach from the instrument without getting your fingers dirty. But new. they suck. The wearer loses interest after tearing it off several times and then sticks to nothing, deforming the foam and causing poor color mixing. So frustrating that I have to keep replacing the foam. At least the newer ones. My old ones are…

You wouldn't think a round blending tool would work much better than a rectangular one, especially for finishing edges, but it does. I love this little tool and the pads are Velcro so they are quick and easy to change out. You can also wash and reuse them. I personally use a mild liquid soap - just put it on the pad, rub it in, then rinse it off with water. DO NOT rinse with water. Work with soap (any mild liquid soap) and it will remove most of the ink and then rinse away. Remember - there…

I've been working for several years and these were my first blending tools. Since then I've tried most of the new blending solutions; puffed lips, brushes and pinkies, and I think these are my favorites at the moment. I usually mix archival aged inks or aged oxides and they are perfect for that. Just dab a little before placing the applicator on the paper to avoid leaving a ring of ink. Another tip I learned from Tim Holtz's video is to apply a small amount of hot glue between the Velcro and…

The quality of these foams has deteriorated significantly since at least August this year when I bought a new pack. The foams are significantly different (thinner) than the foams that came with the original instrument. They also feel like softer, less dense foam. The velcro is much thinner/softer, more like thin felt, and the foam keeps separating/tearing from this velcro when mixed and/or removed from the tool when changing color. These days they're essentially disposable due to…