Rubber or acrylic?

[jpmayo]

I would pick "all of the above" if that were an option because I just love stamps.

As it was not I chose unmounted rubber sets. That way people could leave them unmounted or buy wood blocks for them, if they prefer.

I like my stamps in sets. I started stamping a few years ago and the 1st stamps I had were SU! so I am just personally used to sets of stamps and I am totally lost with just one stamp unless it is a large stamp that doesnt need any help

HTH and good luck in your stamping endeavor.

[thechecker]

It depends. A two-step set? Clear all the way. Nice images to color or
whatever, not layer? Any.
But SETS. I love sets. Won't purchase singles except maybe a few dollar ones from Michaels...

Anne

[SweetTea]

I have tried them all, and now I only buy wood mounted rubber!

[JulieHRR]

Quote:

Originally Posted by blank canvas

I like wood mounted, prefer wood mounted . . .

With wood, the joy is also in the stamp itself. I honestly get joy from holding a wooden stamp, from looking at them. . . .

There is something inherently beautiful in the grain of a wood mount . . .

I am much like you--aesthetics, touch and feel are all part of the experience as a whole. We like function, of course, but, we particularly *love* function that is accompanied by beautiful form.

I'm not quite sure how to explain it any other way. LOL!

[stampcrazymom]

I like my stamps anyway I can get them; but I think rubber is better in the long run. (how much do we know about acrylic after years & years?)
I buy a stamp for the image...if I love it, I buy it. The biggest majority of mine are rubber on wood. I have over 2,000 stamps. I don't count them anymore.

Jacque

[Queenbee Jo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by thechecker

It depends. A two-step set? Clear all the way. Nice images to color or
whatever, not layer? Any.
But SETS. I love sets. Won't purchase singles except maybe a few dollar ones from Michaels...

Anne

I totally agree with Anne about the 2-step needing to be clear. I can't tell you how much it frustrates me when I can't get the stamps to line up. Grrrr.

But I disagree with the set issue. I like single stamps. I find that I'm going through my SU sets and getting rid of the fluff that I had to buy to get the one stamp that I wanted in the first place.

I will buy both rubber or polymer but I prefer the feel of rubber. I'm finding that I'm buying more unmounted rubber stamps because I just don't have the storage room for any more clamshell boxes! Ugh!

BTW: Free stamps are what I'd want from a design team membership. I'm easy!

[rogers2345]

I love the Unity stamps because you can take rubber and mount it on an acrylic back.
I would vote that but that was not one of your options.

[sprtchick]

I also like all kinds of stamps. I dont have any problems getting nice images from the cheap clear stamps. Maybe I am just blessed...but I like the clear ones for ease of storage, same with rubber unmounted. I have scads of SU stamps and TAC alike...good think I dont like EVERY stamp I see.
Blessings.

[BunnyCates]

thanks for all the input ladies! You've all given me a LOT to think about!

[annie21211]

Clear or rubber--It doesn't really matter to me as long as the quality is excellent. It's the art that prompts me to purchase. I would prefer my rubber to be unmounted.

[jnsyr]

There's a GREAT article comparing the 2--as an artist, you'll need to consider what they say in the article (this company puts out both kinds): http://www..com/Techn...ar-stamps.html

I highly prefer rubber--I want durability. I like that you can see clear images and I know some people worry about space and so prefer unmounted stamps. I want stamps that will LAST, are highly detailed, and make sharp images. I also don't enjoy rubbing acrylic stamps on my scrub pad to clean them, and having the images come off (and still dirty).

Good luck to you in deciding!

[BunnyCates]

Thanks for the article.

Ive been researching trying to find a rubber manufacturer to do a little cost comparrison. There sure is alot more that goes into getting drawing to stamp then I would have ever anticipated. LOL....

[SusieMuslie68]

I would have liked to have had the ability to do more than one choice. I have both mounted & un-mounted rubber, both in sets & in singles & I have acrylic in sets, I play all different ways. I do prefer the mounted rubber though, there is something about the feel of the wood in your hand & the way that it springs back, once you have stamped your image. I have wood mounted rubber stamps that I have had for 20 years & they still stamp like new, they look a little dark around the edges (only on the wood) the rubber is still like new. The acrylic stamps are feeling sticky & if I'm not careful they stretch or don't go on quite straight when I put them on the block, & they are only 18 months old. I hope some of this helps.

[earth_spell]

I am sure that acrylic users know this but you MUST make sure your season your stamps in order to get a crisp image. Seasoning acrylic stamps is an easy proccess. you can stamp the image out mulitpule times on scrap paper or you can simpley clean your stamp with a scrub pad. Taking a few minutes to do this the first time you use acrylic stamps will ensure that the image stamps clean and crisp.

[KatarinaM]

I voted clear stamp sets, but they have to be high quality lke everyone else has already mentioned. However, if you could find a manufacturer who can make CLEAR RUBBER then you will take over the stamping world, LOL!
I hate buying wood mounted stamps for several reasons: #1 is cost of course. They take up too much space as well, and the thought of all those tress being cut down makes me sad. When I buy wood mounted stamps I usually unmount them myself anyway. Anyone want a bunch of wood blocks????

[StampingShawn]

I prefer rubber unmounted although to look in my stamping closet you might not know that based on the number of SU sets I own. I do NOT like clear and refuse to buy them anymore. I've bought "good" quality clear sets and been very disappointed with the quality. It just seems like I have to spend so much time figuring out the perfect pressure, ink, paper, etc for the darn clear stamps that it's not worth it to me. In fact, I hate it that there are all these really cool images in clear, but I've taken a vow of "No More Clear Stamps." Just my opinion.

[pinkhedgehog]

Wow, a fat lot of help we are in helping you decide!! The poll results are tied (pretty much) with all 3 of the "set" choices beating out the single stamps.

I purchase all 3 kinds of stamps, and I guess my opinion would be that I purchase stamps I like, not based on whether they are rubber or acrylic, mounted or unmounted.

When I purchase from Cornish Heritage Farms (all rubber), since they offer unmounted and I already have the acrylic mounts, I go unmounted since it's a lot cheaper.

If SU sold both mounted and unmounted....I'm not sure what I would pick....

If I were you, I would go with the most economical choice, that will allow you to sell at a good price and make a good profit at the same time.

[sprtchick]

I have started to use Chalk ink with my clear stamps and the images are amazing...I am glad my friend Carol turned me on to this ink...Now I am getting all the full size pads...love this ink.
Blessings.

[charkinsmom]

I started my own stamp line not too long ago so I can relate to your situation. I decided to go with clear stamps because of the type of designs. I felt there was a niche for clear stamps to use in collage type work. I love to do collage cards and such but placement of smaller stamps was often hit or miss. So get your ideas together. Decide what you think will work for your look and who you decide is your customer base. If you go clear there are lots of great companies. Ask for samples and test them. I was extremely satisfied with my manufacturer. They work just like rubber. There was no conditioning. They wash them off in the manufacturing process. If you have any questions please send me mail I am happy to share.

[Darleneh710]

For me, I love rubber mounted stamps. I have a few of the clear one's, but I just don't use them as much and find they are a hassel. At least with my rubber or my SU one's they are in their own place and I know where to go go find them...

That's great that you want to start your own company!

[dianerh]

I'm all for RUBBER--and unmounted! As far as sets go, they're usu. cheaper so I'm all for that too! However, I *do* like individual stamps sometimes too!

[MikiBee]

I like them and buy them all.. but I do prefer unmounted rubber which I stick to EZMount and use my acrylic blocks with. For me that's the best of both worlds.

[AmberAKAmom]

I voted for unmounted rubber set.
I do also love acrylic stamps. The only thing I DON'T like is wood mounted stamps. =)

[sunfaerie]

I have some stamps of every kind. I do prefer rubber and I appreciate unmounted as it is such a space saver! Its all about how many stamps I can have without them taking over my space and having my husband say "when did you get these?" lol.

[Etha]

I too am an equal opportunity stamper maybe like the polymer stamps just a bit more, they are more versatile, but I know a lot of rubber snobs as well
DTs should be fun and friendly, that's the main perk!!

[Joan B]

One more point that I've never raised.

COST! I read somewhere that clear stamps were MUCH cheaper to produce. The cost of most clear sets is between $15 and $24. There tend to be a LOT of stamps in these clear sets, far more than in wood mounted, and I suspect that there is a greater profit margin in producing clear than wood moutned rubber, but I really don't know.

These days, cost is an issue for most folks. So, if you can make high quality clear, that should be a consideration as well.

[rgp13rgp]

Rubber stamps!!! Can not get a good image with the clear (mostly). But I do like the clear blocks. Some individual stamps....some sets...

[Menolly13]

I prefer unmounted rubber stamps. The inks I prefer to use tend to bead up on acrylic stamps. Not to say that I don't buy acrylics if the image is one I really want, I just prefer rubber.
I usually like singles better than sets. With sets, theres a good chance I will only like 1 or 2 of the images, and I have a hard time justifying buying the whole set.
As for design team perks, I would wish for a friendly team to bounce ideas off of, and free product to use for each months projects. Being able to get new products before they are released is nice too.

[theresalaird]

For me it would be UM red rubber and clear polymer stamp SETS. I prefer sets in most cases. If the quality of the clear stamps is like Hanna stamps or Papertrey than you can't go wrong. I have NEVER had a problem with them giving me a fuzzy image. I prefer UM red rubber because it is easier to store and cheaper.

[sprtchick]

I dont think I could choose...If I like a stamp I will buy it no matter what medium it is.
Blessings.

[YouInkIt]

My preference is for EZ Mounted rubber, but if I really love an image, I'll take it any way that I can get it!

I also prefer sets because then I know that I have a few images that are guaranteed to go together, and if other stamps that I already have go with it too, it's just an added bonus!