Idea for creating a rubber stamp cleaning pad

Hi all,

I wanted to create my own rubber stamp cleaning pad since the ones at the craft store are so expensive. I modified the instructions I found on a site for crafting inexpensively. Basically, I went to my local dollar store and purchased a plastic case for storing baby wipes for travelling, as well as flat sponge square (about a quarter inch thickness) there were two sponges to a pack. I then went to a hardware store (Home Depot) and purchased a painting pad (it was a refill pad for a paint edger). It cost about $3.00 (but two pads came in the pack). The painting pad is very similar to the material used in the stamp cleaning pads that are sold in the craft stores. I hot glued the flat sponge to one side of the baby wipe case (which had to be cut down to fit). I took the painting pad, flatened out the curved parts at either end and hot glued that to the center of the opposite side of the baby wipe case. Lastly, I took an old toothbrush that I was using for manual stamp cleaning, broke off the handle and hot glued the brush head to the baby wipe case next to the painting pad. When I was all done, I had a cleaning pad with multiple options.

To use, I sprayed a bit of windex onto the sponge, and generously wet the sponge with water. Once I was ready to clean the stamp, I dabbed it on the wet sponge to remove the ink and then onto the painting pad to remove the water and any stubborn ink. The toothbrush came in handy for further cleaning. Once I was done cleaning my stamps, I took the cleaning case to my sink and rinsed it. It looks good as new.

If one wishes, the sponge could be replaced with a supply of baby wipes- whatever is most economical and efficient for you. In the past, I used an extra (new and unused) foot brush that I had to clean my stamps- which worked well except that the ink and water would splatter.

Here's another neat idea I was playing around with earlier. I took sheets of wax paper, stamped on it with pigment ink and embossed it. The image came out really well and I am sure will look nice in my next project. I figure it could be used the same as vellum, except that it is more delicate.

Just thought I'd share, Happy Stamping and Happy Holidays, Doreen

Reply to
Jolly Green Stamper
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"> Here's another neat idea I was playing around with earlier. I took sheets

Didn't the wax paper melt when you embossed it?

Reply to
Judy

Happy New Year All,

Great idea! One more item that made it's way into my stamp room is a box of Reynolds release aluminum foil - great substitute for the heat resistant mats that are so expensive. I use it under embellishments, especially for UTEE, when I melt them in my old electric fry pan - heat from underneath keeps the stuff from blowing off.

Janet

Jolly Green Stamper wrote:

Reply to
hansen

Actually, the wax did start to melt a little, but if you keep a piece of paper underneath, it should be fine. Only a little bit of wax residue was leftover. Once it was cool- about a few seconds, the wax paper reabsorbed the wax and it was fine.

Reply to
Jolly Green Stamper

Nice idea, thanks for sharing! I check in here so seldom since this ng seems to be more spam and ads than anything else. Nice holiday surprise to see some interesting tidbits of info!

BHJ

Reply to
Barbara Hass

Just to warn you -- in the long run, any use of Windex on your stamps will dry them out and make them tougher. (I learned this the hard way.) (I used to own a stamp company and wrote for Rubberstampmadness) ~~ Sooz The things that will destroy us are: politics without principle; pleasure without conscience; wealth without work; knowledge without character; business without morality; science without humanity, and worship without sacrifice. - M. Ghandi

Reply to
Dr. Sooz

Wow.. thanks, I didn't know that. I read a few postings on another website that claimed that the formula for the commercial rubber stamp cleaners was a mixture of windex or window cleaner, water, fragrance and another substance (I think it was mineral oil or maybe glycerin).

I've heard that alcohol will dry out rubber over time, but then there are the permanent inks and permanent ink removers, which seem to contain some type of alcohol/mineral spirits- so I'm confused. Are some solvents better than others, is it a matter of how long they are left on the stamp, or should one avoid use of all of these to prolong the life of the rubber.

What about baby wipes without alcohol? Safe or problematic?

Do you have any suggestions for a homemade cleaning solution, that's rubber friendly, to use in place of the windex solution?

Thanks for the warning and info, Doreen

sacrifice. - M.

Reply to
Jolly Green Stamper

Oil is also bad for latex stamps, for the same reason that oil-based lubricants are bad for latex condoms; it causes the latex to break down.

If you're using permanent inks, then you'll need a solvent based remover to get them clean. You can help the process by wiping them on a dry paper towel before the ink dries, though. Yes, it will shorten the life of your stamps, but so will the permanent inks themselves. Use them sparingly.

For standard pigment or dye-based inks, plain water works just fine, combined with the slight scrubbing action of your clever cleaning device. Alcohol-free baby wipes are OK, too.

But the truth is, stamps are artist supplies, not valuable heirlooms, and over time they'll get kind of grubby looking, just as paintbrushes and such do. You could leave them untouched on the shelf and they'd still get dry and crumbly eventually; it's the nature of latex-based rubber. Use them, enjoy them, and get as much life out of them as you can. They'll probably last for years, if they don't stay spotless.

Reply to
Pat Kight

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