Hampton Art Stamp Perfect- My First Impressions/Comparison
Jan 1, 2017 1:45:17 GMT
tinksmommy, gale w, and 1 more like this
Post by scrapaddict702 on Jan 1, 2017 1:45:17 GMT
I have the original Misti. I'm not sure what I paid for it (something around $60 including shipping during a sale...it also came with a pad of grid paper and one of the cleaning agents as well as the foam and 2 magnets). The HA Stamp Positioner comes with just the foam pad and 2 magnets. I paid $12.50 (50% off coupon) plus sales tax for the Hampton Art one.
Magnets: The magnets are similar enough that I'd say there isn't a noticeable difference.
Magnetic Strength: Both do a great job without the foam. With the foam, the HASP wins. I find that the magnets move much easier on the MISTI when the foam is in place while there is still a really good strong hold on the HASP with the foam in place.
Foam: The MISTI thought out the foam really well. It is designed so that you can close the door flush when using a clear stamp, even with the magnets in place. The HASP door will not close flush with the foam and magnets in use. There is a slight gap where the magnets stick up which causes the door to bow a bit. I think the foam should be thinner for the HASP, but upon inspection, the foam is the same thickness on both. The MISTI was much better designed here. I tried stamping both a cling foam rubber stamp and a clear stamp and both stamped well with the HASP. I have no tested whether or not this could be an issue with clear background stamps or other larger images, but it is something that I would look out for in the future as I use it. I am considering the idea of cutting down craft foam I have to see if this helps with that problem (if only to appease me being bothered by the aesthetic of the bowing).
Thickness: The MISTI is thicker and therefore sturdier. I can slightly bend the HASP (completely closed) with almost no effort at all. I cannot bend the MISTI with the same effort or even slightly more. The MISTI feels MUCH sturdier than the HASP.
Size: The (original) MISTI that I own is 1 inch taller and 1 inch wider than the HASP. Both still function great for most card and Project Life needs.
Quality: The HASP looks great, but you can definitely feel the difference when you use it. The MISTI is much sturdier and feels higher quality. But does it feel worth the cost of 4x the price? I don't feel like it does.
For what it's worth, the MISTI feels and looks like the same material you see in the thick acrylic words that are all over in the scrapbooking industry right now. Meanwhile, the HASP feels a bit more like a molded plastic. Here is a link I pulled up just now (first link I clicked on) that explains some of the differences: Link! Based on that, it would appear the quality is heavy leaning toward the MISTI. Given the lifespan issues many experience with the MISTI, it might not mean much if acrylic can't stand the slight bending caused by pressing on the door to get an image to stamp with regular and consistent use. Time will tell if the type of plastic used for the HASP results in a longer or shorter lifespan. For myself, if I am buying a stamping tool knowing it is to be treated like a consumable that has a longer lifespan than most (for instance, trimmer blades), unless I knew for a fact that the lifespan was drastically different, I would opt for the less expensive option and buy a spare at the same time.
I will soon have 2 of the HASPs (ordered from ACOT but knowing M's had them, I was way too impatient to wait) and the one MISTI, so I'll be set for a while regardless. For those of you who don't have one at all and were waiting for other options, if you are considering these two and have specific questions that I might not have addressed here, please feel free to ask. I will answer the best that I can. I'm not a regular stamper, but I purchased these tools to get me using the stash of stamps that I've purchased over the years. I was tired of wasting sheet after sheet of my good stamping cardstock because I couldn't get a crisp, clear, solid image using clear blocks. Also keep in mind that I've only just tested the HASP, so there might be more that I notice as I use and compare them more. I just felt that if there was enough that was obviously different with just a few minutes of testing that it was worth sharing what I've noticed. HTH!!
Magnets: The magnets are similar enough that I'd say there isn't a noticeable difference.
Magnetic Strength: Both do a great job without the foam. With the foam, the HASP wins. I find that the magnets move much easier on the MISTI when the foam is in place while there is still a really good strong hold on the HASP with the foam in place.
Foam: The MISTI thought out the foam really well. It is designed so that you can close the door flush when using a clear stamp, even with the magnets in place. The HASP door will not close flush with the foam and magnets in use. There is a slight gap where the magnets stick up which causes the door to bow a bit. I think the foam should be thinner for the HASP, but upon inspection, the foam is the same thickness on both. The MISTI was much better designed here. I tried stamping both a cling foam rubber stamp and a clear stamp and both stamped well with the HASP. I have no tested whether or not this could be an issue with clear background stamps or other larger images, but it is something that I would look out for in the future as I use it. I am considering the idea of cutting down craft foam I have to see if this helps with that problem (if only to appease me being bothered by the aesthetic of the bowing).
Thickness: The MISTI is thicker and therefore sturdier. I can slightly bend the HASP (completely closed) with almost no effort at all. I cannot bend the MISTI with the same effort or even slightly more. The MISTI feels MUCH sturdier than the HASP.
Size: The (original) MISTI that I own is 1 inch taller and 1 inch wider than the HASP. Both still function great for most card and Project Life needs.
Quality: The HASP looks great, but you can definitely feel the difference when you use it. The MISTI is much sturdier and feels higher quality. But does it feel worth the cost of 4x the price? I don't feel like it does.
For what it's worth, the MISTI feels and looks like the same material you see in the thick acrylic words that are all over in the scrapbooking industry right now. Meanwhile, the HASP feels a bit more like a molded plastic. Here is a link I pulled up just now (first link I clicked on) that explains some of the differences: Link! Based on that, it would appear the quality is heavy leaning toward the MISTI. Given the lifespan issues many experience with the MISTI, it might not mean much if acrylic can't stand the slight bending caused by pressing on the door to get an image to stamp with regular and consistent use. Time will tell if the type of plastic used for the HASP results in a longer or shorter lifespan. For myself, if I am buying a stamping tool knowing it is to be treated like a consumable that has a longer lifespan than most (for instance, trimmer blades), unless I knew for a fact that the lifespan was drastically different, I would opt for the less expensive option and buy a spare at the same time.
I will soon have 2 of the HASPs (ordered from ACOT but knowing M's had them, I was way too impatient to wait) and the one MISTI, so I'll be set for a while regardless. For those of you who don't have one at all and were waiting for other options, if you are considering these two and have specific questions that I might not have addressed here, please feel free to ask. I will answer the best that I can. I'm not a regular stamper, but I purchased these tools to get me using the stash of stamps that I've purchased over the years. I was tired of wasting sheet after sheet of my good stamping cardstock because I couldn't get a crisp, clear, solid image using clear blocks. Also keep in mind that I've only just tested the HASP, so there might be more that I notice as I use and compare them more. I just felt that if there was enough that was obviously different with just a few minutes of testing that it was worth sharing what I've noticed. HTH!!
