Splitcoaststampers.com - the world's #1 papercrafting community
You're currently viewing Splitcoaststampers as a GUEST. We pride ourselves on being great hosts, but guests have limited access to some of our incredible artwork, our lively forums and other super cool features of the site! You can join our incredible papercrafting community at NO COST. So what are you waiting for?
Do you get that? It's residue from a self-UM stamp that now has ATIOO (been UM for about a week now).
If you've been using stamps that put gunk on your blocks, do you have any tips for cleaning the block?
I have a temporary pause on unmounting. I could really use the space, love being able to position my image more precisely, but I'm not sure I've found the best UM solution.
__________________ If you don't want your tax dollars to help the poor, then stop saying you want a country based on Christian values, because you don't. ~ Jimmy Carter
I use a Magic Clean Eraser to clean my blocks. Gets the gunk right off.
same here!
__________________ The quickest way for a parent to get a child's attention is to sit down and look comfortable. Practice safe eating always use condiments
If the build up of goo and/or the stickiness bothers you (like it does me), but you want to go unmounted for the storage space saving, you might try EZMount (either regular or thin at your preference). I'm one of those folks that just can't stand my hands or my toys sticky. It just drives me crazy even thinking about it (and especially if I think about it near paper!) So for me, EZMount is more than worth the little bit of extra work up front to have a stamp that sticks well to my acrylics without ever being sticky. Just a thought.
__________________ If you don't want your tax dollars to help the poor, then stop saying you want a country based on Christian values, because you don't. ~ Jimmy Carter
I use Goo Gone and then wash them right away in warm soapy water. Nail polish remover and rubbing alcohol also work, but you will get crazing (tiny cracks clouding the surface) if you use it too often. Heat will cause crazing as well, so Mindykid, I wouldn't put them in the dishwasher too often. They could even outright crack in half from the heat.... :(
I have been using fingernail polish remover then throwing the blocks into the dishwasher.
I would not do this
__________________ The quickest way for a parent to get a child's attention is to sit down and look comfortable. Practice safe eating always use condiments
I use a Magic Clean Eraser to clean my blocks. Gets the gunk right off.
Nothing is better for cleaning those acrylic blocks than these...and they also are great for cleaning up cutting mats, work counters, and everything else we get grungy. I get the cheapos from the Dollar Store.
Vinegar, window cleaners, acetone and other solvent-based cleaners will result in crazed blocks, even if they're rinsed clean immediately. Acrylic scratches very easily, so don't use any abrasive cleaners or pads.
I tried what I think is a Magic Eraser (won it as a door prize years ago, no name on it, but it looks like a cross between a pat of butter and an old piece of cheese). Not much success. Maybe it's not a ME, maybe it's too old? Tried a fer'real eraser. No progress.
Did the Goo Gone and if that needs to be part of the 'putting things away' routine, I can deal with it. Hoping to find a better solution (no pun intended, but since it's out there ... lol!)
Finally got a hold of Tack N Peel, am going to give that a try and may be skipping the TIOO entirely ...
stamping/stamper ... work in progress.
__________________ If you don't want your tax dollars to help the poor, then stop saying you want a country based on Christian values, because you don't. ~ Jimmy Carter
I use Goo Gone and then wash them right away in warm soapy water. Nail polish remover and rubbing alcohol also work, but you will get crazing (tiny cracks clouding the surface) if you use it too often. Heat will cause crazing as well, so Mindykid, I wouldn't put them in the dishwasher too often. They could even outright crack in half from the heat.... :(
My dishwasher's heat cycle hasn't worked in a decade - no worries.
I tried what I think is a Magic Eraser (won it as a door prize years ago, no name on it, but it looks like a cross between a pat of butter and an old piece of cheese). Not much success. Maybe it's not a ME, maybe it's too old? Tried a fer'real eraser. No progress.
Did the Goo Gone and if that needs to be part of the 'putting things away' routine, I can deal with it. Hoping to find a better solution (no pun intended, but since it's out there ... lol!)
Finally got a hold of Tack N Peel, am going to give that a try and may be skipping the TIOO entirely ...
stamping/stamper ... work in progress.
A ;magic Clean Eraser is made by mr clean and looks like a fine white sponge. it cleans most everything BUT it ruins paint on walls. it seems to take off a coating on the paint and makes the area more susceptible to dirt. It also scratched my bathroom surfaces. I would think it would scratch the blocks but since I haven't tried it I wouldn't take my word on it.
I keep some of those little alcohol prep pads that are in packets around - they're great for cleaning gunk of off acrylic blocks and scissors. (Also great in bathroom for a quick faucet polish.)
I tried what I think is a Magic Eraser (won it as a door prize years ago, no name on it, but it looks like a cross between a pat of butter and an old piece of cheese).
It sounds like you are disenchanted with the ATIOO for UMs as it leaves some of it on your blocks when you remove your stamp. When properly applied, nothing should come off on your block when you remove a stamp. I have hundreds of stamps I have used ATIOO on - sometimes this happened & sometimes not. Over the years, I have decided this happened for one of these reasons:
• It was applied too thickly. I use my finger as I get the best control to get a nice thin coating. Have tried different applicators but always go back to the good ole finger even though it's a pain to clean it off.
• Was not given enough time to 'set'. I usually leave mine overnight although I don't think that long is really necessary.
• Initially it's just too sticky. I press the stamp into the palm of my hand to make it a little less sticky before I use it for the first time.
• Finally I realized I was having problems with goo on blocks with newly TIOO'd stamps because I was using from my original bottle that was about 7 years old & it must have just been too thick to work properly. Once I started using from a new bottle I've had no more problems.
I sometimes get a film (hazy but not sticky) on my blocks and the Simple Green type cleaners from the dollar store cleans them up.
I agree that the cross between the pat of butter & old piece of cheese is a rubber cement eraser. It will not only remove most of the ATIOO from your blocks but will remove it from the back of your stamp if you want to try applying another, thinner coat of it.
Rubbing alcohol.....super cheap, works like a charm. my blocks are all so shiny super de-duper clean again!!
Another vote for plain ole alcohol.
I use tioao all on my unmounted sets and I occasionally get the residue for the reasons La Fonz mentioned. Just put some alcohol on a paper towel and rub them with that. It not only removes the residue but also takes off any oily film that can interfere with your stamps adhering!
I'm a huge fan of magic eraser but I'm curious about whether or not it may the surface of the acrylic block? Has anyone noticed this? I think I'm sticking to my alcohol.
Ooh, I like the idea of rubbing alcohol ... got plenty of that.
Just want y'all to know ... you're awesome!
__________________ If you don't want your tax dollars to help the poor, then stop saying you want a country based on Christian values, because you don't. ~ Jimmy Carter
Jeannie--that cheese looking thing is a thingy to get extra glue off a card...like when the xyron leave a residue then just rub the cheesy eraser on it and it pick up what I call boogers.
and--Mr. Clean Magic Erasers are a gift from above! Literally too--NASA invented them. Are they not the best things ever? So far I have not found anything they do not work on...even polished that cheap 'silver' from India. I love those things. Especially in the glass shower stall for soap scum.
Last edited by 53queenbee; 10-01-2010 at 04:07 PM..
Jeannie--that cheese looking thing is a thingy to get extra glue off a card...like when the xyron leave a residue then just rub the cheesy eraser on it and it pick up what I call boogers.
and--Mr. Clean Magic Erasers are a gift from above! Literally too--NASA invented them. Are they not the best things ever? So far I have not found anything they do not work on...even polished that cheap 'silver' from India. I love those things. Especially in the glass shower stall for soap scum.
Yes! That's what I've used it for (not a Xyron, I don't have one, but any glue that goes beyond the edge). I hate those boogers! Love a tool that totally makes then go away. LOL!
Might have to go looking for Magic Eraser ... I have a bathroom I might enjoy introducing it to (less elbow grease for me? better results? I love my SCS friends! )
__________________ If you don't want your tax dollars to help the poor, then stop saying you want a country based on Christian values, because you don't. ~ Jimmy Carter
Yes! That's what I've used it for (not a Xyron, I don't have one, but any glue that goes beyond the edge). I hate those boogers! Love a tool that totally makes then go away. LOL!
Might have to go looking for Magic Eraser ... I have a bathroom I might enjoy introducing it to (less elbow grease for me? better results? I love my SCS friends! )
Wow...those Mr. Clean Magic Erasers will take that gunk off my acrylic blocks? Gosh...first chance I get, I'll be getting a couple of these!!! Love them for cleaning, but never thought about this use...thanks for the info here!!!
I will definitely be getting some of these miracle workers this week! I had no idea it was so good. We get educated about so many things on SCS. Love it.
With the Magic Clean erasers you don't have to use the whole thing. I just rip pieces off. A little bit goes a long way. I can make a Magic Clean eraser last months by breaking it apart. Dollar Tree's erasers work really well.
have been stamping for many years now, but what is AT100 or is it ATIOO
Aileen's Tack It Over and Over. You can find it in pretty much any craft store. It goes on like Elmer's glue and, once it's dry, acts like the Post It Note sticky on steriods.
__________________ If you don't want your tax dollars to help the poor, then stop saying you want a country based on Christian values, because you don't. ~ Jimmy Carter
Heed the advice from craftdesigns/ Nancy Ward - she is the guru of adhesives and wrote that wonderful book "The Complete Guide to Glues and Adhesives" which you can still get from Amazon Marketplace (just go to the regular Amazon, search for the book and it will list places to buy it.) I hope they will update it with the newer glues someday.
I have been using Tombow Multipurpose Liquid Glue - apply a VERY thin layer with my finger and allow to dry overnight. It doesn't seem to leave much residue when I don't overdo the application
I use 'spot' cleaners like rubbing alcohol and Goo-Gone, but I've found that putting them in the dishwasher once a month or so really makes a difference.
and--Mr. Clean Magic Erasers are a gift from above! Literally too--NASA invented them. Are they not the best things ever? So far I have not found anything they do not work on...even polished that cheap 'silver' from India. I love those things. Especially in the glass shower stall for soap scum.
I agree! They rock!
However, if you're like me an you use a cutting mat as your regular crafty surface - be careful! I 'erased' parts of the measure marks... oh, and it *will* take the ink off your metal ruler, too. ;)
__________________ All inked up... and somewhere to go. My gallery, small but mighty... or maybe just mighty small! Come see my almost new blog... M'ija Stamps!
What if ink is covering the block. How do you get that off if cleaner won't cut it?
What kind of ink is it? What kind of cleaners have you tried?
__________________ If you don't want your tax dollars to help the poor, then stop saying you want a country based on Christian values, because you don't. ~ Jimmy Carter
What if ink is covering the block. How do you get that off if cleaner won't cut it?
Stazon cleaner:p
__________________ The quickest way for a parent to get a child's attention is to sit down and look comfortable. Practice safe eating always use condiments
gunk on my acrylic blocks
What is AT100??
