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Re: Excellent video showing print making process
Board: Stamp Carving and Mounting
Reply to: #969515 by photopam
Dec 19, 2018 8:14am
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I think when I was in the LTC print tracker the hostess left out a step in her instructions. She kept saying make sure to let it dry for several days, which I didn't understand because my paint dried really fast. This makes sense now, I was supposed to wet the paper first. I used a ton of paper trying to get good imprints, the stamp kept getting stuck on the paper. This video made it look a lot easier.
Re: Excellent video showing print making process
Board: Stamp Carving and Mounting
Reply to: #969517 by Topcollector
Dec 19, 2018 10:05am
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I live in Florida where the average humidity is around 110%. If you leave something out to "dry", it had better be indoors, and it had better be during air-conditioning season. Fall or spring the A/C doesn't run much, so even indoors the humidity is too high for reliable drying. Things will get dank and moldy rather than dry.

When I worked at P&WA in West Palm Beach, there was a station out on the assembly floor where you could get prints of jet engine diagrams made. It was a great innovation, because otherwise you'd have to climb two flights of stairs and put in an order and wait a day. This way, when you needed to check some dimensions or something, you could have your answer in a minute. The machine looked like any other printer only bigger, used sheets of paper about 3' x 4'. Had a stack of paper loaded in a tray, just like any other copier.

Did I mention that the assembly floor was not air conditioned? I worked there for years before I learned that, every night, the lady in charge of that printer took the remaining stack of paper out and threw it away. The next morning an entirely new stack of paper was taken out of storage in an air-conditioned area and loaded into the machine. Paper that had been in the machine more than 24 hours tended to absorb too much moisture and get all wavy and jam the machine.

Right now I'm trying to resurrect one of my stamps that was retrieved after the hiding location was bulldozed and paved. The container had been mangled so the stamp was wet. Doesn't hurt the rubber any, and doesn't hurt the oak backing, but the foam in between gets full of water. You can press it with your thumb and squeeze a few drops of water out. So, just leave it out to dry, right? It's been out to dry for three weeks, it ain't dry yet.
Re: Excellent video showing print making process
Board: Stamp Carving and Mounting
Reply to: #969522 by Kirbert
Dec 19, 2018 11:23am
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So, just leave it out to dry, right? It's been out to dry for three weeks, it ain't dry yet.

You need to use a good SUtPO (Security Ultra-Thin Pad), Overnight model, with a breathable, flexible cover and a 3D capture core. . . with wings.

Wry Me
just helping you get the specs right
Re: Excellent video showing print making process
Board: Stamp Carving and Mounting
Reply to: #969524 by Wry Me
Dec 19, 2018 1:24pm
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... with wings.

What, and risk having your stamp fly away!?

DZ
Re: Excellent video showing print making process
Board: Stamp Carving and Mounting
Reply to: #969522 by Kirbert
Dec 19, 2018 1:49pm
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That reminds me of our copy paper years ago here in IL. It used to get wavy. For some reason it doesn't anymore. Our copy techs would tell us that we had to put it in the machine right-side up. ??? How ridiculous, since we could make 2-sided copies. Thanks for bringing back some memories.
Re: Excellent video showing print making process
Board: Stamp Carving and Mounting
Reply to: #969525 by DarkZen and Evil Cow Pie
Dec 19, 2018 3:44pm
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What, and risk having your stamp fly away!?

Not if you put the sticky side down.
Re: Excellent video showing print making process
Board: Stamp Carving and Mounting
Reply to: #969522 by Kirbert
Dec 20, 2018 1:26am
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Use those packet thingies that keep things dry.
Re: Excellent video showing print making process
Board: Stamp Carving and Mounting
Reply to: #969433 by lonnewsom
Dec 20, 2018 6:06am
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Shameless printmaking plug:

Hi, I am LROSEM. I am a stamp carver and a mixed media printmaker. I have a few pages for you all to check out.

https://www.facebook.com/SpeckledRoseCrafts/

https://www.etsy.com/shop/SpeckledRoseCrafts?ref=l2-shopheader-name

Also, If you are interested in learning about printmaking from thousands of experts, check out Linocut Friends on facebook.

You may now return to your regularly scheduled programming.
Re: Excellent video showing print making process
Board: Stamp Carving and Mounting
Reply to: #969533 by LROSEM
Dec 20, 2018 6:28am
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Having purchased a print from LROSEM as a shameless gift for myself, I can tell you that her skills are amazing and totally worth checking her pages out! They are some real inspiration on what a talented carver can do. I can only aspire to gain her detail in my images!
Re: Excellent video showing print making process
Board: Stamp Carving and Mounting
Reply to: #969534 by The Vs
Dec 20, 2018 6:50am
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You are so kind! Thank you. <3
Re: Excellent video showing print making process
Board: Stamp Carving and Mounting
Reply to: #969522 by Kirbert
Dec 20, 2018 6:56am
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In ga we also have some crazy humidity. I often stick stuff in my gas oven and let the pilot light take care off it. Leave the oven light on or use a sticky note so you dont cook whatever it is. Works great on log books it you seperate pages first.
Re: Excellent video showing print making process
Board: Stamp Carving and Mounting
Reply to: #969536 by Quarry
Dec 20, 2018 8:41am
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Holy cow, more memories. Years and years ago I had a friend who dried her jeans in the oven. Totally forgot. I'm getting so old.
Re: Excellent video showing print making process
Board: Stamp Carving and Mounting
Reply to: #969433 by lonnewsom
Dec 24, 2018 7:46pm
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Good video!

I have no idea why she wets her paper. Unless she is sizing it. We do that for darkroom printing, but not usually for lino printing.

And why on earth would she put the finished product against newsprint? Her print is beautiful, but I would not trust newsprint. It could soil her work. Brown butcher paper would be safer.
Mounting a stamp for a child
Board: Stamp Carving and Mounting
Dec 24, 2018 7:48pm
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Recently I posted a photo of a set of recent carves on my facebook wall. One of my friends reached out and asked if I'd be willing to carve another set for her daughter for her birthday, she is turning 5.

So I'm currently carving another set. I usually don't mount my stamps on anything but since these are going to a child's art table instead of tupperware in the woods, I thought maybe I should. Especially if it helps her get a better stamped image.

So I'm looking for advice: best way to mount stamps for a 5 year old's hands? Including type of glue?

Thanks and Merry Christmas!

(I was relieved when she asked me and did NOT ask for them to be done by Christmas...but I still only have another week to get them packaged and in the mail in time. Good thing I genuinely love the little squirt!) :)
Re: Mounting a stamp for a child
Board: Stamp Carving and Mounting
Reply to: #969640 by Munkeybee
Dec 24, 2018 8:05pm
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If I mount my stamps at all, I usually use 1/4 inch craft foam, cut to exactly fit the back of the stamp, and I glue it to the stamp using E6000 glue. (You should be able to get both of these at any craft store.) I follow the instructions on the glue package to get the best bond.

For me as an adult, I find that this gives a good backing that I can grip well, and the foam helps to evenly distribute the pressure during stamping, especially for larger stamps.

However, it might not be thick enough for a child. When I made some stamps for my grandma, she had trouble gripping the foam well enough. I eventually got some wood blocks cut to size and glued the foam to them. This made it easier for my grandma to handle.

So my suggestion would be to mount the stamps to wood blocks, with a layer of foam in between. E6000 glue should work for both layers I think. I would trim the edges of the stamp down to the shape of the image (rather than leaving a wide border of carved-out material surrounding the image, as some people do) and trim the foam to roughly follow the shape of the stamp. The wood blocks could be rectangular but cut to be the right size for the stamp. You could also stamp the stamp onto the wood before mounting it, to help stampers see the correct orientation.
Re: Mounting a stamp for a child
Board: Stamp Carving and Mounting
Reply to: #969640 by Munkeybee
Dec 25, 2018 5:36am
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I use 6mm (1/4") thick fun foam, and cut it just a teeny bit wider than the stamp so there is something to grip when inking up and stamping.
The glue is some white, general purpose glue* that is allowed to dry to tacky before touching the pieces together. You can still peel apart and adjust them for about 15 seconds.
I score the back of the foam with a knife point, and the back of the stamp in the opposite direction with a small gouge, and give a little twist as I smack them together. It has to dry about 4 or 5 hours before you can stamp or it may slide sideways a little. It depends on how long you wait to put the pieces together, longer being better.

*Crafters Pick from Hobby Lobby - water based, non-toxic, and seems to resist water when dry, since I have successfully washed stamps in the sink. I don't soak them in the water, but run a trickle across the stamp as I clean it, so I guess it's OK.

I get the thick foam from Stampeaz for $ .69 a sheet. She has lots of colors.
Edit: I don't use the foam on the new Japanese carving material. It's thick enough on its own.

I am grateful to anyone who mounts their stamps with some kind of backing because I tend to drop them ~ OFTEN!
Re: Mounting a stamp for a child
Board: Stamp Carving and Mounting
Reply to: #969652 by Maude
Dec 25, 2018 11:46am
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I like to mount my stamps on 1/2 foam, I found a piece of foam laying by the road to my home, it is that alphabet letter, square, that is for a floor. It is flat on the bottom and textured on the top, I use lock-tite glue that seems to work really well. I always cut it to fit the stamp..with very little overhang.
Re: Mounting a stamp for a child
Board: Stamp Carving and Mounting
Reply to: #969640 by Munkeybee
Dec 26, 2018 9:00pm
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Thank you everyone! This is super helpful! I didn't think to put foam between the stamp and wood block if I go that route. I'll be going to the craft store this weekend! :)
Gray-Z
Board: Stamp Carving and Mounting
Dec 27, 2018 6:21pm
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Today I finished putting together my first micro-postal. I've received them before, but hadn't yet put one together.

Anyway, I used Gray-Z for the stamp. As I thought, it turned out to be thin enough to be the stamp in a micro-postal. It is also light enough to be sent (along with the logbook) and still be under an ounce.

I finished carving the stamp on Tuesday. Gray-Z is tougher than OZ and Tan-Z. It did separate easier than Tan-Z. Being about half as thin as other carving materials, I had to be a bit careful so that I didn't cut all of the way through. It is also darker and therefore harder to see the lines.

It does seem to hold ink well though, but that may be because I cut thin (1 - 1.5 mm wide) lines, and was careful to press everywhere to pick up and leave ink.

Overall, it seems like a good carving material. Nevertheless, I think that I'll keep it for micro-postals since it doesn't need to be cut thinner for this purpose.
I carve... (à la Clue)
Board: Stamp Carving and Mounting
Jan 4, 2019 11:53am
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standing up
in the kitchen
under an Ottlite
with speedball carving implements
carving medium question
Board: Stamp Carving and Mounting
Jan 14, 2019 9:36pm
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We had to leave the hobby for the better part of 6 years due to "life stuff" and we are now getting back in to it. I want to carve a stamp...I looked in my stash and found 5 kinds of carving materials marked as follows:
1. Mystery C
2. NZ
3. B
4. OZ
5. one slab unmarked but very shiny on both sides.

Anybody remember if any of these are any good? Which one is best?

Or should I buy some new stuff.....and if so, what's the best right now?

Thanks for your help. QM
Re: carving medium question
Board: Stamp Carving and Mounting
Reply to: #970339 by QueenMother'n'CloudWalker
Jan 14, 2019 9:48pm
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Welcome back!!

If the "B" is PZKUT - then that is the best piece you have :)

OZ is very firm, but keeps good detail.
NZ a lower level OZ, but a number of people liked it.
Mystery C - I found very stretchy if it is the same stuff you have.
Very shiny on both sides, sounds like OZ to me, but maybe someone else knows that one.
Re: carving medium question
Board: Stamp Carving and Mounting
Reply to: #970339 by QueenMother'n'CloudWalker
Jan 15, 2019 2:06am
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You MUST buy new... and send all your old stuff to me right away... lol

Depending on your hand strength - and carving style... they will still be good to carve on. But they will all feel different when carving them. And then - what Jeff said :)
Re: carving medium question
Board: Stamp Carving and Mounting
Reply to: #970339 by QueenMother'n'CloudWalker
Jan 15, 2019 5:46am
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I think the shiny one is Firmcut. I personally hated the stuff. Like the name implies, it felt like I was carving a brick. OZ was nice, but I could never get a great transfer like I do onto Pink. I think NZ is the one where the gouge lines didn't want to pop out, had to end a cut by starting at the end and meeting in the middle to get a clean line.

Both OZ and PZ had a "B" grade. If it's OZ just use it. If you bought PZ, put it on ebay and it will fund your carving for quite awhile!
Re: carving medium question
Board: Stamp Carving and Mounting
Reply to: #970339 by QueenMother'n'CloudWalker
Jan 15, 2019 10:41am
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Welcome Back! What a happy day to see your trail name!
Re: carving medium question
Board: Stamp Carving and Mounting
Reply to: #970339 by QueenMother'n'CloudWalker
Jan 15, 2019 12:06pm
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Thanks everyone! I appreciate the input.
Re: carving medium question
Board: Stamp Carving and Mounting
Reply to: #970339 by QueenMother'n'CloudWalker
Jan 16, 2019 11:43am
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This list all looks like it came from Stampeaz. The responses you have gotten already have been pretty spot on, but here's the official list.

1. Mystery C - was a mistake at the factory that came out rubbery and I thought it was difficult to carve on, which was why I graded it as "C" and sold it for really cheap. I used some of it as simple background stamps that didn't require much detail and that was pretty much all it was good for.
2. NZ Kut, as people have noted was the iteration before OZ. A little more elastic than OZ, but still takes good detail. If you sand it before doing your transfer, it will take both the transfer and the printing ink better.
3. B sounds like an old block of PZ Kut. I believe I always identified which material I was grading after PZ Kut went away, so OZ would have been marked OZ-B.
4. OZ still had a little elasticity and release issues, but held detail well and, if sanded before you do your transfer should hold ink without much difficulty.
5. Really shiny on both sides sounds like Firm Kut. It was my first try at a new formulation after PZ Kut was wrenched from my little webbed feet. It's pretty firm, definitely requires sanding before use and needs some patience to work with, but I've been able to do some amazingly detailed carvings with it.

Currently, I've got Tan-Z Kut. It's still a bit firmer than PZ Kut, but not as elastic as the other tries I've made at reformulation, so cuts release better. I like it pretty well and it seems to do well with most inks. I still always sand before transfer, but I think that helps any block. If you want to look at responses from my various testers when I was developing the stuff, the final tests start on my (recently much neglected) blog here: Tan-Z Sample Results Round 1. There are several other posts after that in fairly quick succession, if you want to see some amazing carvings and read about the various tests it was put through.

I hope that's helpful. :)

Webfoot
Re: carving medium question
Board: Stamp Carving and Mounting
Reply to: #970359 by Webfoot
Jan 16, 2019 1:12pm
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Thank you Webfoot! Very helpful! Yes, they did all come from Stampeaz......I hope to try some of that Tan-Z cut soon :)

QM
Re: carving medium question
Board: Stamp Carving and Mounting
Reply to: #970359 by Webfoot
Jan 16, 2019 7:37pm
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I see that there is still some Gray-Z still left. It is thin enough to work for micro-postals. When you make another run of Tan-Z it would be useful to have some material as thin as Gray-Z.
Re: carving medium question
Board: Stamp Carving and Mounting
Reply to: #970375 by Oberon_Kenobi
Jan 17, 2019 4:35pm
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I see that there is still some Gray-Z still left. It is thin enough to work for micro-postals. When you make another run of Tan-Z it would be useful to have some material as thin as Gray-Z.

Duly noted. I will see if I can get a little bit in the half thickness next time around, without having to buy a full ton and a half of it. :)