| est way to create high quality rubber stamps is to use | | | | black ink will then be transferred to the rubber. Then |
| a laser engraver. Although these cost thousands of | | | | you use a sharp knife to cut away the rubber to leave |
| dollars, they produce stamps of very high quality and | | | | a raised image. This method is more accurate since it |
| can have really intricate designs and small lettering | | | | copies the design you want directly instead of you |
| engraved into them. The advantage in using a laser | | | | having to draw the design onto the rubber eraser. |
| engraver is that it can produce a lot of rubber stamps | | | | Once you have carved the design onto rubber it must |
| quickly, with little waste. | | | | be mounted so it can be used easily and prevent the |
| They are programmed to engrave stamps so that a | | | | stamp being damaged. |
| lot can be done at once therefore decreasing the | | | | You may think that it is cost efficient to make your |
| labor involved. Also, the laser engraver cuts so deep | | | | own stamps however, they are very time consuming. |
| no cutting is needed when the engraving is complete. | | | | Rubber stamps are now available in shops at about |
| You just push the item that has been etched and this | | | | $4.00 so it may be to your need advantage just to |
| saves a lot of time. | | | | buy rubber stamps when you need them. |
| When the etching is complete you soak the stamps in | | | | The third way to create rubber stamps is a method |
| some water so that the rubber dust can be cleaned | | | | called photoengraving stamp making. To start making |
| off. If this isn’t done, then the quality of the | | | | stamps this way requires an initial investment and |
| stamp may be impaired. Following the cleaning and | | | | involves a lot of work. |
| drying of the stamp, it can be mounted onto a piece of | | | | To start you need a negative of the image you are |
| wood enabling you to stamp with ease! | | | | going to use, which is a black graphic on white |
| Of course, this is not very practical for someone | | | | background. You also need a metal plate, which is |
| wishing to make his or her own stamps at home. This | | | | engraved with the stamp’s image. Once |
| type of technique is only practical for big companies | | | | engraved, it is put into a machine with a matrix board |
| manufacturing a lot of stamps to sell in shops around | | | | and the matrix board is made is made into a mold |
| the country. | | | | using heat and pressure. This is called vulcanization. |
| To make stamps in your own home there is a | | | | The rubber that you are using is then cut to the mold |
| chemical and non-chemical process to be used on | | | | size and is vulcanized to produce the rubber stamp. |
| rubber erasers. The non-chemical process begins with | | | | One of the disadvantages to this technique is that due |
| you tracing or drawing the design that you want onto | | | | to the intense pressure and heat that the mold is |
| a piece of rubber. This is then cut with a sharp knife | | | | under, it may only produce about 50 stamps. The |
| until the only thing remaining is the raised image that | | | | stamp is then mounted using mounting foam and a |
| you want to stamp. | | | | wooden block and it is ready to be used. |
| The chemical process uses a black and white | | | | This method is best used by companies that want to |
| photocopy of the image, which is wet using acetone. | | | | produce a number of stamps of the same design in a |
| This is an irritant and is highly flammable so should be | | | | short period of time. However, it is not good for |
| done in a ventilated area and wearing gloves to | | | | companies that are asked to make custom made |
| prevent contact. The black image is then pressed | | | | stamps since the molds are only used once before |
| down onto the piece of rubber you are using, and the | | | | being discarded making it less cost effective. |