Clear stamps: high or low quality
Real EstateNot all clear stamps are created equal; there are quality differences depending on what they are made of. High-quality clear stamps are made from polymer or photopolymer (the same, they are only known by two different names), while low-quality ones are made from vinyl and silicone.
Some of the most common complaints over the years about clear stamps have been that they yellow over time, lose their shape, don’t ink as well, the image doesn’t stamp as well, and lose tack over time. However, these problems are not all-around problems with all clear stamps; they are problems associated with those made with vinyl and / or silicone.
Photopolymer, on the other hand, has a much longer lifespan, some people say it’s comparable to rubber, although it’s hard to tell as they haven’t been around for as long as rubber stamps.
However, photopolymer seals tend to resist yellowing and hold their shape and adhesion better. Regarding how well it inks, unlike vinyl and silicone, photopolymer has been designed for ink transfer; in other words, it is designed to handle ink in the same way that rubber does.
So how can you tell the good from the bad? Obviously most manufacturers are not going to put “I used cheap stuff” on their products. What you will find, however, is that companies that use photopolymers to make their stamps stand behind their product and often claim on their website or on packaging that the stamp is made from photopolymer. But not always, so how else can you tell?
First of all, silicone seals are generally imported and VERY inexpensive to make. So when you see clear stamps at the dollar store or dollar container at your local arts and crafts store, you can be pretty sure they are probably silicone or vinyl.
Note the depth of the engraving, in other words, the depth of the stamp image. On low quality clear stamps this will often be shallow, while a good quality clear stamp will have a deep etch, similar to rubber stamps.
If the stamps are extremely difficult to remove from the clear backing, they are likely silicone.
Other signs of a silicone or vinyl seal are that it may not adhere well to the clear block, it may be too soft and sticky, or too hard.
Then of course there are some of the things that happen over time: yellowing of the stamp, loss of tack, or loss of shape.
The bottom line is that it is important to understand what you are buying before you buy.