Clear Stamps and Stazon Ink

I have read debates about this on many sites and many magazines...so I ask Queen Kat Designs .
They told me ...
"Hi Tina. Yes, it's ok to use Stazon on clear stamps (real acrylic stamps, not the pressed plastic) It is NOT ok however to use Stazon Cleaner on them. The cleaner will eat your stamps faster than you can buy a new set! The cleaner will break down the chemicals and your stamp will turn into mush. I found out the hard way with an expensive CTMH set and when I started making stamps, I experimented with it. HTH."

So I figured I should pass this on.

hmmmmm, how do you know if your stamps are real acrylic and not pressed plastic? I know that sounds silly, but really!

I was wondering that too....hmmmm

me too!

hi everyone....you may want to read this thread.....I wrote to Tsukineko (Staz on Mfg) about this and their reply is there

http://www.scrapbook.com/forums/showtopic.php?tid/14200...

I remember that thread...my post was more to the question of how do I know what my stamps are made out of. I thought acrylic, but now I wonder.

• tina c Said:

I never had any problems with using Staz On on my acrylics--I use them over and over with Staz-On dn even in classes where the Staz-On is on them for hours. I would not leave them to set in the cleaner though...maybe that is what happened to hers?

I just got this cute stamp set from Doodlebug and it had some interesting info on the back of packaging. It said the stamps were "Photopolymer" stamps. It says the following"

Not all clear stamps are created equal--there are many cheap imitations [way to sock it to the competition, Doodlebug !!!!]. The best performing clear stamps are made of rigid, photopolymer resin. This higher quality material gives the stamps their strong "clingability", durability and delivers better inprints every time.

Then they have some tips, one of which is to not use solvent based inks at all. Staz-on is a solvent ink. So I won't use it on those but on my CTMH, Technique Tuesday , and Autumn Leaves ones, it seems to be okay!

BTW the Doodlebug stamps are made by Hampton Art, *** and they tell you to visit their websites for stamp ideas and inspiration at ***

interesting.......thanks for sharing the info

I just read this on the Technique Tuesday sight

Can I use solvent-based inks and bleach with clear stamps?

Some stamping enthusiasts use solvents, bleach, acids, and other caustic or abrasive materials for some stamp projects. These materials are hard on all types of stamps. We recommend that you do not use these materials on your clear stamps. If you choose to do so, clean your stamps immediately and very thoroughly.

• homesclscrapper Said:

the way to tell is how closely the stamps are cut from the edge of the actual image. If the stamp is cut close to the image and feels flexible (not stiff flexible but gumby like for lack of better words) it IS photopolymer, which Queen Kat Designs stamps are.

If the stamp is NOT cut close to the edge and looks like it was smooshed down by a press, it's more than likely pressed plastic material. You will notice this in some of the $1 stamps and some other cheap companies. they will lose their stick fast and are stiffer than photopolyer clear stamps.

My reply to Tina was based on my experience as a manufacturer and user. I have used Stazon on my clear stamps since Stazon was invented. The ink doesn't seem to bother my stamps, but the cleaner does eat them. the first set this happend to was a D size set from CTMH. I was very mad when I found my stamps were jelly a week after I cleaned them.

I clean my stamps thouroughly. I don't leave them in a bath to soak and they are put away after each use. I have heard of other people having the same experience as me with their stamps. So, I know it was not a one time thing.

I know that most people are worried about "staining" your stamps.. With all-most clear stamps, any time you use a dye based or chalk ink on them, they will stain. there's no way to get around it. Even using Stazon cleaner won't take off all stains. Staining does not hurt your stamps, it just shows you love them enough to use them.

I'm asked all the time "What cleaner should I use for my clear stamps?" My answer is always.. a water based cleaner.. There are a couple out there the one that I recommend and sell along with my stamps is "Polymer stamp cleaner" It's made by Ranger and comes in a bottle with a spongey tip. It is made to clean and condition your clear stamps to preserve them for many years to come. I have used this too since it was first introduced and I can say this stuff ROCKS!!

I hope that my ramblings helped someone.

So Dawn baths for my stamps arent good?? I noticed mine stained after using Staz-On and Tim Holtz inks. I'm going to have to look into that Ranger cleaner...

No.. Dawn is horrible for clear stamps. Not because of the chemicals.. Well, partly because of that, but the moisturizing compounds in soaps can make them lose their stick. If you just HAVE to use dish soap to clean your stamps, buy a bottle of Ajax dish soap. It's the kind I use to wash the stamps after I make them. It doesn't have mosturizers in it and it's not harsh on the polymer. But it doesn't condition the stamps like the actual cleaner from Ranger. The cleaner is $3.99 a bottle and should last quite a while.

• Queen Kat Designs Said:

Thank you I just used a new set tonight and they are stained. My heart sank I thought I had ruined them! What a relief!

Off to stamp some more!

Thanks again Queen Kat Designs for this great info.

Queen Kat--so was there still Staz-on cleaner on your stamps when you put them away? I'm just curious how this happened because I want to avoid it myself. I noticed the Staz On is oily so I usually clean the stamps again with another cleaner just to get that off. I have an Autumn Leaves set I've used with the cleaner multiple times over the last three months (the same stamps on the set) and none of them have disintegrated even though I have used the cleaner--maybe the second cleaning with another cleaner is helping? I'm really interested to know so I don't have any of my sets dissolve.

• Jennifer Priest Said:

No. I didn't leave the cleaner on my stamps. I too used another cleaner on them afterwards. Because like you I found it to be oily and that's the last thing you want on acrylic stamps.

Thanks for the reply.