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Hi! I have only been a TAC demo since April. So I haven't had my stamps very long either. I didn't even own any before I signed up - I had FAITH! ;-) and no regrets.
My question is this: I've notice a few of my stamps are getting a "cracked" appearance on top of the blue rubber. It doesn't seem to affect the stamping. I store them in CD cases and I clean them with the scrubber sprayed with a solution of 1/4 baby wash, 3/4 water. I just wanted to know if this is normal, or should I be concerned. Am I doing something wrong? And are the cracks going to go all the way through the rubber and eventually be ruined?
Thanks in advance.
(P.S. I started another thread about websites - all you "veteran" TAC demos can help me there too!)
What are the ingredients of the baby wash thing that you are using?
If there is alcohol or ammonia in it, stop using it as that will cause cracks in your stamps. It dries out the rubber. Also are you storing stamps away from sunlight and heat?
That is why I use the stamp cleaner that TAC carries and it keep my stamps clean and the moisture in the stamps. For tougher stained stamps I use Simply Green and dilute that with water. It is non-toxic and biodegradable.
I hope that helps!
__________________ Nicole L.
The Angel Company Demonstrator #1260
Team Leader of The Elegant Diva Stamp Angels! Email
I have had nothing like that happen with my stamps - I don't even use the TAC cleaner - simple green and water here.
I would definately contact TAC and tell them your experience. I know that they will make it right, they treat their demos great and go out of their way to solve these types of issues.
Yikes! I've had mine two years (I signed up the same way you did!) and don't see "cracks"...hmm. I really only tend to wash mine with water...TAC's scrubber works great and I'm glad I finally broke down and bought one last year.
You may want to scan it and send them an email? Hope this helps!
Isn't that TAC Scrubber great?! I broke down earlier this year and bought one and I love how it cleans the stamps so well.
IMBlessed, it dawned on me that you said you have been a demo since April, and I said to myself ooh wait that is only two months! I was thinking you had your stamps for awhile, like a couple years. Anyway check more TAC about that, and I know that they will be able assist more with that.
__________________ Nicole L.
The Angel Company Demonstrator #1260
Team Leader of The Elegant Diva Stamp Angels! Email
I don't have the container of the baby wash anymore, as I used the last of it to make this solution for my spray bottle. But I'd found the idea on this website actually in a thread about stamp cleaners. Anyway, I ASSUME it doesn't have any of those harsh chemicals in it like amonia or alcohol since it is all-over-baby-wash. I just figured if it's gentle enough for a baby, it's gotta be gentle enough for rubber stamps.
I did wonder if heat was a problem. My "work" area is out on our built-on (finished) back porch. Once it started getting really warm out there though, I started bringing my stamps and ink pads into the house for protection. And I figured if heat WAS the problem I would have more than just 2 or 3 with cracks appearing. I really don't know though.
Chris - I love the idea about scanning them and emailing it to TAC. Never thought of that. DUH! Maybe I will try it and post it here on this thread too.
IMBlessed5, This stamp looks Old! But it might be that if you left it in the cold and then in the heat..This would happen too. But just to be on the safe side, Please Let TAC know about it!
It could have been the batch of Rubber that they used to make these stamps. This would make it look this way. According to DH!
Please let TAC Know about this ASAP.
And No I am not going to Convention...But I would love to go Nextyear! I'm not able to go this year...Money is tight and Since I'm not back to work yet and still going to OT for my hand and wrist.
I have tons of TAC stamps and they are not cracked or anything. I use SU's stampin mist which i love. Not sure why they would crack have you thought about contacting TAC CS and asking them their advice on it.
Rubber stamps can handle quite a bit of heat, because they go thru a vulcanization process to cure in the mold. Heat should not have caused this, but my guess is that sunlight could have. If you had them sitting in a sunny spot exposed for a while, it could definately cause the cracking. HTH!
Thanks, all of you for your advice. You have all been very helpful! No, I do not store my stamps in direct sunlight. Plus, all of my stamps are in CD cases which are all in one tote box. So I didn't understand why there were only a few doing this, and not all (which I am very glad of!).
So anyway, I took all ya'll advice and emailed TAC with the picture and explanation. I'll try to remember to post back here when I get a response to let you all know!
Location: I try to live in LaLa Land, but people keep interrupting me!
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Hi TAC demos!!
Just want to say "Hi" to all of my fellow TAC demos! Is anyone going to the Seminar? Has anyone been there before? Anyone going to be online there if they are going?
Oh and I have fairly new TAC stamps too, but none have cracks like that...I'm curious too, like to know what TAC says. So please fill us in.
Okay, I got a very speedy reply from TAC regarding the cracked stamps - Here's what they said:
"We checked with our Production Manager concerning the cracked stamps. The cracks in the stamp will not affect the stamping images as the crack is around the actual image nor will this cause the stamp to fall apart over time however we would like to replace these for you. Vicki, if you let us know the sets of the other 5 we would be happy to get these replaced as quickly as possible."
So I really don't know what caused it, but they are so awesome to replace them anyway. I LOVE TAC!
Don't we work for an awesome company!!!!!!! I'm going to seminar this year!!!!!!! can't wait. Should be finishing my card fronts tonight and my TC's tomorrow. Hope to see ya all there.
Guess what!? When I went through ALL of my stamps to pick out all of the cracked ones to send another picture to TAC, I discovered that all of the cracked stamps are from the SAME set! ("Greetings"). Isn't that weird!?
Anyway, I am still so excited that they are replacing them for me. I wouldn't want to lose any potential customers because of the looks of these stamps.
Again, thanks so much to all of you for all your help and advice!
If all the stamp's are from the same set..Then that means it from the same batch of Rubber that they use.......was *BAD*.
No one caught this! In quality control is shoud have been noticed.
Even in testing the rubber before using it should be noticed.
That's why sometime we get Tires that don't last as long as they are suppose to!
It's the process that the rubber goes through before becoming a stamp or any other item.
But it's wonderful that TAC is willing to replace your set.
Attn: all TAC demos - stamp question
TAC stamps
Hi TAC demos!!
Cracked stamps
