scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,451 
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Post by scrapnnana on Sept 18, 2017 17:12:05 GMT
I came across this video. It may help some who are having problems with their Tonic, but I don't know. I have a question, though, about what foam she is using. She doesn't say. So far my Tonic works well for me, but there are times with some stamps that I have to stamp more than once, and I wondered if the foam would help. So if you use foam in any stamp platform, whether it is the Tonic or MISTI, is there a specific foam or is it just the craft foam you buy at a craft store? How thick should it be? Are there thinner foams you can by elsewhere that still work well? If so, where do you buy thinner foam? She calls it stampers foam. I have been stamping for 30 years. I have thousands of stamps that I removed from blocks, but I have no stamp store near me to even ask what stampers foam is. I have never heard of it, unless it is the stuff some stampers you when they unmount rubber stamps (which I never used because I took mine down to bare rubber and prefer them that way). Here is the link to the video on using foam. I wondered if she just took the foam from her MISTI, which would not help me. I don't own a MISTI. Thanks for any info that would clarify this for me. How to use foam in Tonic Platform |
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Post by mygigiscraps on Sept 18, 2017 20:37:08 GMT
If you click underneath the video where it says Show More, you will find the products linked, including the foam on amazon. Thank you for posting the video. I just ordered the foam for mine.
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Post by streetscrapper on Sept 18, 2017 21:49:32 GMT
I thought it was just regular old craft foam that you can find in Michaels. I tried it but with all the problems I'm having with my lid closing properly without it, the foam was a complete disaster! As for my Misti, it came with a mouse pad type piece of foam that you use with acrylic stamps. When you use rubber or cling mounted types, you remove the foam.
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,451
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Post by scrapnnana on Sept 19, 2017 1:38:16 GMT
If you click underneath the video where it says Show More, you will find the products linked, including the foam on amazon. Thank you for posting the video. I just ordered the foam for mine. I did not realize there were links. Thank you! I followed the link to Amazon and will order the foam. |
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Post by anniefb on Sept 19, 2017 17:49:02 GMT
I use craft room in my platform - would be a similar thickness to that one must think craft foam. I find it does help with getting a nice crisp image with photopolymer stamps.
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Post by midorica on Sept 21, 2017 3:28:59 GMT
I haven't used any foam for my stamping yet, but I just got some wrapped around the dies I ordered from Ali Express. It looks thinner than the craft foam you get from the dollar store, and I decided to save it for the TH Stamp Platform, just in case.
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Post by woodysbetty on Sept 21, 2017 17:58:11 GMT
I have not found the need for it when I use the clear side.....I thought that modification was done so the need for foam was eliminated...
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Post by mygigiscraps on Sept 21, 2017 18:47:43 GMT
I have not found the need for it when I use the clear side.....I thought that modification was done so the need for foam was eliminated... I use foam when stamping with clear stamps even when I use an acrylic block. It just seems to give me a better impression, especially with new or less expensive stamps. |
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Post by woodysbetty on Sept 21, 2017 19:15:08 GMT
I have not found the need for it when I use the clear side.....I thought that modification was done so the need for foam was eliminated... I use foam when stamping with clear stamps even when I use an acrylic block. It just seems to give me a better impression, especially with new or less expensive stamps. When I use my blocks I use the stampers friend mat but I find the tonic has enough give that i haven't needed extra layers but I haven't tried all my stamps yet...could be I have only used the more expensive ones.... |
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Post by pherena on Sept 28, 2017 14:59:14 GMT
Oh, Lord, people, you have got to stop. Why do I feel now that I NEED one of these? LOL!
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,451
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Post by scrapnnana on Sept 29, 2017 4:30:56 GMT
I've had a friend visiting for the past few days. She used my stamp platform. She was working on the plastic folding table. She had to try three times to stamp to get a good image.
I had her move to do the stamping on a wooden table. One try got a clean image. The table underneath the
Tim Holtz platform definitely makes a difference!
Also, I got out my brayer. I do think that also helps to get a clean and complete image. Someone else had recommended it, but I had not tried it till last night.
So far I have not found a stamp that doesn't stamp well with the platform, no foam needed, but it really does work much better on a wood table.
She ordered the stamp platform for herself before leaving to go home.
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Post by gale w on Sept 29, 2017 18:43:48 GMT
I've had a friend visiting for the past few days. She used my stamp platform. She was working on the plastic folding table. She had to try three times to stamp to get a good image. I had her move to do the stamping on a wooden table. One try got a clean image. The table underneath the Tim Holtz platform definitely makes a difference! Also, I got out my brayer. I do think that also helps to get a clean and complete image. Someone else had recommended it, but I had not tried it till last night. So far I have not found a stamp that doesn't stamp well with the platform, no foam needed, but it really does work much better on a wood table. She ordered the stamp platform for herself before leaving to go home. Did you use the brayer to apply the ink or to press the lid of the platform? My table is definitely sturdy enough. |
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,451
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Post by scrapnnana on Sept 30, 2017 6:05:10 GMT
I used the brayer to apply even pressure on the lid of the stamp press, NOT to apply the ink.
Although my plastic tables are very sturdy, I just get better results when I use my wood table. It does not seem to matter whether I am using a wood mounted rubber stamp, clear stamp on an acrylic block, or the Tonic stamp platform.
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Post by midorica on Oct 1, 2017 3:58:52 GMT
I ended up needing to use foam with my platform tonight. I was stamping a little critter from Imaginesce, and only half of it would stamp, no matter how much pressure I applied. It was in the same corner I always use, so I think it's just a weird, uneven stamp. The thin foam from AliExpress was just what I needed to get a good impression.
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djc
Shy Member
Posts: 16
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Post by djc on Oct 2, 2017 15:25:06 GMT
I so agree with this. I use an old acrylic cutting board on top of my Lifeline(?) table, and that works great. It seems counter-intuitive since we also need cushioning, but you really do need that hard surface at the bottom.
Daria
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Post by gale w on Oct 3, 2017 17:29:21 GMT
I used the brayer to apply even pressure on the lid of the stamp press, NOT to apply the ink. Although my plastic tables are very sturdy, I just get better results when I use my wood table. It does not seem to matter whether I am using a wood mounted rubber stamp, clear stamp on an acrylic block, or the Tonic stamp platform. Here's my work surface. I think it's pretty sturdy? It's a wood top on top of the cubes. I also have that kitchen counter in there that I think is pretty sturdy, although, as you can see, part of it isn't over cabinets. I mostly use this table for stamping with my positioners.  |
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,451
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Post by scrapnnana on Oct 4, 2017 20:27:36 GMT
Your photo did not come through, unfortunately.
When I stamp, no matter what stamp I use, no matter what mounting the stamp is on, if there is even the slightest "give" to the surface underneath my paper or cardstock when I stamp, it will not be as good an image as when I use my wood table that has no give whatsoever.
If your surface has no give to it, then I think you have to assume you Tonic is faulty.
I have two Tonic stamp platforms. Both were bought when it first came out. Both work fine for me. So either your Tonic is faulty in some way, or some other variable is giving you poor results. That variable does not affect the MISTI, though, which is what seems so odd. They are made slightly different, and I don't know if that difference gives the MISTI an edge over the Tonic, or if it is a manufacturing defect in your Tonic.
Almost I am tempted to buy a MISTI. Almost. But since my Tonic stamp platform seems to work well for me, I am content with the Tonic.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Nov 26, 2024 0:37:01 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2017 21:06:41 GMT
I wonder if the foam that comes with CTMH stamp sets would allow for a better stamped image. It's not as thick as fun foam.
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Post by gale w on Oct 4, 2017 22:45:19 GMT
Your photo did not come through, unfortunately. When I stamp, no matter what stamp I use, no matter what mounting the stamp is on, if there is even the slightest "give" to the surface underneath my paper or cardstock when I stamp, it will not be as good an image as when I use my wood table that has no give whatsoever. If your surface has no give to it, then I think you have to assume you Tonic is faulty. I have two Tonic stamp platforms. Both were bought when it first came out. Both work fine for me. So either your Tonic is faulty in some way, or some other variable is giving you poor results. That variable does not affect the MISTI, though, which is what seems so odd. They are made slightly different, and I don't know if that difference gives the MISTI an edge over the Tonic, or if it is a manufacturing defect in your Tonic. Almost I am tempted to buy a MISTI. Almost. But since my Tonic stamp platform seems to work well for me, I am content with the Tonic. WTH. It was there but now it isn't. |
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Post by gale w on Oct 4, 2017 22:45:46 GMT
Now I see it in my original post again. Does everyone see it? I have it set to public through smugmug.
eta: maybe it's a smugmug issue. If I'm not logged into smugmug I can't see it. I pay for smugmug so I don't have these problems. SMH. Here it is in an attachment.
{deleted to save space}
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,451
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Post by scrapnnana on Oct 4, 2017 23:51:15 GMT
Now I can see it. Yes, the top over the cabinets looks like it should be firm/sturdy enough. Not sure if the counter that is open underneath would be. That one might have some slight give, but if you get the same results there as the other spot, it sounds like it might be the Tonic. Thanks for posting the picture.
It's just odd that the new one is not giving you good results, that you get the best results by combining the base of one and the lid of the other. If you lived near me, I'd say come try mine and see what results you get, but unless you live in the DFW area, that isn't an option.
If I were in you shoes, I would be so frustrated. I'm sorry. I wish I could help.
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,451
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Post by scrapnnana on Oct 4, 2017 23:54:06 GMT
I wonder if the foam that comes with CTMH stamp sets would allow for a better stamped image. It's not as thick as fun foam. I have tried it, and yes, it is thin. I have a lot of CTMH stamps. I can't remember if I needed the foam when using the CTMH stamps or not. I don't think I did, but I will play with those stamps and the Tonic tonight and see. I will find the most detailed stamp from them to try. |
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