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I have some rubber stamps damaged by sun from being displayed on a shelf. They are still usable but a little hard. Is there any way to recondition them?
alice e
Not sure if this will do the trick 100%, but I'd start with baby oil. Depending on just how dry they are, I would either rub it on them or just soak them in it. Good luck reviving them.
I don't think I would use baby oil. I think it will break down the rubber.
I guess I would try the SU stamp cleaner as that has conditioners in it. The other thing you might be able to use, if you can find it, is glycerin. CVS Pharmacy used to carry it in a bottle but, from what I understand they don't anymore. However, CVS does have Fleet Liquid Glycerin "suppositories." I know this sounds a little strange but I was also looking for the glycerin for the homemade blender refill stuff and this was all I could find. They're like plastic "bubble" type applicators filled with liquid glycerin. You just take the cap off and squeeze out what you need. Each bubble doesn't hold a whole lot but it may be enough for what you need.
I would certainly only try anything on 1 stamp at a time though.
Let us know what works.
__________________ Brenda
<-My sibling kitties, Milo and Rousseau
I had some stamps that were old and hard and I kept spraying su cleaner on them. It really helped. You could see the stamp sucking up the spray it was so dry. Now you can't tell anything was wrong with them.
Good luck!
I use glycerin quite successfully. I get the solid glycerin suppositories -- sometimes the pharmacy keeps them behind the counter, but just ask for them. Here's how I do mine: I put a few glycerin sticks on a microwaveable plate, and melt them down. (About 20 seconds) I lay the stamps rubber-side down (this can be done for mounted or unmounted stamps), then put them back in the microwave for another 8 seconds. I take them out, let them cool off, and once the glycerin hardens again, the stamps can be pulled right out of it cleanly. You can instantly see the difference. If any glycerin clings, just brush it off. (I use an old toothbrush for this.) Works like a charm for me!
It's not as complicated as it sounds, and is kind of fun, actually!
I've tried glycerin in liquid form, and for whatever reason, it didn't seem to work as well as the solid form. Since I always melt the solid down, you wouldn't think there would be a difference, but I can really tell between the two ways, and much prefer the results of the solid.
Glad to know that others have had more success with it than I have though!
If your rubber is cracked then the stamp is a goner....Try inking up with Versamark, leaving a wee while and then cleaning off with one of the good stamp cleaners.
Stamps and brayers should never be left out in the sunlight. They realy do not like it mich.
I don't think I would use baby oil. I think it will break down the rubber.
I guess I would try the SU stamp cleaner as that has conditioners in it. The other thing you might be able to use, if you can find it, is glycerin. CVS Pharmacy used to carry it in a bottle but, from what I understand they don't anymore. However, CVS does have Fleet Liquid Glycerin "suppositories." I know this sounds a little strange but I was also looking for the glycerin for the homemade blender refill stuff and this was all I could find. They're like plastic "bubble" type applicators filled with liquid glycerin. You just take the cap off and squeeze out what you need. Each bubble doesn't hold a whole lot but it may be enough for what you need.
I would certainly only try anything on 1 stamp at a time though.
Let us know what works.
Paper Junky, thanks for correcting me on this (and so gently too ;)); didn't know about oil breaking down rubber. I would hate to be sending her a bunch of new stamps if she followed my advice and ruined hers!
i bought a couple of stamps at a LSS that were hard (the images were cute and the price was right). I used the home-made stamp cleaner that has glycerin. I spritz and let it sit, after a couple of treatments they softened-up.
Everytime I see a picture of a stamp room where they have their stamps displayed on an open shelf, I just cringe. Unless they are rotating their stamps to sealed storage space, it won't be long before all their stamps are hard.
Armor All -- hmm, I don't know, good for leather and tires but I wonder if it leaves and oily residue?
Rubber Stamps
