Things I wish merchants would do
 

If they are not going to trim their stamps then don't put EZ Mount on them either .
It is a breeze to trim a bare rubber stamp and then put the EZ mount on myself . It is a struggle to trim closely if it is attached to EZ Mount when I get it .

I have to agree with you, that seems to be a no brainer. Why would they go to the trouble and extra expense of cling mount if they are going to do a shabby job of trimming it in the first place? Don't understand some people and their decisions.

I prefer to have the EZ mount already on the rubber and trim the whole thing...less sticky mess. I have done it where they are separate, I've put the trimmed rubber on the EZ mount, and the sticky on the EZ mount was so sticky that it became a big mess on my TH Tonic scissors and fingers. There is always someone on the other side! Better, yet, are clear stamps!

I've ordered from a couple of somewhat smaller companies that specialize in cling stamps and sometimes you get them trimmed and sometimes you don't...they are fantastic stamps, but this drives me crazy! And they're not cheaper when they're not trimmed either...I'd gladly pay like a dollar or two more if it meant they'd definitely be trimmed when they got to my house.

I tried to convince my husband he needs a bandsaw after watching videos on Youtube where someone quickly and neatly trimmed stamps on EZ mount with one...he's still thinking about it. :)

When I get the stamps bare rubber I trim them closely and then put them on EZ Mount.
Then I use a Hot Knife and it cuts through them like butter and there is no sticky mess. Using a scissors IS a sticky mess

I use a hot knife to trim the EZ Mount, too. One of the best purchases I ever made since I buy a lot of unmounted rubber. :p

So...what kind of hot knife do you use to trim your stamps? Where did you find it and what surfaces can you use it on?

I'm tired of cleaning my scissors too.

Kinda how I look at it. In fact, given a choice, I prefer to have extra rubber around the stamp (i.e. untrimmed stamp) when I mount it on EZ Mount. The extra rubber is trash in the end, but it sure makes cutting the finished stamp a whole lot less sticky.

Of course, best yet - come ready to put on my block and don't make me mess with the mess!

I bought my Hot knife at Michael's with a coupon. Mine has a green handle but it is fairly old . Here is the latest one from Walnut Hollow . They call it a "Professional Hot Knife .

Professional Hot Knife | Walnut Hollow - Craft

Here is a video on how to use it with EZ Mount . It is one of the best purchases I have made .
I use it on a glass cutting mat. Be very careful this thing gets HOT

Scrap Time - Ep. 433 - Walnut Hollow Hot Knife on Vimeo

Ditto on getting the hot knife at Michaels. I think the retail price was around $16.00 when I bought mine (3-4 years ago) and I also used a coupon. At my local Michaels it was in the section with the wood-burning/carving tools and the raw wood stuff. Mine came with 2 blades that are about the size of an Xacto knife blade.

I bought it just for trimming Cling Mount. The only other thing I've ever used it for was to cut off a plastic nut holding on a toilet seat. LOL. We needed to replace the seat on an old toilet in the basement and could not get that nut loose. It took a while, but I was able to use the hot knife to cut the nut in about three pieces, and then we could get it off.

Because the Hot Knife gets so hot , one precaution I always take is to put my cat in his carrier. He likes to jump up on the table and "help" and I would not want him to get burned.

I did buy the hot knife and glass mat and all these years later STILL have not used them! :roll:

You will kick yourself when you finally use them and see how easy they make trimming EZ Mount . :cool:

I agree with Barbara! If I have the choice, I prefer the route of bare rubber so I can trim them the way I want them.

And I use the hot knife too...but not the glass mat. I just hold the whole thing in my hand and cut it that way.

I have found that a few companies do a close trim before putting their rubber on the EZ mount...but not many!

Oh! Thanks for the link to the video on the hot knife. Don't have any glass mats or even glass cutting boards left in the house. But I'd love to mount all my stamps that fast. I'd buy more of the bare rubber stamp plates from Viva Las Vegas stamps more often. I'll scout out some good Michaels coupons in the future.