sticky/gummy clear stamps?

[LeeciW]

I just found some old clear stamps that I stored about 6 years ago and haven't touched until this week. When I took them out of the plastic storage box, they feel soft, sticky, gummy. (some of them even pulled apart or kind of disintegrated when I pulled them off the plastic sheet) For the ones that didn't break, is there any way to recondition them to get the sticky gummy feeling out? I have washed them with stamp cleaner, and with soap & water, but when they are dry, they are gummy again. Help??

[stamper]

Try some goo gone or rubbing alcohol. I had some that way and this worked on mine. Heck, it was worth a try since I had nothing to lose except the stamps. I also found the goo gone helped them lift off the plastic film they were on. I then reconditioned them with a touch of glycerin and let them sit for a few days and they were as good as new. Have also used a gentle sanding on some. Lesson learned...I don't buy these anymore.....lol

[shazsilverwolf]

A lot of the older clear stamps were inferior, I've thrown loads away that started to fall apart. The newer photopolymer ones don't disintegrate like this though. Rubbing alcohol sounds like a good idea- wish I'd thought to try that before I threw mine away!

[cat_woman]

You could also leave them in the sunlight. If they are photopolymer, the resin will react with the sunlight to harden and it just might make them usable again.