Using the tonic stamp platform

Reading on SCS they are getting g replacements from Tonic and offers to assist from customer service. Fortunately my TH stamps perfectly. At least they are trying to remedy it unlike when nothing was done when people had cracked Mistis and were told it was their fault and had no recourse.

Sorry streetscrapper I wasn't sure if you were saying you were using clear stamps on the clear side of the plate when you use them with fun foam? I've been using them on the cling side of the plate as Papertrey Ink, Avery Elle and Altenew stamps plus fun foam are too thick for the clear side.

Ok so now I'm having issues with the rubber side of the stamp press. I put a Stamping Bella stamp on the rubber side close to the top left side and the press doesn't close. The image I get is ok but it seems weird to me that the lid doesn't lie flat and I've had to do multiple stamping to get an image I'm happy with. Does it sound like I've got a defective platform? I don't have the same problem with my Misti...

Before you give up on the Tim Holtz platform, you may want to repeat the same test with different rubber stamps by a variety of companies and see if the problem persists.

I haven't checked my stamps, but it is quite possible that the stamps themselves are not consistent in their thickness. I removed nearly all my rubber stamps from their wood blocks, but I took mine down to the rubber. Some of the foam backings were different thicknesses. I haven't checked to see if my newer rubber cling stamps are consistent in thickness. I have started to wonder.

Is it possible for the stamp press to be faulty? Yes. But if it were me, I would check not only with different stamps, but different locations on the stamp press. I was planning to do this anyway, even though I'm not having any problems, but I am curious.

If you try a variety of stamps and the problem persists,then at least you'll be sure.

I haven't tried my bare rubber stamps yet. That's a test for another day, along with a more vigorous test of my clear stamps.

However, tonight after posting earlier this evening, I did give my Tonic platform a pretty thorough test with rubber cling stamps (they do have the foam).

All of the foam mounted rubber cling stamps seemed slightly thick for the rubber side of the platform, but I think that is intentional. I tried a variety of stamps by different companies, including stamps by Tim Holtz. I had issues with getting a clear image only twice. Once was with the Tim Holtz stamps (a little ironic), but I had them all over the platform and was stamping them all at once. I was able to get the full image of each with a reapplication of ink. I had been a bit more gentle, but this time I did a little more pressure on the "spotty" stamps, focusing the pressure on the bare spots, which worked. The other stamp which had an issue was a frame stamp, and there was one line which would not stamp all the way, no matter how many times I tried. I positioned the stamp in another location on the platform, and it stamped fine first time. Moved it all over the platform, and it stamped first each time. I don't know why it would not stamp the one line while in that first position.

My conclusion: I had no trouble stamping an individual stamp, moving it to different positions of the platform area. I got a clear image first try each time. When I had problems, it was only when I was stamping multiple stamps (positioned all over the platform) at a time.

Sometimes I got a good impression first try, even with the platform covered with stamps. When I did not get full coverage using multiple stamps, I was able to get a good image by the second application of ink. Only the one frame stamp repeatedly had a problem when it was on the platform with other stamps. When I adjusted the position of that stamp slightly, then stamped it by itself, no problem. I wish that I had tried stamping it one more time where it was after removing all the other stamps.

This test was just using my foam mounted rubber cling stamps. I will try testing my clear stamps and bare rubber stamps in a couple of days to see how the other side does.

Then you may have a defective Tonic platform. In this thread or another one on the Tonic platform, some people are getting replacements, which suggests to me that some may have been defective.

I plan to test the one I just got from Marco's, to see if it has issues, just in case some are defective. I want to first finish testing the first one, which I got from scrapbook.com.

After my testing last night, I am wondering if there are small factors that can affect how it stamps, whether there are spots that do not stamp correctly on the platform, or if there is another issue such as how the magnets are placed in proximity, or if another stamp is being stamped at the same time that is slightly thicker and is positioned too close to the other.

I also am wondering if defective ones were somehow exposed to high heat in shipping or storage, that resulted in warped spots that are not easily visible.

It just seems odd that some are stamping fine, and some are not.

I'll have to keep trying it with different stamps. I'm on a sewing kick right now so I haven't been stamping much. I need to get started on Christmas cards again though.

I'm wondering if any of the U.K. purchased original versions are a problem. I have the UK one and images are good. Wonder if something happened when they tweaked the bumpers on the US one. Pretty frustrating for people who waited so long to get this tool.

I wasn't going to test my second Tonic platform tonight, but I decided that I'd better find out if it had a problem. I thought about how Gale had issues with a background stamp, so I decided that the quickest and best way to test the second platform was to try the most difficult background stamp I have. It never even stamped perfectly when it was still on its wood block. I took it down to bare rubber before we moved. I did that to all my wood mounted stamps. I just typically stamp with thin foam underneath my cardstock.

First I tested the stamp on my first Tonic platform. One thing I found after multiple tries is that the CTMH ink pad I was using tonight did not do as well as the Momento ink pad. Also, because it is bare rubber, it did need a cushion. I tried three pieces of cardstock under my cardstock that was to be stamped. It worked okay, not fabulous. I dug out a larger piece of CTMH stamping foam, to see how that worked. I do not have any thin craft foam on hand. The CTMH stamping foam worked well.

The stamp was a tightly woven plaid design. It was a difficult stamp to get a good impression without the platform. With the platform, I actually got decent results. Once I was happy with the results on the first platform, I transferred the stamp to the second platform, positioning it similarly. I chose the middle section of both platforms, since that seems to be the area that has sometimes given less than perfect results. I got decent stamping results on the second Tonic platform as well. Then I tried some additional rubber stamps on the other side, using the same combination with the frame that did not stamp completely before. Same result as before. It did not stamp completely with the three large stamps all being stamped at the same time. This time I left the frame stamp in place, removed the stamp closest to the part that would not stamp, and tried again. It stamped the rest of the image. I assume that the other stamp was just a tiny bit thicker than the frame stamp and was interfering with my getting a complete stamped frame.

I don't have a MISTI. I have never used one. I do like the Tonic stamping platform, but it has a very slight learning curve, and it seems to work best on a solid wood table or other surface with little to no give or flexibility. Yes, sometimes you do need thin foam underneath the cardstock you are stamping on. Most of the time it wasn't necessary for me, but I definitely needed it for my really detailed background stamp.

The solid stamps that I tried in the platform were Altenew clear layering stamps. I did need to stamp a few times to get good coverage. I may try using foam the next time I stamp the solid base layers.

I know that the Tonic is supposed to stamp without foam. I assume that is where your disappointment comes from. For nearly every stamp I tried, both rubber and clear, the Tonic worked fine without foam. However, the majority of my stamps are the line drawing style, not solid.

If you have line stamps, I suggest you try them before you give up on the Tonic as a complete disappointment.

Just watched a video by Hedgehog Hollow where she talked about using foam with the Tonic platform and how if you use foam and a clear stamp you need to use the Rubber side of the lid. It is essentially the same as if you were using a rubber stamp with easy mount on it. Haven't tried this yet. I have a bit of a dead spot at the top left corner of the platform.

Someone posted on Tim Holtz Addicts FB Page that the US version does not have the magnetic hinges either, and I wonder if that is not the reason its not stamping as well.  I don't have either platform so I cannot check.  Just a thought.

Interesting. The two dead spots that I found seem to be in the middle section. But they aren't completely or consistently dead.

When I had issues with dead spots near the bottom or right side, it seemed to be associated with how I had placed the magnets at the outer edge of the platform, where it could interfere with how the lid came down.

Just as there is a ridge on two sides on the base to position your paper, there is a similar ridge on the lid portion, positioned over the edges where there is no ridge on the base. It is impossible to place the magnets too close to the left or the top area of the platform, but you can accidentally place the magnets in an area of the bottom and right that can interfere. The magnets kept the platform lid from coming down all the way a couple of times when I had positioned them accidentally under the ridge on the top part of the lid.

I wish I could compare the Tonic to the MISTI, but I can't. I did make my own cheap-o knock-off version awhile back with a photo frame, but I don't know how similar it was to the MISTI. It was a simpler tool than the Tonic. It was easier to use in some ways, but I did not use it that much because it was too small for a lot of what I wanted a stamp platform for, and an acrylic block is sometimes just as fast and as easy and no frame to get in my way. An acrylic block would be faster and easier than using the Tonic some of the time, but I really like using the Tonic for certain things.

The Tonic does have a slight learning curve when compared to my home made stamp platform. My knock off version was patterned after the MISTI, although not as high in quality as the MISTI.  I can kind of understand why those used to the MISTI are more likely to be frustrated by the Tonic platform.

I think like any tool, people will prefer one over the other. Users of electronic cutters definitely have their preferences, some preferring the Cricut, some the Cameo.  I like competition. It's good for the consumer. At first I thought MSP was going to be fading away, but now I think her company will continue to be viable. That is a good thing. I was upset about her lawsuit, but I do not want to see her fail. Consumers want and need choices. One size does not fit all in most things. Definitely not when it comes to tools.

I tried a wide variety of rubber stamps that had their own foam. I did not need any foam to get a good impression with any of them. Were you using solid stamps? Or line drawing type stamps that you hand color the stamped design? If you have this trouble even with line drawing type stamps, then I think you should return your Tonic.