Clear stamp corrosion?
 

Hello crafters!

I hope this is a good place to ask. I've been doing some art journaling this morning and pulled out an older set of clear stamps. I noticed that a couple of them had strange brownish blackish.. Incrustations in them, just one or two.

Any idea what that is? I googled around and didn't find anything. Not sure if I should just throw these out? :( they are good stamps but those things look weird.

Do they still stamp? ( that's the main thing for me, if the clear stamps stain or change color that doesn't really effect the stamping abilities I keep them)
my very first ones I ever purchased they the material of the stamps them selves deteriorated over time, and I pitched those it took me many years to start collecting the new material clear stamps are mostly made from now. ( don't ask me how to spell it but, it has half the alphabet in it) starts with a P though. :)

hth,
your going to get the tool inky to play with it anyways right? so, if it stamps keep it the what color it is doesn't really make much difference if it will transfer the ink pattern for you.

A few of mine have yellowed and/or gotten gummy, but I've never had crusty stuff.

@JBgreendawn , do you mean photopolymer? Those are the better ones. Acrylic stamps are the ones that yellow and get gummy over time.

As mentioned above, photopolymer are far better than the previous acrylics of several years ago. Most major stamp companies are proud to mention they use high quality photopolymer.

When cleaning stamps, we're adding various chemicals to the stamps. Those chemicals vary from the very strong to the very mild types. I'm frugal when using Superior's Ultra Clean, particularly on photopolymer. Water-based cleaners don't have that solvent odor, so I feel like those have been safer o my photopolymer. Dish soap + water might remove the "gunky stuff" from your stamp(s). [Air dry afterwards.] That often helps bring back the ability for the stamp to stick to the acrylic block. There''s nothing to lose in giving the stamp a bath in dish soapy water! ;) Good luck with your stamps!

There has been a lot of talk about what clear stamps are stored on....we seem to want duralar grafix as I recall? Some companies sell it to you on that and some don't and some people will transfer to it-they buy it for that purpose. I remember people saying the stamp eroded on acetate...but not crud. Hmm.

This is a shorter discussion but links to older longer ones

https://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/general-stamping-talk-17/storing-photopolymer-stamps-original-packaging-635531/

But yes-photopolymers are the 'best' clear stamps to get. I don't know if all companies mention it on the packaging or on their websites.

Having said all that.....we have been told that staining is actually the mark of a good stamp. It isn't as pretty as new but still functions fine. :)

Crud? I would do as Texasgrammy said and try soaking them in a safe soapy water or something. Maybe something spilled on it in the past and it is just aging out ugly? I might guess that you can also run them across a stamp scrubber pad...they sell those. I have to say they are really great for getting to tiny detail crevices that my regular cleaning with a microfiber does not. One side is the scrubber and one side is the wipe it off. There are several versions of it. This way I also avoid scratching or digging into a clear stamp by trying to my fingernail etc.

this is the simple Ranger one-does not come in a plastic case.

https://www.amazon.com/Ranger-Dritz-Bobbin-Heavy-Duty/dp/B000WWMH2K

With the plastic casing-note: some say they are good with all inks and some don't and specifically tell you to stay away from solvents. This is just three-SU has one and if you google it you will see many choices. However we have been told not to use Stazon and it's cleaner on clear stamps anyway.

https://www.amazon.com/Ranger-Dritz-Bobbin-Heavy-Duty/dp/B000WWMH2K

https://www.simonsaysstamp.com/product/Hero-Arts-DOUBLE-SCRUBBER-PAD-Stamp-Cleaner-nk301-17292?gclid=Cj0KCQjwv5uKBhD6ARIsAGv9a-z4WkatvGDgYvVoberpa5JLt7s_ChJMb93P3p76kr9JFh-mXV71VRUaAg5lEALw_wcB

https://www.papersource.com/craft/rubber-stamp-cleaning-pad-850301.html

hope something in there helps :)

One thing I've learned is after cleaning them (what ever method you choose), allow them to dry before putting them back in the pouch.

My experience over several years has been that some clear, or photopolymer, stamps stained with certain inks but that has never caused a deterioration of the stamping quality. Ditto with those that yellowed. However I have never used Stazon or similar cleaners on photopolymer stamps, which I recall reading would cause deterioration. I've always used SU water-based cleaner or dish soap as TexasGrammy recommended. I hope that helps!

Stampin Up Stamps
 

So we shouldn’t use Stazon with Stampin Up stamps? Stazon only use with rubber stamps?

It's the StazOn cleaner that seems to be a problem for some. I've used StazOn and the cleaner on my clear stamps, and I haven't had any problems.

When I use Stazon Cleaner, I immediately follow it with a "stamp bath" in soapy water. Then I rinse well and air dry. I have not had any deterioration issues with this method.

Yep. I rinse off all my cleaners with a wet cloth.