BornonSunsetCeramics Posted May 24, 2017 Report Share Posted May 24, 2017 Hey gang, The rubber stamps I bought from my local clay store are lame. They're too soft (rubber) and not deep enough so I keep getting the impression of the stamp handle around the letters on my pieces. I use a plastic signature stamp to finish my work that was printed using a 3d printer; it has sharp edges that works great, but it's way to expensive to buy a complete alphabet. What's the secret? There's got to be one! What do you all use if you want to write text on your work? Thanks in advance. Alli Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tricetra Posted May 24, 2017 Report Share Posted May 24, 2017 Hi, I use my late father's leather stamps they are metal ones or alternatively make your own clay ones, I made my own signature stamp. Hope that helps. xx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcia Selsor Posted May 24, 2017 Report Share Posted May 24, 2017 I made some out of Amaco blocks , sort of a foam like that used for flower arranging.. Also made a bunch from scrap wood using a belt sander. And there is always carving them out of clay and bisque firing them. Marcia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stone Spiral Posted May 24, 2017 Report Share Posted May 24, 2017 I make my own stamps out of clay, also, out of rubber. I use a deeper, firmer rubber than the ones you are talking about (I know what ones you mean... they leave something to be desired). There are some great stampmakers on Etsy, but once you factor in shipping, they can be pricey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terrim8 Posted May 25, 2017 Report Share Posted May 25, 2017 I make my own too. Go to the art store and look at the lino rubber and cutting tools & watch your fingers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callie Beller Diesel Posted May 25, 2017 Report Share Posted May 25, 2017 I know one lady who uses either Speedycut or Speedycarve (one is softer than the other) to make some of her stamps and texture tools. You can get it at Michaels, or order it on Amazon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Campbell Posted May 25, 2017 Report Share Posted May 25, 2017 Leather stamping tools are deeper but can be pricey ... like others I made my own from clay, hot glue, latex and found objects. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted May 25, 2017 Report Share Posted May 25, 2017 I have so many letter stamps (I rarely use them) and most are from printers long ago-all sizes and types. Maybe e-bay for some older sets-the new stuff is just not as nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GiselleNo5 Posted May 25, 2017 Report Share Posted May 25, 2017 I used to make stamps and sell them but I have largely lost enthusiasm for it as making pottery is much more fun! MKM Pottery Tools is a good source for a wide variety of stamps, but really the best is to spend a little time and effort making your own. I was always so surprised that people wanted to buy stamps from me when they could make their own individual designs! (Don't tell my customers I said that!) Although in the beginning a lot of my stamps were funky so perhaps people make a couple and then get discouraged. I like to practice new designs using white Sculpey that I can bake in an oven for twenty minutes so I can test it almost immediately instead of waiting for a ceramic stamp to dry and be bisque fired before playing with it. Gary Jackson of Fire When Ready Pottery doesn't sell stamps but his are amazing, you should definitely check them out. I also have seen some really good stamp making tutorials on Pinterest. And this is one of my favorite stamp making techniques. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GiselleNo5 Posted May 25, 2017 Report Share Posted May 25, 2017 Oh, and I use a little alphabet set of rubber stamps, they work great for lettering. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 25, 2017 Report Share Posted May 25, 2017 Back in the day I used to make ink stamps from art gum erasers, the stuff is pretty easy to carve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GEP Posted May 25, 2017 Report Share Posted May 25, 2017 There are metal alphabet stamp sets made for jewelers. Jewelers use these by hammering them into metal sheets. I imagine they are sharp enough to make a crisp impression in clay. Metal might stick to clay, but a dusting of corn starch beforehand should prevent that. https://www.riogrande.com/search/go?w=Alphabet%20Stamps I also like Mark's suggestion of finding metal typesetter letters. These are considered antiques now, but you can still find them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted May 25, 2017 Report Share Posted May 25, 2017 I have metal ones and rubber ones as well as some of the smaller newer Chinese ones. Most I got in the 70's-I think if you look hard for old ones you could find them-I cannot imagine folks using the old ones as they are not cell phone related. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sputty Posted May 25, 2017 Report Share Posted May 25, 2017 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GiselleNo5 Posted May 25, 2017 Report Share Posted May 25, 2017 There are metal alphabet stamp sets made for jewelers. Jewelers use these by hammering them into metal sheets. I imagine they are sharp enough to make a crisp impression in clay. Metal might stick to clay, but a dusting of corn starch beforehand should prevent that. https://www.riogrande.com/search/go?w=Alphabet%20Stamps I also like Mark's suggestion of finding metal typesetter letters. These are considered antiques now, but you can still find them. One issue I've had with the metal typesetting letters is that they can be super super small. I made the mistake of not paying attention to the actual size and I ended up with these tiny letters 1/8" tall that did not stamp well into clay. But when I got a set that was over 1/4" I was very happy with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BornonSunsetCeramics Posted May 25, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 25, 2017 Oh, and I use a little alphabet set of rubber stamps, they work great for lettering. Which brand do you use? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pres Posted May 25, 2017 Report Share Posted May 25, 2017 I had the luck to get a few lead type set letters, but not nearly enough, I also use a full set of leather stamps, and I have a fancy set of kids letter stamps for playdoh that is made of hard plastic-work really well. best, Pres Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GiselleNo5 Posted May 25, 2017 Report Share Posted May 25, 2017 Oh, and I use a little alphabet set of rubber stamps, they work great for lettering. Which brand do you use? http://www.ebay.com/itm/70pcs-Rubber-Stamps-Set-Vintage-Wooden-Box-Case-Alphabet-Letters-Number-Craft-T8-/111979259448?hash=item1a127be638:g:7RgAAOSwubRXHnuO This is the set I have. I like the size but they may be too big for some. I think if they were any smaller the rubber stamps would not be deep or visible enough, but this size works well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GiselleNo5 Posted May 25, 2017 Report Share Posted May 25, 2017 I had the luck to get a few lead type set letters, but not nearly enough, I also use a full set of leather stamps, and I have a fancy set of kids letter stamps for playdoh that is made of hard plastic-work really well. best, Pres Oooh, that's a good idea!! I'll look for one of those. I really want a nice set of letter stamps about 1/2" on the capitals and maybe they have something like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Min Posted May 25, 2017 Report Share Posted May 25, 2017 Wilton fondant cake decoration letters/numbers work well too. They're nice and deep and press in cleanly. Comes with a holder so the letters line up straight. (only uppercase letters) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marko Posted May 25, 2017 Report Share Posted May 25, 2017 I got tired of looking and paid Around $200. for a 3D printer. and after learning a free online CAD program a Slicer program and then add the info onto a flash drive. I am printing. The 3D printer was in a kit, so I had to learn how to assemble it. And tweak it. Works fine now. Here is a 2.5" Om Lotus and Yin Yang. And a 6" OM Lotus. I think in the long run the 3D printer will pay for itself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joseph Fireborn Posted May 26, 2017 Report Share Posted May 26, 2017 Mark. I had wondered where you have been. Now we all know. You have been creating awesome things with a printer. Very nice sir. Very nice! On the stamp subject. I have just been making my stamps out of clay. I make a few blocks and start carving them when they are leather hard. Then I let them dry further and finish them right before bone dry. I have also been shrinking my makers mark stamp. I ordered too big of a stamp. So I have been shrinking it by stamping it into clay, then letting that clay dry and shrink. Then pushing more clay into that then firing the new stamp and letting it shrink again. All together I have shrunk a 1'' stamp to .5''. I need to shrink it once more to .25''. = ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted May 26, 2017 Report Share Posted May 26, 2017 When I use letters and numbers (which is rare these days) its always a different size needed for each job. Hence I have at least 5-6 sizes. The last time I used them was for my cats urns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marko Posted May 26, 2017 Report Share Posted May 26, 2017 Mark. I had wondered where you have been. Now we all know. You have been creating awesome things with a printer. Very nice sir. Very nice! On the stamp subject. I have just been making my stamps out of clay. I make a few blocks and start carving them when they are leather hard. Then I let them dry further and finish them right before bone dry. I have also been shrinking my makers mark stamp. I ordered too big of a stamp. So I have been shrinking it by stamping it into clay, then letting that clay dry and shrink. Then pushing more clay into that then firing the new stamp and letting it shrink again. All together I have shrunk a 1'' stamp to .5''. I need to shrink it once more to .25''. = ) Hey Joseph, yup, still here, haha. Been firing up the learning curve with the 3D. It's a brain stretch. It's interesting how temperamental these thing can be. Things like extruder and bed temperatures, the xyz axis calibrations, bed leveling, programing and creating in a CAD program. Really fun stuff. Like learning pottery for the first time. I had to take a break and work in my garden and house jobs. Booter (our Boston Terrier) has Cushing disease and a nodule in his right lung. So, x-rays, sonograms, CAT scans, blood test and long trips to a specialist and then surgery. He's spent two day in Austin, Tx., after his operation. He's a strong dog. He home now recovering. Good God it's been stressful for the wife and me. He's 13.5 years old. Been working on some orders. simple stuff; salad plates and small bowls. And just got and order for some small goblets for a church agape retreat. So, anyway, did you get your stamp made to the right size? How complicated is the image? maybe I can make you one. email me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chilly Posted May 26, 2017 Report Share Posted May 26, 2017 I've tried all kinds, metal ones meant to write your name on your steak, the small sharp ones used by cake icers, "fleet" rubber stamps, not yet tried pasta, but the ones I liked the best were this type: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171842663508. You put the individual letters on a piece of acrylic and then stamp. Worked well: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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