Adding Ink to your Hand Stamp Pad

1. Make sure you have purchased the correct ink for your stamp pad. Be careful—many colors like black and blue look similar. For standard hand stamp pads, we recommend Trodat “Ideal” stamp ink.
2. Shake your bottle of ink well before use.
3. Starting at the perimeter, place the nozzle on the pad’s surface and squeeze gently until ink flows.
4. Continue steadily around the edge. Then begin moving up and down across the surface of the pad.
5. Cover the entire pad in ink. Let it sit for at least 5 minutes to absorb.
6. Do not over-ink! Go over each area only once. If ink pools on the surface or impressions are blotchy, you’ve used too much.
7. If over-inked, gently dab with a paper towel to remove excess ink.

Follow the same steps listed above. Since the pad is new and uninked, it may absorb more ink—this is perfectly normal.

Allow new pads to sit for at least 20 minutes before use for best results.