How Self Ink Stamp Works and How to Refill and Care for Them

Rubber stamps date back to 1866. It was the normal practice in the olden days to use a stamp pad along with the stamp. You rubbed the stamp on the pad and then transferred the ink to paper. Innovations led to the development of pre-inked stamps and self-inking stamps. These ink stamps offer great convenience. Buy top brands like Colop and you will find them easy to use as well as durable. However, they do need occasional maintenance and care.

Preinked stamps
The preinked stamp is made of special rubber with porous spongy texture. Buy such ink stamp new and with proper care they will last for two to three years. Maintain it by wiping the surface of the stamp part with a wet cloth or a brush to remove debris. You can store them in your drawer but to ensure longevity it is best to keep them inside a small container to prevent the ink from drying up fast. Eventually the impressions will become fainter and this is when you re-ink them.

Reinking such stamps is easy. Hold them up so that the impression part faces up. Use just two to four drops of ink to wet the surface and keep the stamp upright in that position overnight. That is all you need to do to recharge the stamp.

     

Self inking stamps
Self-inking stamps have a different construction. The unit contains a pad wetted with ink in a mechanism that rubs the impression part of the rubber against the pad before it presses down on paper and prints it. The mechanism of self inking stamp differs from one brand to the other. When the pad dries out it is time for a refill.

• Release the mechanism to expose the pad.
• Use company specified refill ink and wet the pad with just a few drops of ink
• Let the pad soak for about three hours or so and try out the stamp on a sheet of paper a couple of times.
• Do not saturate the pad with excess ink.
• Clean the impression part of the rubber with a toothbrush and use some mild detergent when you do. Rinse with water or use a wet wipe.
• Extend life of rubber by using water mixed with glycerin in the final wipe. Glycerin prevents rubber from drying out.

Store self inking stamps in your briefcase or drawer. Air conditioned atmospheres may cause ink to dry out faster. Expose to sunlight and the pad dries out quickly. It is best to recharge the pads with refill ink before they dry out completely. Keep cleaning the rubber part on a regular basis, depending on how often you use the stamp. Cleaning with water with some glycerin added will maintain rubber in good condition for years.

Make your custom ink stamp last longer and work flawlessly with the simple care techniques shown above. Order the stamp and refill pads and refill inks from Addprint.