How many impressions will a self-inking stamp make before it needs to be re-inked?
It depends on the boldness of the image, the texture of the surface being stamped, and the level of humidity in the air. The best answer is: a minimum of 1,000 impressions and unlimited after that with regular re-inking.
What is the biggest stamp that can be made?
The largest ‘rocker’ wood stamp mount is 8 X 18 inches, so in theory a stamp with those measurements could be made by piecing together various stamp dies on the mount. The largest self-inking stamp is about 2 1/2 X 3 1/2 inches. The largest pre-inked stamp is about 1 1/2 X 3 1/2 inches.
Will the ink dry on material?
Regular stamp ink for self-inkers or ink pads is mostly water, so it dries on paper or cardboard and that is about all. There are a variety of alcohol-based inks that will dry on non-porous surfaces (metal, glass), but those inks also dry quickly on the pad so they need to be refreshed frequently.
Pre-inked stamps use oil-based ink, which will dry on slick paper, but it requires a minute or so to permanently dry after stamping.
-Tom Jackson, Jackson Marking Products
