IttyBittyStomps are in!

[tugrik]

My order finally came in from the stamp-equipment supplier. It took a whole 10 days to get here on the Slow Boat from the MIdwest, feh.

In any case -- I now have the ability to make 0.80" round stamps. Here are the first 10 designs to be given to LJ friends who requested.



A few things I've learned:

• 1.5 drops of ink in the base is more than enough. Eesh.
  
• Big solid areas don't look so great. They cause the ink to 'bridge' over smaller pits. Outlines are the best for small stamps.
  
• 6pt is about the smallest font. The 'feastofdreams.net' on the 5th stamp isn't legible (it's in 4pt).
  
• The higher the detail the harder it is to make a good impression. The "Hello Kzinti" (#6 in the photo) is hard to get a good impression on due to fiddly edge bits... but you can if you try. Different inks may work better.
  
• Round-edged things that match the round-edge of the plunger work great. #'s 7,8 and 9 are wonderful to work with, stamp-wise.
  
• Thin things in the middle are the hardest to use (again, #5). This can most likely be solved by making a circle around the design.

Most importantly, I've found the most labor-intensive part isn't what I expected: laser-cutting a disc of doublesided tape, peeling it, sticking to the die, peeling the other side, sticking to the plunger. As a result if I'm just making a few stamps for someone, no problem... but if someone is ordering 50 to sell, I'll send them the component parts (cut die, pre-cut tape circles, the stamp-body) and let them assemble them on their own to save money. Otherwise I'd have to charge too much for labor.

For the moment if you just want me to do one stamp of this size and have reasonably ready artwork, I'd charge $5/ea (more if I have to do a ton of art-cleanup for you). But if you are ordering in a batch the price would go down since I only have to do the art-layout once. If someone did a 50-piece order, for instance, I'd probably only charge $2/ea. And then I'd have the design on-file to remake them at the bulk price any time you wanted.

Next up: working on standard 1" x 3" full sized wood-block holders, to make more normal stamp sizes.

(For the folks who recognize their stamp up there: either see me at FC to come snag it, or send me email at tugrik@gmail.com with your snailmail addy so I can send it to you if you won't make the con)

Comments

[hgryphon.livejournal.com]

How fun!

I'm not going to AC, but the idea of a gryphon stamp would be neat. I have one that I never use...

[http://users.livejournal.com/krin_o_o_/]

How about removing one side of the double sided adhesive sheet, applying that to the die material sheet, letting the laser punch thru both at the outer round, and then when it's done removing the second side of the cut and attached adhesive to mount the finished die in the stamp assembly?

[tugrik.livejournal.com]

Actually, that's what I already do (on the 2nd run I finished tonight). The hard part is peeling the backing off the laser-cut-and-already-mounted tape. It's a vicious backing already (rather tough stuff, glue-wise) and when cut that close by the laser it's sintered shut. Picking at them one by one is a royal pain in the tail!

The semi-solution was to use an x-acto knife and cut a little radius-snip out off one edge, being careful not to cut through the back of the die in the process. That gives an edge that'll flex up when you bend the die and makes peeling possible.

Nice dragon!

[chareth.livejournal.com]

Want want want one of the dragon stamps! Do you know if the person who made that design did so with the intent to sell?

[likeshine.livejournal.com]

tooo cool, thank you!

[pseudomanitou.livejournal.com]

A stamp of my two manitou icons would certainly be of use to me...

I've received too many complaints that I never sign my work, and a stamp would at least help change my behavior :)

[jenwolf.livejournal.com]

I see my design came out rather well, as you only needed to test it once. I won't be at FC, so I'll send you my address. Thanks!

[tabbiewolf.livejournal.com]

Oh, neat! Did the eyes in mine (#1) present any problem at all? I know you said the thin line separating them might smudge/not work, but it looks okay from here!

I won't be at FC, so I'll shoot you an e-mail with my address; do you want any payment for shipping? =)

[shatterstripes.livejournal.com]

I should get one or two of these made! If I give you a couple of designs can you have them for FC?

[duncanroo.livejournal.com]

You need green ink. *nod*

[zrath.livejournal.com]

Yours is really nice. :)

[roycalbeck.livejournal.com]

I THOUGHT I saw a Hello Kzinti in there! -:D

[tugrik.livejournal.com]

Yes! Any chance you have art for this weekend?