A self-inking stamp gives thousands of impressions — but one day the impression starts coming out faint. No need to buy a new machine: just re-ink the pad. It is a 2-minute job.
When to re-ink
When the edges of the impression fade, or the whole impression looks grey — that is a sign of the pad drying out, not the die wearing down. If the impression is patchy (some parts dark, some missing), clean the die with a soft brush first; if it is still faint, re-ink.
The 4-step method
- 1. Press the stamp lightly and lock it so the die faces inward.
- 2. Pinch the ink pad cartridge from the side and slide it out.
- 3. Add 3–4 evenly spaced drops of refill ink in the same colour to the pad — that is all. More ink = smudging.
- 4. Slide the pad back in and wait 10 minutes so the ink spreads evenly.
▶ Step-by-step: removing the pad and adding refill ink drops.
The over-inking trap
The most common mistake: pouring half the bottle onto the pad. An over-inked pad turns impressions into blobs, fills in fine text, and transfers ink onto documents where it smudges. If you do over-ink — take the pad out and stamp onto tissue a few times until the extra ink is gone.
How the machine actually works
What happens inside when you press the stamp? The die flips over, picks up ink from the pad, and flips back to land on the paper — it is satisfying to watch:
▶ Bonus: the flip mechanism inside your stamp, explained.
We stock refill ink in every colour — just add "I also need refill ink" when you order on WhatsApp.
