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My favorite stamp has gone goofy on me due to excessive use and I need help saving it. The stamp side is shiny and smooth and no longer takes ink on it. I have tried sandpaper, filing it with nail files to no use. I have never had this happen in 20+ years of stamping. Suggestions please?? Anything?
Ohhh - no, they weren't brittle - that is hard to recover from. I have had solid stamps that have gotten a shiny film over them that only Ultra Clean would fix.
If your stamps are getting brittle, you may not be cleaning them properly. Be sure and use a stamp cleaner with a rubber conditioner in it - I know Stampin' Up!s cleaner conditions the rubber. Ultra Clean's bottle doesn't say it does, but maybe someone knows if it has a conditioner in it. I usually clean with UC and then SU just to be sure they're conditioned.
Thanks you again Understand Blue. My stamps aren't brittle, I just wanted you to know that they weren't that bad. Just the one that is shiny. I will try what you said and see if that does it. Much appreciated.
Did it work? I was going to suggest Staz On cleaner as it is harsh enough that it'll usually get whatever off of a stamp then something like SU! Stampin' Mist with a conditioner in it. I too am too scared to sand my stamps! Hope Lydia's suggestion worked for you - I thought it might've as you said "TERRIFIC!" I can't imagine losing one of my favorite stamps!!!
Thank you for the new suggestion. It isn't a matter of something sticking to the stamp but rather the stamp itself has got smooth and wont take an inking. I have used cleaners on it and it didnt work.This was why I tried the light sand paper because I thought I needed to take a slim layer off the top to reach fresher rubber. I will try anything short of an exacto knife !
Thank you for the new suggestion. It isn't a matter of something sticking to the stamp but rather the stamp itself has got smooth and wont take an inking. I have used cleaners on it and it didnt work.This was why I tried the light sand paper because I thought I needed to take a slim layer off the top to reach fresher rubber. I will try anything short of an exacto knife !
I know people use the SU! sanding blocks all the time especially on solid image stamps when they first receive them to produce a good clean image. If you have one of those it'd be worth a try...
By SU I presume you mean Stampin-Up. I didnt know they had sandblocks. Is this what they are for or something else? Interesting. Thank you.
the sanding blocks aren't specifically for sanding stamps, more for distressing. It's just a handy side use for a sanding block! I know that I'll sand solid image stamps because sometimes, the ink just won't adhere to the entire image and so I wouldn't get a clear stamp impression ... annoying!
Anyways, yes SU = Stampin' Up! (although apparently, SU is actually a trademarked name of Syracuse University? according to an update recently from Stampin' Up!.
Anyway, you could also try an emery board, a nail file, light sandpaper ... anything that'll give it a gentle scrub!
Glad to know I'm not alone. Thank you prchvs for your input. I just found this forum and I can't believe how friendly and helpful you have all been.I just hope to pay it forward at some time.
I have a large stamp with very large areas of solid rubber. It wasn't taking ink very well because it had done the same thing...gotten a bit shiny. I cleaned it the other day with the Ultra Clean and a toothbrush. I scrubbed a lot! But it finally got down to the point where it was the very matte finish rubber. While I haven't stamped again with that stamp, I'm confident that it will do much better.
I think that the shiny film that is on the rubber may be some compound in the ink itself (certain inks). Yes, it looks like the stamp is clean, but I really think that sometimes there may be a slight residue left on the rubber. JMHO
I use Glove in a Bottle. have you tried that? It is also wonderful to use ahead of time on your hands if your planning on doing a lot of things with ink. Keeps the fingernails ink free. Thanks for your comment.
Your probably right about the residue. I have tried to clean it many times and it isn't 100% but definately getting better. It would of course, happen on your most favorite stamp! I appreciate your input.
If you can't resurrect it, before you toss it try stamping the stamp in versamark and then in dye ink...then stamp. I know this works with acrylic stamps that bead up when inked so you might have some luck. After all it is your most favourite one..right?
I have this problem with all the acrylic stamps I have. Is there something you are supposed to do to acrylic stamps before you start stamping with them?:confused:
Misschameleon, I agree with you 100%. Everyone on here has made me feel as at home. Even people from different companies. I have not experienced anything not friendly towards my posts. Love, Love, Love this site!
I have this problem with all the acrylic stamps I have. Is there something you are supposed to do to acrylic stamps before you start stamping with them?:confused:
I've had wonderful results rubbing clear stamps with a good white vinyl eraser. I think mine is made by Staedler.
__________________ Linda E
Caution: You are entering an artistic zone. This is not clutter - this is creating. These are not pajamas - it's my work uniform.
I've cleaned my heavily soiled stamps with odrless mineral spirits and followed by a cleaning with SU Mist or the homemade stamp cleaner with glyerin and have had no problems.
On new stamps I've used my white eraser. I had a stamp that no matter what I did it would not take ink in one small section of the stamp and the eraser did the trick.
For problems with acrylic stamps - I rub with an eraser but some brands of stamps are not as good as others and erasing doesn't help. For these I use a chalk or craft/pigment ink. You can also stamp the stamp on a versamark pad and then your classic/dye ink. The versamark keeps the dye ink from beading up. This method also allows you to apply embossing powder when using fast drying inks.
Ohhh - no, they weren't brittle - that is hard to recover from. I have had solid stamps that have gotten a shiny film over them that only Ultra Clean would fix.
If your stamps are getting brittle, you may not be cleaning them properly. Be sure and use a stamp cleaner with a rubber conditioner in it - I know Stampin' Up!s cleaner conditions the rubber. Ultra Clean's bottle doesn't say it does, but maybe someone knows if it has a conditioner in it. I usually clean with UC and then SU just to be sure they're conditioned.
HTH
Can you share with us how to care or recover some old and brittle rubber stamps? I have received some stamps that are more than 15 years old and they feel funny. Probably brittle but I haven't stamped with them yet.
Do you or anyone know about caring for them?
Some one said to never use Windex for cleaning your new collection of stamps as they get dried out. What about baby wipes as they contain alcohol. They would be drying eventually too, would they not.
I see some comments on preventing it but what if they are already dry?
I use a pink eraser. I have a favorite old SU Christmas set that are all silhouettes and they got dried and wouldn't accept ink any more and I used the eraser and they work just fine now.
They do make baby wipes without alcohol and lots of people use them, but I had a problem with the Aloe building up - so out came the pink eraser.
__________________ ShariW
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cleaning stamp
Quote:
Originally Posted by misschameleon
My favorite stamp has gone goofy on me due to excessive use and I need help saving it. The stamp side is shiny and smooth and no longer takes ink on it. I have tried sandpaper, filing it with nail files to no use. I have never had this happen in 20+ years of stamping. Suggestions please?? Anything?
Hi,
I have been stamping since 1990, I always cleaned my stamps with a toothbrush and soap, rinsed well after under the tape and dried off.
Since those years I had one stamp which would not take ink and was a little hard, I sanded it and put some babyoil on.
Have a nice day,
I use a cheap - less than $10.00 - battery operated toothbrush for my heavy cleaning. That works pretty good. Also, Simple Green is a good cleaning product for stamps. I buy it at Lowe's building supply stores. It is really a house cleaning product and comes in a big spray bottle. It can be diluted if you like. Good luck.
I've cleaned my heavily soiled stamps with odrless mineral spirits and followed by a cleaning with SU Mist or the homemade stamp cleaner with glyerin and have had no problems.
On new stamps I've used my white eraser. I had a stamp that no matter what I did it would not take ink in one small section of the stamp and the eraser did the trick.
For problems with acrylic stamps - I rub with an eraser but some brands of stamps are not as good as others and erasing doesn't help. For these I use a chalk or craft/pigment ink. You can also stamp the stamp on a versamark pad and then your classic/dye ink. The versamark keeps the dye ink from beading up. This method also allows you to apply embossing powder when using fast drying inks.
HTH
Thank you so much for these tips! I recently started using acrylic stamps & I was very disappointed w/ the stamp quality compared to my rubber stamps! I tried sanding 1st & it didn't help. But using VersaMark then regular ink fixed the problem immediately. You've given me new confidence in the clear stamps.
Thank you so much for these tips! I recently started using acrylic stamps & I was very disappointed w/ the stamp quality compared to my rubber stamps! I tried sanding 1st & it didn't help. But using VersaMark then regular ink fixed the problem immediately. You've given me new confidence in the clear stamps.
I have this problem with all the acrylic stamps I have. Is there something you are supposed to do to acrylic stamps before you start stamping with them?:confused:
Baby Powder works for me ...I initially clean my acrylics with dish soap and water then pat dry. Just before inking I rub baby powder on the stamp and blow off any excess.
Help needed to rejuvenate stamp
stamps not holding ink
cleaning stamp
