Follow these simple guidelines to keep your stamps in tip top condition:
Rubber stamps:
It is best not to wash your stamps with soap or water. Both are very drying (even water on its own) which can cause rubber to become brittle over time. Always use a stamp cleaner, preferably one which also conditions the rubber.
Store your wood mounted stamps rubber side up or on their side when not in use. Do not pile stamps on top of one another as over time the rubber or cushioning may become deformed.
Try to store your stamps at room temperature away from radiators and direct sunlight. It is also best not to store stamps in any particularly cold or damp environments.
New rubber may have a slight residue of silicone coating which is used during manufacturing. Simply give the rubber a quick clean with stamp cleaner before inking. There is no need to condition with an eraser and under no circumstances should you use sandpaper!
Clear stamps:
Keep clear stamps attached to the carrier sheet or on laminated storage panels while not in use to avoid the cling side getting dusty and so losing its tack. For the same reason ensure your acrylic block is clean and dust free before placing on the stamp.
Clear stamps should not be stored on acetate sheets or on some plastics as they can have an adverse effect on clear stamps over time.
Always peel clear stamps slowly from the carrier sheet. They may adhere strongly, particularly if not used in a little while, so take care not to tear them.
If your clear stamps lose their cling just give them a quick, gentle wash in soapy water. Leave to air dry and attach back onto the carrier sheet.
Any ink pad can be used with clear stamps, however do not leave the stamps sitting in solvent based inks or cleaners for long periods of time. So if using permanent ink pads and cleaners, clean and dry the stamps immediately. All Elzybells ink pads are solvent free. We highly recommend Ultra Clean which is a powerful and solvent free stamp cleaner.
Due to the porous surface of clear stamps which ensures excellent ink transfer and crisp images, clear stamps will tend to stain no matter what ink or cleaner you use. This does not affect the stamping quality of your stamps whatsoever.
New clear stamps can be very sticky. To condition them, simply pat the stamp (inked or non-inked) on a piece of paper a dozen or so times to reduce the tack level or clean with stamp cleaner before inking. There is no need to condition with an eraser and under no circumstances should you use sandpaper!
General:
Clean your stamps as soon as possible after having inked them to avoid the build up of stains or give them a gentle clean once in a while. Permanent inks tend to leave some staining even when cleaned using the appropriate stamp cleaner but this will not affect their stamping quality. If you prefer to keep your stamps completely stain free, a good trick is to ink your stamp with Versamark ink before using any ink that is difficult to clean, as it acts as a barrier between the rubber and permanent ink.
Make sure you do not have your stamps in the firing line of your heat gun while embossing!! This will melt the stamp or cause it to become sticky and unusable.
Kling-on & EZ mounting cushion:
Kling-on and EZ mounted stamps should be stored on laminated storage panels or in our storage cases. Do not store Kling-on or EZ mounted stamps on acetate sheets or in plastic CD cases as it will cause the cushion to break down.
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