Cork Coasters -- what ink to use?

[Alice in Md]

I would like to stamp on 4" round cork coasters. What ink should I use? If anyone has experience doing this, please share how it worked for you. Thank you!

[jukie]

I haven't any experience but I would say Stazon.

[Rachelrose]

If you search YouTube for "stamping on cork" you'll see videos about this. I checked them quickly and everyone was using Stazon.

[gregzgurl]

I loathe, despise, and in all other ways detest StazOn. My go to is Ranger Archival...

[dini]

A hybrid ink would work well too, or any ink that can be heat set to permanence (Versafine, archival, craft ink, Memento Luxe...).

Here's an older discussion that might be helpful!
Stamping on Cork Board??? by Westilover at Splitcoaststampers

[annie*]

I have a whole drawer of Staz-on inks mostly for the purpose of stamping on unsealed tile coasters. I made sets 5 years ago and just found out this past weekend that one of the sets is not being used because on a hot summer day when glasses tend to "sweat" the ink was running. I was so surprised by this as other sets I have made have not run. I did use some bright colors of Staz-on on these that I may not have used on other coasters.

The recipients are asking for a new set of coasters and I have been thinking for days about how I was going to solve this problem, and how those coasters were different from the others I have made that don't run. After reading this thread I think I will start with a different ink. I have also been thinking about treating just the design area (not the entire coaster, because I want them to still absorb) with the Tim Holtz Distress Micro Glaze. I'm still a bit baffled why a permanent ink like Staz-on would run/bleed.


Thanks for the suggestions on inks!

[joniworx]

Annie wrote:

Quote:

Originally Posted by annie*

I have a whole drawer of Staz-on inks mostly for the purpose of stamping on unsealed tile coasters. I made sets 5 years ago and just found out this past weekend that one of the sets is not being used because on a hot summer day when glasses tend to "sweat" the ink was running. I was so surprised by this as other sets I have made have not run. I did use some bright colors of Staz-on on these that I may not have used on other coasters.

.......

Thanks for the suggestions on inks!

It may not have been the ink - it may have been the tiles. They may have been coated with something that you didn't know about, even though they looked or were marketed as unsealed. The other issue I have had, is with red StaZon. It occasionally bleeds on me, or doesn't dry well. I suggest you heat set them in the oven - 225 for 30-45 minutes usually is enough. That should be enough to settle the ink into the stone.


The other issue I've had with StaZon is that my brown (Timber Brown) will fade in direct sunlight. It doesn't go away completely, but it does fade. I don't have that problem with any other of the colors, just the Timber Brown.


Hope this helps.

[annie*]

The tiles I used felt very porous and if I remember correctly I put them in the oven. The part that is the most strange to me is that I did another set at the same time (thus probably all of the same procedures and products) and they were fine. The only difference might have been the colors. One set had a wine theme and subdued colors and the problem set had gnomes all wearing different colored shirts. I think the bright colors must be the problem.


Hopefully the OP won't have the same problems if she were to choose Staz-on since she is working on cork.

[Alice in Md]

Thanks to everyone for your assistance. Here's what I did: Bed Bath and Beyond has some very nice cork coasters, $8 for 8 before any coupons. I stamped an outline stamp on them using black Stazon (which I don't like, but keep handy on general principles), and then we darkened that stamped outline with Sharpie markers. We made one coaster and tested with with "sweaty" glasses and then several ice cubes, just letting those melt on it. No ink ran! The coasters were a "favor" at our son's 40th birthday surprise party, and they were quite a hit.