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Splitcoast Dirty Dozen Alumni VSN Go to Girl Pretty, Pretty Princess
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Suffolk, VA
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Can I repair my severely undercut stamps?
I got a SU! stamp set in a trade. It is unused but mounted. It is undercut really, really badly. There is barely enough foam for them to even stick to and when I tried one out last night it was really wiggly when I put it to the paper. There just isnt enough foam under it to keep it stable...:(
Also the rubber image part of the stamp is cut super tight to the edges so there isnt even any extra rubber to make them more stable. The small stamps definitely are cut so tiny and tight to the image that I dont know if there is any way to save them.
Can I remount them somehow so that I can still use them?
Do you have other stamp sets that need to be mounted? Occassionaly I've used the discarded rubber from new sets to "remount" stamps I've accidently undercut.
I would try removing the stamp and the foam and try the stamp with an acrylic block (without the foam). Some of my SU stamps I use unmounted even without the foam and the images are just as good. If you're not pleased with the results, then buy some ezmount to re-pad the stamp with foam.
It's possible to purchase foam for permanent wood mounting - Cornish Heritage Farms has it for less than $4 for an 8x10 sheet. Sunday International sells it too. Just be sure you're ordering the kind that's sticky on both sides, and not "cling" for using with acrylic blocks, unless you like that option.
Just peel the stamp off the block, remove the foam, stick the rubber to the new foam backing and trim it properly - then put it back on the block. It's the same process as for "unmounting" - just using the foam that's sticky on both sides.
If the tiny stamps are still unstable after that, using them "unmounted" is probably the best way to salvage them.
Sunday International has a "cling" foam mount that is only 1/16th inch thick. It's recommended for very tiny stamp images that rock too much with the standard foam. You'd need a little acrylic block to use with those.
The remounting is quite easy - the worst part is the time and effort of purchasing the supplies for repair, but I'm sure they can be salvaged if you like them enough to go to the trouble.
Good luck!
__________________ Malinda
Why did she make things? Well, she enjoyed it, of course; it also somehow helped her remember who she was and where she came from.
I don't know a way to repair undercut stamps other than the remount them on new foam. I know there is foam out there with permanent adhesive on both sides (I think ATRS carries some), but it can be hard to find. I've also heard of people using two layers of fun foam rubber cemented together, then rubber cemented to the rubber and wood block. It's not *quite* the same as the nice foam cushion stamps come with, but it's nigh impossible to tell the difference after you've stamped. The difference might be important if you do a lot of scenic stamping, where you have to press stamps down firmly to avoid a halo effect around the masks, but that is easy to get around in special stamping situations too.
Splitcoast Dirty Dozen Alumni VSN Go to Girl Pretty, Pretty Princess
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Location: Suffolk, VA
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Wow, you gals are fast and smart
I will try to get some foam to re-mount them, it is just scary. I have never performed that delicate of a surgery on any of my babies, I mean stamps...
I will try to get some foam to re-mount them, it is just scary. I have never performed that delicate of a surgery on any of my babies, I mean stamps...
If you are worried about your precision with scissors while cutting around the closely-trimmed rubber, I have read about a hot knife tool from Walnut Hollow. I've seen them in Walmart for between ten and twenty-five bucks depending which kit you get. You just put the heat tip on the end of the tool, let it heat up, then carefully and slowly drag the tool tip through the foam around the rubber; that way you can focus all your attention on getting close to the rubber.
Or, a cheaper way with less tools is to put your rubber dies on the permanent foam, then cover the extra adhesive around the rubber with baking soda, baby powder, whatever you have on hand. I've found doing this REALLY helps my control when I'm trimming stamps I've put on EZ Mount. It makes it much easier to make your coarse cuts to get the rubber stamp off the big sheet of foam, and also makes it easier to do the fine trimming where we are supposed to methodically cut as close to the image as we can by cutting out a series of small triangles from around the image.
Just barely finished my first cup of coffee; hope that made sense!!!!!
and, is there anything else I "have" to buy while I am there??
;)
I love the backgrounders you'll find at Cornish Heritage Farms. And I just figured out that, because I use them with the stamp side up, it's cheaper to get them unmounted. So you can get two for the price of one!
Yes, that's the foam for permanent mounting on wood blocks.
__________________ Malinda
Why did she make things? Well, she enjoyed it, of course; it also somehow helped her remember who she was and where she came from.
what else to get at CHF?
I love the backgrounders, but all their stamps are good quality. Most of the stamps come in mounted and unmounted. If you get the unmounted, they will cling to the index side of any background stamps that you might already have.
Or, a cheaper way with less tools is to put your rubber dies on the permanent foam, then cover the extra adhesive around the rubber with baking soda, baby powder, whatever you have on hand. I've found doing this REALLY helps my control when I'm trimming stamps I've put on EZ Mount. It makes it much easier to make your coarse cuts to get the rubber stamp off the big sheet of foam, and also makes it easier to do the fine trimming where we are supposed to methodically cut as close to the image as we can by cutting out a series of small triangles from around the image.
I do this, too - and it's great. I use baby powder and just dust 'em off good - they don't even need special cleaning attention before I use them. I think the powder might even help that first inking stick better.
__________________ Malinda
Why did she make things? Well, she enjoyed it, of course; it also somehow helped her remember who she was and where she came from.
Didn't see this mentioned above - before you peel the stamp and foam off the block, put the whole set in a microwave and heat for about 20 seconds. It helps to loosen up the glue.
~ Kathy
__________________ I love talking about nothing. It's the only thing I know anything about. ~ Oscar Wilde
Splitcoast Dirty Dozen Alumni VSN Go to Girl Pretty, Pretty Princess
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Suffolk, VA
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Ok, I bought the foam (double sided), some Palette Hybrid Ink (Noir, Burnt Umber and New Canvas), Ultra Clean and the Chicken Wire BG stamp to go with my new Best of Cluck set that I am going to fix;)
PS
I have no idea what the Palette Ink is all about but have just been brainwashed ny this site to know that I *need* it!
I think this salvage effort will turn out to be a great treat!
Hope your stuff comes quickly, that's a fun list!
__________________ Malinda
Why did she make things? Well, she enjoyed it, of course; it also somehow helped her remember who she was and where she came from.
Ok, I bought the foam (double sided), some Palette Hybrid Ink (Noir, Burnt Umber and New Canvas), Ultra Clean and the Chicken Wire BG stamp to go with my new Best of Cluck set that I am going to fix;)
PS
I have no idea what the Palette Ink is all about but have just been brainwashed ny this site to know that I *need* it!
The pallet ink is reallt nice. I have a couple and will be adding more. They are a wonderfull place to shop. I also get email updates. Enjoy your purchases!
I should add, recent experience has shown me that if there is some residual adhesive on the backs of your rubber dies but that adhesive if fairly flat and spread out, you don't have to rub it all off! You can just put it on the foam like that.
now now, you are not supposed to enable me like this. These are beautiful images and I know I would use them. Hmmm, must look at monthly budget and decide how much I have left to spend. Naughty naughty (waving finger) LOL
