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Hi! I am curious about the threads I am reading about unmounting your stamps from their blocks etc. Are people preferring to buy stamps that are red rubber only or red rubber mounted on cling cushion for their acrylic blocks? I have a small rubber stamp company and would love to get input about what the customer prefers in this current economy. I personally feel the red rubber alone is a HUGE bargain, but wonder what the demand for it
is. Any opinions would be great! Thanks!
Hi there, you know what about 9 months ago I came here and asked the same question before my stamp line went into production, and I also posted a poll on my blog and the the majority chose red rubber with cling backing, followed by naked red rubber, then wood mount. And it was a pretty big majority, so that is what I went with. Of couse, you could do like some companies and offer them both ways and charge accordingly.
Thanks Michelle! Thank you for sharing your poll results. Your stamps are very cute! I have gone with the cling cushion mount, but wondered if folks still find it too expensive- maybe an option would be good. I was actually curious about this when I started reading the forums about all the stampers unmounting their blocks. It seems there is now a market for unmounted ,thankfully, since that is my inventory.
I have a favorite company that sells just rubber stamps and I wondered if that choice is picking up speed.
Location: not too far from the big mountain in n.h.
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Good morning!
My stamp choice is exactly what Michelle said. 1. Cling mount 2. Bare rubber 3. Wood mounted. I have to REALLY love an image to buy clear.
Just to give you another perspective, I actually prefer to buy wood mounted. I know they cost a lttle more, but I find them much quicker to use and clean up. I know I am probably in the minority. If I had to choose unmounted, I would choose plain rubber and just use TIO&O (I unmounted my wheels and this is how I use them). Just adding another voice to the discussion. Congratulations on having your own companies and I wish you good luck.
I use bare rubber on my acrylic blocks. Just use a small piece of cheap double stick tape to hold it on.
Of the stamp shows I've been to, the majority sell stamps bare rubber. Some give the option they will put them on foam and send them to you for an additional charge.
I used to be a wood-mounted lover until I got so many that the wood blocks were taking up too much space. Plus, unless they were already mounted to the wood meant that I'd have to cut them out. After cutting out a ton of them at once after a big purchase, my hand was killing me. I them started more and more purchasing other forms of stamps. I just got done cutting out a bunch of cling mounted stamps with the same result of a lot of pain in my cutting hand (somewhat arthritic already but really aggrevated by the cutting). Now, if I can find stamps I love that are just plain rubber, that's what I go for. Not only are they better on my wallet, don't take up nearly as much space to store, but the cutting through the rubber only doesn't hurt my hand. I haven't had any issues with stamping with just sticking the bare rubber to a block with double-sided tape so that's my favorite and the one I'm most willing to buy. I do like having the option of purchasing a separate piece of some type of foam for the stamps (preferably a cling) if I want more of a cushion but I much prefer it as a separate item that I can purchase or not instead of having the rubber already attached to it. I want the ability to easily just cut through just the rubber. The pain issue has started driving my purchasing choices the older I get. There are enough companies out there to choose from that I can afford to be pickier if I want.
Cling mount for me. I haven't tried the TIOO, maybe that would convert me to bare rubber, but I'm not sure, because I like the extra cushion from the cling.
I have to have cling mount. Gives me the storage/space saving solution but without any sticky. I simply can't stand for my hands (or my toys) to be sticky. I know that some folks swear by TIOO, but just the thought of all those sticky stamps sticking to the CD cases, sticking to the desk if I drop it, sticking to (gasp) my fingers? Gives me the heebie jeebies! Maybe it's not as sticky as I'm imagining, but believe me, any sticky at all is too much for this squeamish girl. Give me nice, smooth, non-tacky cling foam any day of the week!
I should also say that I use a stamping pad under my paper which takes the place of what ever cushion you may have on the stamp. That's why I use just bare rubber.
Good morning!
My stamp choice is exactly what Michelle said. 1. Cling mount 2. Bare rubber 3. Wood mounted. I have to REALLY love an image to buy clear.
Ditto!
__________________ Hi! I'm ISO the Fun Stampers Journey stamp "Say Cheese" AT-0167. Thank you!
I prefer to buy bare rubber. It's almost always cheaper for me to buy the bare rubber stamps and the cling mount and mount them myself than to pay for stamps already mounted on cling mount.
I have to have cling mount. Gives me the storage/space saving solution but without any sticky. I simply can't stand for my hands (or my toys) to be sticky. I know that some folks swear by TIOO, but just the thought of all those sticky stamps sticking to the CD cases, sticking to the desk if I drop it, sticking to (gasp) my fingers? Gives me the heebie jeebies! Maybe it's not as sticky as I'm imagining, but believe me, any sticky at all is too much for this squeamish girl. Give me nice, smooth, non-tacky cling foam any day of the week!
I would recommend the hot knife - I find it easiest to cut the rubber with a good pair of Kai scissors, then place on the EZMount, then use the hot knife to cut around the rubber. It's an extra couple of steps, but I find that I get the neatest cuts that way since you can cut the rubber much easier when it's just flimsy red rubber and I never undercut the foam.
Bare rubber for me too. I use it with Tack & Peel... gives just enough cushion to get a perfect image. I am getting ready to remove all the cling mount (to bare rubber) from the stamps I have already unmounted from the wood.
I prefer bare rubber. Stamps that come with cling foam are wasteful for me because I have to rip that foam off and throw it away, but cling foam is still better than wood mounted.
I have to have cling mount. Gives me the storage/space saving solution but without any sticky. I simply can't stand for my hands (or my toys) to be sticky. I know that some folks swear by TIOO, but just the thought of all those sticky stamps sticking to the CD cases, sticking to the desk if I drop it, sticking to (gasp) my fingers? Gives me the heebie jeebies! Maybe it's not as sticky as I'm imagining, but believe me, any sticky at all is too much for this squeamish girl. Give me nice, smooth, non-tacky cling foam any day of the week!
Thank you so much for everyone's input!!! I am surprised about the bare rubber preference!!! I think I will be adding some bare rubber to inventory now!!! Thank you to everyone for helping out and have a great Saturday...hopefully creating with your rubber stamps!!!
I first prefer clears but when I buy rubber stamps I prefer bare rubber. It's the price, storage and my stamping preferences. I first started unmounting years ago and used cling foam. Not long before I got tierd of the bulk of the foam also. If I ever buy stamps on the foam, I do remove it.
For storage I use a thin coat of mono adhesive and stick them on laminated sheets which I keep upright in baskets. Havent had any issues. It works for me. They really don't feel all that tacky yet stay nicely in place, even big background stamps.
When stamping, I always use padding underneath and I get great, clear images. I have to say, that since I unmounted, I actually get better stamped images than some of them used to give when they were mounted. Not sure why, but that's just been my expereince.
I use bare rubber now. I found the ezmount cushion is shrinking over time and many of the stamps I mounted on it years ago have a 1/8" gap now where's there's nothing under the rubber. When I mounted them the cushion was even with the edge of the rubber stamp.
Also the glue on the ezmount isn't holding up over time and my stamps are slipping off the cushion when I store them upright on the Sunday International cling sheets in 3 ring binders.
So now I use bare rubber with "tack n peel" on my acrylic blocks.
For everyone who prefers bare rubber, how do you store them?
I cut a piece of cardstock 5.25 X 8.5 and fold in half. I write the name of the stamp, who makes it and the item number on the front of the cardstock. Then I stamp the image on the front of a regular A2 size envelope and store the stamp inside the folded card which I place inside the envelope. (The opening of the card should face the bottom of the envelope and the top fold of the card is showing when you lift the envelope flap. That way the stamps can't fall out.)
All of the envelopes are stored in a plastic shoe box with index tabs to divide by type of stamps - holidays, flowers, sayings etc.
Hi! I am curious about the threads I am reading about unmounting your stamps from their blocks etc. Are people preferring to buy stamps that are red rubber only or red rubber mounted on cling cushion for their acrylic blocks? I have a small rubber stamp company and would love to get input about what the customer prefers in this current economy. I personally feel the red rubber alone is a HUGE bargain, but wonder what the demand for it
is. Any opinions would be great! Thanks!
I admit to be very biased...plain rubber is my all time favorite. Has been since the the early 90s. Started tearing my stamps off wood back then and haven't stopped. I've never had a problem getting a clear image with 'naked' rubber. When using stamps with either an intricate or highly detailed design, I put Foamies under the paper when stamping.
Cling vinyl has a shelf life...the plasticsizers that create the cling do leach from the film over time. I'd just as soon not have to fiddle with that factor.
A swipe of glue stick will hold a stamp on a clear block...if you want more stick, swipe a repositionable liquid glue over the back of the stamp. OR...put strips of Scotch Poster Tape on the block, and place the stamp on the tape.
Given the high shipping costs to Canada from the States, I usually prefer to buy clear stamps, but if that's not an option I will only buy naked rubber. For my shopping, if a store doesn't offer either clear or bare rubber they don't get my business. Just economics. I'd rather spend the money on stamps and have something to show for it rather than waste it on postage for heavy and/or bulky stamps.
For everyone who prefers bare rubber, how do you store them?
I "paint" the back side with Aleene's Tack-It and store them all in a standard size 3 ring binder. I store them on EZMount Lightweight Stamp Storage Panels. In the front of the binder, I stamp an index sheet so I know what stamps are included in the binder. Currently I have 5 and half binders!
__________________ Sharon S. "A child is not a vase to be filled, but a fire to be lit." - Rabelais My Gallery
Curious...just rubber or with cling
