Clear Stamp Tips

What should I do if my stamps don’t stick?
Stamps made from genuine photopolymer are naturally sticky; however, hand oils or dust may reduce their ability to stick. Simply wash the stamp with a mild soap and water solution or other stamp cleaning solution. Let it dry and your stickiness should return. Remember to wash your mounting block surface also.

Are any harmful ingredients contained in clear stamps?
Genuine photopolymer clear stamps are latex free and contain no phthalates or other know harmful ingredients. The manufacturing process uses biodegradable materials that are not harmful to the environment.

How long should a clear stamp last?
A photopolymer clear stamp should last for years. Avoid harsh cleaning solutions or chemicals, or if you must use them, dry your clear stamps immediately after using them. We expect that with proper cleaning and storage, clear stamps should have lives equal to rubber stamps.

What lead-time should I allow to have stamps manufactured?
At California Clear Stamp, we try to have all orders ship within two weeks or less. If you have large quantity orders we can partial ship on a daily basis, with a minimum daily shipment usually 100—8" x 12" plates. We will always try to work to your needs, just let us know.

Do your photopolymer stamps yellow?
Photopolymer clear stamps used to yellow, some much more than others, with age and exposure to UV light. This became a problem when left on the retail store shelf. While the yellowed stamps print just as well as a clear stamps, they don’t have the same sales appeal. About two years ago, advances were made in premium resins to minimize or eliminate the yellowing. Cal Clear Stamp uses the best non-yellowing resin available, now yellowing is a very rare problem.

What is the difference between Genuine photopolymer clear stamps and some of the clear stamps made in Asia?
There are some imported stamps being made for the clear stamp market from silicon and vinyl compounds. While these stamps look great and are very clear, they have some problems. The compounds being used are not meant to transfer ink. They lack the porous surface structure of rubber or photopolymer stamps, which provide even ink transfer. You can improve their ink transfer by conditioning the surface with a nail file or eraser to rough up the smoothness. This simulates the porous surface and helps transfer ink.

There are also complaints that the imported stamps lose their tack and stop sticking. The silicon and vinyl materials are not sticky, so washing the surface doesn’t help. Photopolymer stamps are naturally sticky and should regain their tack with normal cleaning.