Stamps

Stamps are a common office accessory and come in tow distinct forms self-inking and pre-inked. Cromwell stock a range of stamps from brands like Colop and Xstamper, so you can be assured your office will always be well stocked.

What are stamps?

Stamps are tools that mark paper or material with ink. They are typically found in administration offices to mark important documents with key information like date received etc. Stamps can be self-inking or pre-inked. Self-inking stamps come with an inner ink pad and are pushed onto the pad to absorb the ink before stamping and transferring the ink to the paper. Pre-inking stamps hold the ink withing the body of the stamp itself, allowing ink to flow through the die plate directly and cut out the middleman so to speak.

Why stamps?

Stamps are a quick and efficient way to mark documents for official purposes. For instance, the date that an invoice was received etc, can be marked using a date stamp to indicate that the balance has been paid on a specific date for recording.

Types of stamps

• Hand stamps - These are traditional stamps that require the use of an ink pad. The die is pressed into the ink pad and then pressed onto the paper to leave the impression.

• Self-inking - These types of stamps are used in conjunction with an inbuilt ink pad, the rubber die of the stamp is pushed onto the pad to absorb ink and is then pressed firmly onto the paper to be marked, transferring the ink across.

• Pre-inking - These types of stamps hold the ink within the body of the stamp. The ink is transferred directly to the die plate allowing the stamping process to be more efficient. They also produce the best impressions and can produce more impressions than any other type of stamp before needing to be refilled.

Considerations when choosing a stamp

• The die plate - Some die plates are pre-marked with a specific word or impression, such as "checked" or "urgent", whilst some have the option for you to add your own combinations od symbols, letters and numbers to create the impression you wish to make.

• The number of impressions - Both self-inking and pre-inked stamps give a good amount of impressions before needing to be re-inked. Manual hand stamps require to be inked before each impression.

FAQs

How does a self-inking stamp work?

A self-inking stamp features an ink pad that works with the die to leave an impression, then retracts back into the stamp body.