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Making Rubber Stamps With Liquid Polymer
by Robert de Rooy
If you are interested in making rubber stamps and have investigated other rubber
stamp making methods you should seriously consider polymer stamp production as a
serious option.
What are Polymers?
Tiny molecules strung in long repeating chains form polymers. Why the chemistry
lesson? Well for one thing, your body is made of them. DNA - the genetic blueprint
that defines people and other living things - is a polymer. Proteins and starches
in the foods we eat, the wheels on our skateboards, and even the tires on our
bikes and cars are polymers. In fact, we are surrounded by polymers every day,
everywhere we go. Polymers also form one of our recyclables, which is good for
the environment.
Polymer Curing - How stamps are made with chemistry!
In polymer chemistry and process engineering, curing refers to the toughening or
hardening of a polymer material by the cross-linking of polymer chains; this is
brought about by chemical additives, ultraviolet radiation or heat. Rubber stamp
polymer is supplied as a liquid and is cured using ultraviolet radiation. Although
natural sunlight can cure polymer, liquid stamp polymer requires precise exposure
to UV light to make rubber stamps.
Polymer Stamps - Make your own stamps without any skills whatsoever!
How many times has this been said in the past! Polymer stamp production has
always attracted people trying to make a quick dollar out of the process. We
have seen salespeople selling briefcase size polymer stamp machines to the
unsuspecting stationery store and newsagent owner plus more recently the DIY
kits sold over the internet aimed at craft people. If you are serious about
stamp production you should be wary of some of the claims made about stamp
making using liquid polymer.
Polymer in a bag
The most exciting development of recent is a new innovation where polymer is
injected into a flat rectangular sealed bag; this new product does away with
backing sheets, foam tape and coverlay film normally required for stamp
production. Processing times are reduced by about 50 percentwhen using these new
bags; this reduced labour cost negates the extra cost of the bagged product. The
bags are available in a range of sizes to suit production demand. Polymer in a
bag has also eliminated the problem of air bubbles during processing; this
common objection to polymer stamp making has now been overcome.
Where the Polymer Rubber Stamp Industry is Heading
You have two distinct markets for rubber stamps. The first is the traditional
business stamp market where stamps are affixed to handles and self inking units.
The second market that is growing rapidly is the craft industry; these stamps
are affixed to wooden or clear acrylic blocks and used for card making and scrapbooking.
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