Stamp Care: Replacing the Ink Pad and Choosing the Right Ink

The most common cause is low ink or a dried pad. On self-inking stamps the plate takes ink from an internal pad with each impression. Over time the pad dries or runs out, giving faint, patchy or smudged prints. The good news: the fix is usually to renew the pad, not the body.

On self-inking stamps, changing the pad takes seconds and needs no tools:

• Press the stamp down and lock it by pushing the side tabs inward
• Pull out the old pad by its edge
• Push the correct new pad in until it seats fully
• Release the lock and make a few test prints to spread the ink

Ink is chosen for the surface. Standard water-based inks are for paper. Non-porous surfaces like metal, plastic and glass need fast-drying special (industrial) inks. Colour matters for corporate identity; two-colour pads separate the date and approval mark in a single impression.

Mixing different ink brands/types can damage the pad; always use the original ink matched to your stamp series.

Store the stamp away from direct sun and heat, in its closed (not pressed) position. Over-inking floods the pad and smears prints; add ink little by little. Dust and paper lint on the plate can be wiped off with a slightly damp cloth.

Replacement pads and inks for all COLOP series are stocked in Turkey by Teknik Atılım, so you can use your stamp for years without replacing the body. For the sustainability-minded, the COLOP Green Line series is made from recycled plastics and works on the same replaceable-pad principle.