Rubber Stamp FAQ

Answers to the questions we hear most about our custom rubber stamps and imprints. For anything not covered here, see our extended FAQ or email store@wmscoshop.com.

Why order a custom stamp from Wms&Co.?
Our stamps are designed objects — proportioned, streamlined, and built for daily use: solid wood hand stamps, cast bronze octagons, and heavy self-inking stampers in vintage industrial style. The imprint itself is typeset by hand in our studio, not run through a template.

Do I approve the design before it's made?
Always. Our designers typeset your imprint by hand and email a proof for your review before production. One round of small refinements is included.

Should I choose a self-inking stamp or a hand stamp?
The self-inking stamper carries a hidden ink pad and a retractable mechanism — one motion, no separate pad — and its imprint plates are interchangeable, so a single stamp body can serve multiple imprints. The hand stamp pairs with a separate ink pad and offers more control: it takes pigment and metallic inks, and it renders fine detail more crisply.

How much fine detail can a stamp hold?
Fine lines have limits in rubber. Very narrow linework reproduces best on the hand stamp — the self-inking mechanism won't render it quite as crisply. Type should be at least 8 points, bold type is best avoided below 12 points (ink fills the letterforms), and reverse art — white on black — is difficult at small sizes. Our designers flag any of this at the proof stage, before production.

Can I get a PDF of my imprint?
Yes. Your typeset proof is delivered as a PDF and is yours to keep — for your records, reorders, or electronic use.

How long does it take?
Custom stamps ship in 4–5 business days from the moment you approve your proof.

What if my details change later?
The stamper outlives the imprint. If your address, name, or license number changes, order a replacement imprint rubber alone — no need to replace the stamp.