Signs you need a new ink pad
- Prints look faint, grey or patchy
- Parts of the text or logo are missing
- You’ve already pressed harder and it hasn’t helped
- You’ve just changed the text plate (always fit a new pad with a new text plate, as the old pad holds an imprint of the old wording)
Step 1: Find your model number
The model is printed on the side or the underside of the stamp. Once you know it, you can order the matching pad.
| Brand and range | Example model | Matching pad |
|---|---|---|
| Colop Printer | Printer 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 | E/20, E/30, E/40, E/50, E/60 |
| Colop Printer round | Printer R 17, R 40 | E/R 17, E/R 40 |
| Colop Printer square | Printer Q 17, Q 30 | E/Q 17, E/Q 30 |
| Colop Classic | Classic 2300, 2600 | E/2300, E/2600 |
| Trodat Printy | Printy 4911, 4912, 4913 | 6/4911, 6/4912, 6/4913 |
Not sure? Send us a photo of your stamp and we’ll tell you which pad you need.
Step 2: Remove the old pad
Colop Printer stamps: hold the stamp upright on the desk. Grip the small tab on the end of the ink pad and slide it out sideways. If it feels stuck, press the handle down slightly and try again.
Trodat Printy stamps: press the handle down about halfway, until the pad lines up with the opening at the side. Press the release button and slide the pad out.
Tip: rest the stamp on a sheet of scrap paper while you work, so any stray ink doesn’t reach your desk.
Step 3: Fit the new pad
Take the new pad out of its packaging and slide it into the same opening, ink side down, until it clicks into place. Don’t touch the ink surface with your fingers.
Step 4: Test it
Stamp a few times on scrap paper. The first couple of prints may be slightly heavy while the new pad settles, then you’ll get clean, even prints.
Replace or re-ink?
You can add a few drops of bottled ink to an old pad, but we recommend replacing it. A new pad spreads ink evenly across the whole surface, so you get a sharper print. Re-inking can leave patches that are too wet or too dry, and the wrong ink can damage the pad or the text plate. If you do re-ink, always use ink made for your brand of stamp.
Making your ink pad last longer
- Keep the stamp in its locked or resting position, with the pad covered, when you’re not using it.
- Store it upright, away from radiators and direct sunlight.
- Use the right ink for the surface. Standard self-inking ink is made for paper and card.
- Keep a spare pad in the drawer if you stamp every day. Colop pads come in packs of two.
- Colop Printer replacement ink pads (pack of 2)
- Colop round replacement ink pads (pack of 2)
- Colop square replacement ink pads (pack of 2)
- Colop Classic replacement ink pads (pack of 2)
Frequently asked questions
How long does an ink pad last?
It depends on how often you stamp and how big the stamp is, but a pad typically gives thousands of prints. If you stamp every day, expect to replace it every few months.
What colours can I get?
Colop pads come in black, blue, red, green and violet. Some models also take a two-colour pad, such as blue and red.
Can I change the ink colour of my stamp?
Yes. Just fit a pad in the new colour. If you’re switching from a dark colour to a light one, stamp a few times on scrap paper first to clear the old ink from the text plate.
My new pad still gives a faint print. What’s wrong?
Check the pad is pushed fully in and the right way up. If the text plate is clogged with dust or old ink, clean it gently with a damp cloth. If the print is still poor, get in touch and we’ll help.
Do you sell Trodat ink pads?
[Answer depends on Stamp Co adding Trodat pads to the range.]
Get your stamp printing like new
Find the right replacement ink pad for your stamp, made by Colop and dispatched [dispatch wording to be agreed].
