How to Make Your Own Inexpensive Contractor Stamps
By Paul A. Boccadoro

For those of us who enjoy making our own Federal uniform items, you know that it is difficult to reproduce contractor and inspector stamps. It is not economical for an individual to have a custom rubber stamp made for just one stamping. Making a stencil is another option, but one must be extremly skilled to accurately cut out each letter, assuming the original font is even in a stencil letter format, and the result is not quite the same as a stamp. Thus I have come up with an inexpensive way to make high quality stamps using just some graphics skills, a laser printer or photocopier, and a blender marker. I learned this technique when I was in Architecture school where we would routinely transfer computer printed titles onto building models, and I have simply adopted this method to transfer stamp designs onto material.
   

STEP 1: RECREATE THE STAMP DESIGN

The most time-consuming part of this process is to recreate the stamp design using a graphics program where you have a large amount of control over the typeface, such as Adobe Photoshop or InDesign. It is best to have a straight-on shot of the original stamp along with some measurements to copy it as closely as possible. If you cannot make the stamp and do not know someone who can help, email me and I can make it for you if you have photos and measurements of the original. I just ask that in exchange I can post it at the bottom of this page for others to also use.

STEP 2: PRINT OR PHOTOCOPY THE MIRRORED DESIGN

It is ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY that the design be printed in TONER from a laser printer or a photocopier, NOT INK from an ink jet printer. Also, it MUST be a MIRRORED IMAGE. You can either print a mirrored image on a laser printer, OR print a mirrored image on ink jet and then photocopy it, OR print a forward image on ink jet then photocopy it as mirrored image. Make numerous prints/copies so you can practice doing the transfer several times before doing your final one.

STEP 3: PREPARE TO TRANSFER THE DESIGN

You will need to buy a Blender Marker at an art or craft store, costing about $5 or so. These are used by artists to blend marker ink on paper, and contain a clear, quick drying chemical similar to acetone. Cut out your mirrored design from the paper, giving yourself a fair size margin around the edges to secure it while doing the transfer.

STEP 4: WET THE TRANSFER

Have your fabric on a flat hard surface like a kitchen counter top. Tape the cut-out design face-down onto your fabric with masking tape. Use one hand to hold the design very firmly in place, and then run the blender marker over the entire back of the design if it small, or do one line at a time if the stamp is large (the chemical dries quickly and it needs to be wet when doing the transfer).

STEP 5: APPLY THE TRANSFER

Using the edge of the marker cap or a very firm finger, rub the back of the design with a lot of pressure to transfer the design. BE CAREFUL not to stretch the fabric or shift the paper – this will distort or smear the transferred design. Using a hard edge like the marker cap will make a darker transfer, while your finger will produce a lighter transfer.

STEP 6: FINISHED

Let the transferred design dry for a couple minutes, then remove the paper and now you should have a nicely "stamped" contractor mark. The toner is not water soluable, so the stamp will not bleed when exposed to water or perspiration. Experiment with different pressures and tools for rubbing the stamp to achieve the desired "rubber stamp" effect. With some practice, you can achieve very realistic looking stamp effects by making some areas darker than others.

IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS

You must 100% absolutely practice this procedure on scrap material before doing it on your final garment. When you are ready to do the final one, it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that you do the transfer on your cut pattern piece of material BEFORE sewing the pieces together just in case you are not happy with the stamp. Also, each print can only be used once, so make several copies of the design so you can practice numerous times. Some original stamps were done in colors such as red, and making your laser print or photocopy in other colors should work, too. You may get varying results depending upon the type of fabric you are using, so again, do many tests before stamping your final piece. Good Luck!

 

PRE-MADE CONTRACTOR STAMPS
Original Stamp
Description
Recreation
Printable Mirrored Stamps


• • •
E.TRACY
PHIL'A
Oct 21st 64

from US Cavalry Overcoat