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Thinking about Unmounting Stamps - Feedback Requested
I am thinking about unmounting my SU stamps and am wanting to hear all the pros and cons before taking the plunge. I am not the type to buy current sets then sell them after they retire. So, I am not really worried about resell value. Some people collect coins; I collect stamps.;)
I have included a poll to see what everyone has done with their stamps. Please tell me why especially if you regret unmounting. I don't want to spend a lot of time just to wish I hadn't.
I have only unmounted a few of my sets...only because I have not had the time to do very many of them. For the past year or so, I have kept my new sets unmounted and I totally love using them with my acrylic blocks. It works for me!
I have unmounted all of mine except for the Thomas Kinkaid and some of the really large stamps (I did unmount background stamps and wheels, too).
I store them on storage boards and then in plastic CD cases. I really like the space I save and I like being able to see around the edges of the stamps for better placement when I stamp. They are also much more portable than stamps on wood mounts.
Like you, I don't worry about the resale value since that's so subjective anyway. Actually, I haven't purchased a wood-mounted stamp in years and I have pretty much quit buying SU sets because I don't want to pay for the wood. I do purchase used sets, especially if they have not been mounted or if I can get the seller to send just the rubber w/or w/o cushion. The cheaper I can purchase, the more I can have or get paper, etc.
I started with SU wood 5 years ago, and somehow I love wood. I have a few clear, acrylic and other I have to mount on clear blocks and I don't enjoy them.
I maybe like wood, even though they are space users, because you clean them and they are done. You don't have to remount, get straight (I did it once on wood and it's done).
I like the solid feeling of the wood. I don't mind not seeing through; I use my SAMJ when necessary.
all my stamps are unmounted.
dont have a lot of SU stamps but the ones I do have I unmounted and no regrest I love my storage system., that way I can store more lol ;)
I am definitely needing to save some space. SPACE FOR MORE!! LOL!!! And I just hate to get rid of any sets b/c I know as soon as I do I will be making something and need it.
I maybe like wood, even though they are space users, because you clean them and they are done. You don't have to remount, get straight (I did it once on wood and it's done).
I like the solid feeling of the wood. I don't mind not seeing through; I use my SAMJ when necessary.
Just my opinion, thanks for asking!
You make a good point about once they are straight it is done. I also like the sticker identification.
Does anyone with unmounted stamps have any experiences or challenges with their unmounted stamps being positioned straight every time?
I voted for never unmounting. I also love wood and rarely have an issue with getting images straight either by hand or with the SAMJ.
That being said, I do like acrylic as well and have started buying sets here and there mainly because they are more affordable. Space is not an issue for me, so there is no real need to unmount.
I have unmounted most of my stamps and >gasp< I've even split up some of the SU sets. I am saving the SU boxes and wood just in case I sell the set. I love being able to see where I am stamping. I love all the extra space.
I didn't vote, but my answer is I have unmounted many of my stamps, down to the bare rubber (no cushion at all), and love it!!! I used the Tack It Over and Over instead of EZ mount, etc, so I just add the sticker to the back of the stamp before adding the TIOAO. That gives me a great reference. I know some people don't feel like the bare rubber gives them enough cushion, but for me it has worked out great. Good luck with your decision!!! If you are thinking about unmounting, my best advice might be to try just one set, and use it for a few days before you try any of the others. Then if you don't like it, no biggie. It was one set. But give it a few days to use and get used to to see if you like. Also, many acrylic blocks now come with lines etched into them. That will really help you line up stamps whether clear, rubber, etc. HTH!
I have all of my stamps unmounted or they're acrylic. It's nice because you can place the image straight on the acrylic block. When they're on the wood, you can't really tell and I hate when it's crooked, lol.
I have unmounted all but a few of my mounted stamps. The reason why some are still mounted is that they are big background stamps and EZ Mount is expensive here in the UK. As soon as I can though all my stamps will be unmounted. I love wood - I get some strange looks when I go around sroking trees!! But I love the fact that I have loads of space and can mount all my stamps onto laminated sheets, store them in ring binders and label the spine of the ring binder. I also like being able to see exactly where I am stamping without having to buy yet another bit of kit like the stampa majig.
I don't seem to have a problem with putting the stamps onto the acrylic blocks straight and if one is a little skew then it is no big deal to lift the stamp and realign it.
I like wood mounted, clear stamps, and unmounted rubber! But, the ones that are mounted I will not unmount.
I do understand doing so because of space issues; but I am ok with space.
I think SU wood mounted have the best resale value.
You make a good point about once they are straight it is done. I also like the sticker identification.
Does anyone with unmounted stamps have any experiences or challenges with their unmounted stamps being positioned straight every time?
I unmounted all my SU stamps and LOVE it! To help with the stamp identifcation (stickers) I just peeled the sticker off of the wooden block and put it on the back of the unmounted stamp. Then, when I look through my cd cases I can see the stamps the same way I would see them as looking through clam shell cases. I usually use double sided tape to stick it to an acrylic block.
I unmounted all mine. They are in binders or jewel case with the image stamped across from where they are. I like that I can just grab a binder and flip through it to find what I want.
I used the Tack It Over and Over instead of EZ mount, etc, so I just add the sticker to the back of the stamp before adding the TIOAO. That gives me a great reference. I know some people don't feel like the bare rubber gives them enough cushion, but for me it has worked out great.
Do you think I could leave on the foam, adhere the sticker, then use the TIOAO? How long does it last before you need to reapply? And how sticky is it? Thanks so much.
Everything I have is unmounted now and I mean right down to the bare rubber...no cushion of any kind...I love it, it works great, easy storage, they take way less room and you could not pay me enough to go back to wood...
My TIO&O has been on my stamps 4 plus years and has never had a problem or needed replaceing...
__________________ Karen
...My life is like a stroll on the beach...As near to the edge as I can go...Thoreau...
Do you think I could leave on the foam, adhere the sticker, then use the TIOAO? How long does it last before you need to reapply? And how sticky is it? Thanks so much.
Yes you can! Thats what I have done.. You only need to apply a thin layer because if you add more it will be REALLY stick!
Do you think I could leave on the foam, adhere the sticker, then use the TIOAO? How long does it last before you need to reapply? And how sticky is it? Thanks so much.
Yes, you could leave the foam on, too, add the sticker, and then apply the TIOAO after that. A hint on the TIAOA, put on a very, very thin coat! You don't need much at all. If you put it on really thin, it also dries quickly, as in you don't have to wait until the next day to use it. When mine is totally dry, I sometimes touch it to bare skin all over, just to get some of the super sticky off. It is sticky! I haven't had to reapply any of mine yet. When it does start losing its stickiness, all you'd have to do is put on another ultra thin coat.
My SU stamps are nearly all unmounted now. I put the sticker on the sticky cushion of the stamp. Initially I used TIOAO (diluted w/ a little water) on the stickers, but was time consuming, so I just placed the unmounted stamps in the CD cases. Recently, I used diluted TIOAO on the inside of the CD case (one side, that the sticker side of the stamp goes on), so the stamps don't all fall out when I open the case. Then use either a block w/ Tack and Peel or an acrylic block with double stick tape (small piece is plenty) to stamp.
My main objective was space saving...unable to part w/ my stamps. No regrets at all..re-sale value is not important to me. I like seeing the sticker thru the acrylic, and if positioning is really important...get the ol' stampamajig out.
Good luck in your decision! Main thing is that we all keep stamping!
P.S. A small (19in width) CD "bookcase" from an office store holds HUNDREDS of CDs!
If you do decide to unmount and then remount on the EZ Mount cling foam, I highly recommend getting a hot knife. It makes the process so dang fast and easy. No gooey scissors... This works especially nice for the rubber that is already trimmed.
WOW! I appreciate so much information and ideas that I am getting.
Of course the more I know the more questions I seem to be coming up with.
Where do you get the Tack-It OAO? I saw where JoAnn.com has it. How about locally? I am kindof leaning toward trying this first. I really like the idea of being able to apply and see the sticker. This is one of the things I love about the wood mounted stamps.
Another question: Do you apply the sticker directly to the sticky untreated foam and then trim around it then apply the Tack-It?
WOW! I appreciate so much information and ideas that I am getting.
Of course the more I know the more questions I seem to be coming up with.
Where do you get the Tack-It OAO? I saw where JoAnn.com has it. How about locally? I am kindof leaning toward trying this first. I really like the idea of being able to apply and see the sticker. This is one of the things I love about the wood mounted stamps.
Another question: Do you apply the sticker directly to the sticky untreated foam and then trim around it then apply the Tack-It?
On the ones I've left foam on, that is exactly what I did. I found my TIOAO at Michael's. I don't know what stores you may have locally. I've never found it in stock at Joann's phsyical store, but it's nice to know they have it online!
On the ones I've left foam on, that is exactly what I did. I found my TIOAO at Michael's. I don't know what stores you may have locally. I've never found it in stock at Joann's phsyical store, but it's nice to know they have it online!
Yes, we have a Michael's. It is actually much bigger with more inventory and honors Joann's coupons. I might have to make a run into town! LOL! With all the great reviews on unmounting and so far no regrets I am getting excited to at least try it on a couple of my new SU sets! I figure it is easier to try with those than unmounting my older ones.
I personally have not unmounted, but I have a friend who did almost all of her stamps. She is now rebuying some of her favorites mounted again because she uses the mounted ones more. Just watching her having gone through unmounting seemed sooo time consuming when I would rather spend my limited time enjoying my stamps rather than organizing them. (plus I would rather spend my money on more stamps or paper or tools than on stuff to unmount) HOWEVER, I do have stamps on EZ mount, and on wood and I have no preference, and as far as space, I am limited, but with my stamps catalogued it seems to help.
I unmounted some of my sets and I love it! I'm going to unmount the rest soon too. What I did was left the foam on (I got the sticky stuff off by rubbing flour on it since I wasn't having any luck with anything else). Then I cleaned them really well with soap and water, and let them dry. I used Tack it over and over and I love it! I tried some other adhesive first, and wasn't happy with it. I didn't want to lose the resale value since I often just get tired of certain stamps and want to get rid of them so I kept all of the wood blocks in their cases in a closet so I can just glue them back on if I need to. I like using acrylic blocks so much better than wood! I use the blocks with the grid lines, and if you position your stamp using the grid lines as a guide, you stamp is perfectly straight.
Eventhough I have space limitations of a serious nature, I love having a wood handle. Other than my wheels, I don't plan on unmounting at this point. I have come to recognize that when I purchase loads and loads of anything - books, board games, Christmas ornaments - something is lost. So I've decided to use my space limitation as a challenge to not buy any stamps that I genuinely don't think I'll love and use over-and-over. :rolleyes: Of course, I've only been back into stamping for a couple of years.....we'll see what the future holds. Thinking of mounting over and over again does seem to annoying me, though. I'd rather mount once, when I have to, and then use my SAMJ! Good luck!
So if I put the sticker on the foam, and then put the Allene's Tack It Over and Over on the sticker, it doesn't hurt the sticker? And when I pull it off the acrylic block Over and Over, it doesn't pull the sticker off the foam?
I don't think at this point that I'll unmount my already mounted stamps, but I think with the ones I haven't mounted yet that I'll start using the Tack It Over and Over.
If that's what I do, when I get a new SU set, I should pull off the paper backing, then stick the sticker on the foam, then put a VERY THIN coat of TIOAO on the sticker--is that right?
I didn't vote because I'm unmounting, but will not unmount all my stamps. I store my stamps in categories (except what is in the current catalog) and these I want unmount until after they are retired.
Never to be unmounted are: I have some lazer engraved wood that is too pretty; scene stamps I'd need way to many acrylic blocks, and some of favorites that are old trusted friends.
I love wood, but I have a storage issue. If I had unlimited space, I'd probably never unmount. But, with that said, I'm fine with unmounted. I'm a big fan of my SAMJ the whole issue of being able to see where I stamp is not that big of deal for me.
I use a mix of EZ mount and Joleene's tack it over. I prefer EZ mount, less mess, but Joleene's is cheaper.
I was storing my unmounted on laminated mat board and CD cases, but I just discovered the Unity stamp cases and love them. I just order a bunch more.
So if I put the sticker on the foam, and then put the Allene's Tack It Over and Over on the sticker, it doesn't hurt the sticker? And when I pull it off the acrylic block Over and Over, it doesn't pull the sticker off the foam?
I don't think at this point that I'll unmount my already mounted stamps, but I think with the ones I haven't mounted yet that I'll start using the Tack It Over and Over.
If that's what I do, when I get a new SU set, I should pull off the paper backing, then stick the sticker on the foam, then put a VERY THIN coat of TIOAO on the sticker--is that right?
That's what I did at first when leaving the foam on. Some of them I like without the foam (just a personal preference for me) so then I do the same thing after peeling away the foam. I haven't had any problem with the sticker coming off the foam, especially if it's a brand new stamp. That sticker will stick! If it's an older one that I unmounted, if I was worried about the sticker not sticking, you can use a little Tombow Mono (green bottle) because it doesn't dry rigid. Does that make sense?
That's what I did at first when leaving the foam on. Some of them I like without the foam (just a personal preference for me) so then I do the same thing after peeling away the foam. I haven't had any problem with the sticker coming off the foam, especially if it's a brand new stamp. That sticker will stick! If it's an older one that I unmounted, if I was worried about the sticker not sticking, you can use a little Tombow Mono (green bottle) because it doesn't dry rigid. Does that make sense?
Yes! Thank you so much for answering!
I thought I'd leave the foam because that just seemed easier than trying to get it off.
I thought I'd leave the foam because that just seemed easier than trying to get it off.
On the brand new ones I've done, the foam seems to come off quite easy, if you try to pull it apart. I know a lot of people like the foam for the cushion anyway. So I see why most people leave it on as a matter of preference. I must stamp weird, because to me sometimes the extra cushion just feels like too much, and I push too hard and don't have crisp images. I know most people aren't like that, though.
Thinking about Unmounting Stamps - Feedback Requested
