Posted by yihi on 5/14/10 7:56pm
Msg #336595

notary seal

I was sitting reading this forum and suddenly it came up to my head...
How do you know your seal needs to be replaced in advance?

Reply by Claudine Osborne on 5/14/10 7:58pm
Msg #336596

I use the self inking type and when the imprint starts lightening up then I know its time..

Reply by Moneyman/TX on 5/14/10 8:10pm
Msg #336599

Depends on how often you get use it. I used to have to change out the ink a lot more often myself.

I personally use the rule of thumb that the first time I have any issue with the stamp showing up a little light, or not being as crisp as I think it should, I change out the ink.

Reply by Blueink_TN on 5/14/10 8:26pm
Msg #336602

I have NEVER had that problem. If your ink/seal is not lasting long enough, then dang you are doing a wonderful job, I wish that was my problem!! LOL

Reply by PAW on 5/14/10 8:32pm
Msg #336603

Fortunately I do have that problem, sort of. A stamp used to last about 3 years, after the downfall of the housing market. But lately, I'm having to refill the ink about every 18 months due to the high number of educational documents that I handle and the increased number of healthcare directives and estate planning documents that I've been doing. I'm not complaining in the least.

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 5/14/10 10:15pm
Msg #336611

That's a good problem to have, for sure.

It's just a pain in CA because if we want a new seal, we have to send a letter to the SoS requesting an authorization to have one manufactured and that can take weeks.

That's why I always have back-up... and maybe even a backup for the backup.

Reply by Susan Fischer on 5/14/10 10:26pm
Msg #336613

In OR, we can only have *one* stamp at a time. If I wanted

a backup? No dice. The re-issue of my Commission would reflect the a "D" (duplicate) at the end of my current Commission number - and every journal entry after that date better reflect the duplicate Commission number.

I'd dearly ~love~ to have backups, but alas, Oregon is picky that way. Perhaps because it's enough to guard one stamp? Dunno. Anyhoo, a no-go here.

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 5/14/10 11:08pm
Msg #336614

AZ is the same. Only 1 stamp at a time! n/m

Reply by Gavina Franklin on 5/14/10 11:44pm
Msg #336616

1 week... just received my certificateof authorization today n/m

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 5/15/10 1:08am
Msg #336624

Wow... that's fast! The last time I did it it took 3 weeks. n/m

Reply by PAW on 5/15/10 7:55am
Msg #336638

I'm not replacing the seal, just re-inking it. The seal itself lasts the full four years (length of our term) and must be replaced when a new term begins because the term expiration date is a required element of the seal.

Reply by C. Rivera Chicago Notary Services on 5/15/10 6:24am
Msg #336631

what kind of educational documents r u handling PAW?? n/m

Reply by PAW on 5/15/10 7:59am
Msg #336641

Re: what kind of educational documents r u handling PAW??

There are many. Most common is the diploma (or degree). Others include transcripts (from a private school, not available publicly), letters of enrollment, applications for teaching, educator's certificates, etc. All a part of my apostille and document legalization processing service.

Reply by Ilene C. Seidel on 5/15/10 6:04am
Msg #336628

I buy my stamps locally they have a lifetime warranty so when the ink lightens I take it back to the store they give me a new stamp. For each commission term I buy three stamps. I know I'm anil.

Reply by LKT/CA on 5/14/10 10:18pm
Msg #336612

I have a self inking stamp that when the impressions get light, I have a bottle of ink (made specifically for that stamp) and can re-ink the pad as needed - usually every 3 months

Reply by Susan Fischer on 5/15/10 12:32am
Msg #336621

I have an 'OverInking' confession, but it's Friday nite,

and I'm not going to discuss it.

Pretty soon I'll have to perform Q-Tip/Alcohol therapy, and see if I can clean up the rubberstampy parts and clean out the spaces of the Sea and its language.

Stamp maintenance. (there's a Haiku in there somewhere...)

Reply by Susan Fischer on 5/15/10 11:50pm
Msg #336734

that should be "seal", not 'sea'...sorry. n/m

Reply by Robert/FL on 5/15/10 1:18pm
Msg #336699

Why wouldn't you just re-ink the stamp you have

rather than buy an entirely new stamp? I can understand if you are in a state where your stamp can be any design and you want different sizes/designs for different documents, but in California your seals all look almost the same (unless you have a round one), so why wouldn't you just add ink to your existing stamp? Even if you want to change your ink color, can't you just put in a new colored ink pad?

I now have 10 notary stamps of all different sizes and shapes, all of which are kept in a locked box. I have a little bit of an obsession with collecting notary stamps, although all of our stamps must be black ink . The one I use the most is an "Ideal 100" stamp - inexpensive (around $10 with free shipping), easy to get online from a ton of different stamp websites, easy to reink, and it makes a good impression. And the ink bottles are not expensive and one bottle of Ideal ink will last you forever. The bottom part is clear so it's easy to see where it lines up on the page, and it makes that great clicking stamp noise when you push it down.

I also have the NR "Stingray" stamp which is good for some documents where there isn't much room for the stamp, but with those pre-inked stamps if you hold them down too long than the ink goes through the page. I think the pre-inked stamps continue to "pump out" ink as long as you have the stamp pressed onto the paper, whereas self-inking stamps don't have that problem.

I hate to say it, but in Florida the NNA pre-inked stamp is one of the best. It is a very nice design and the quality of the stamp is top-notch. I have never owned one but had a co-worker who did, which came with her bond through the NNA. But, I am not willing to drop $25 plus shipping for one of them.

Reply by MelissaM_FL on 5/15/10 10:14pm
Msg #336729

I have 2 stamps, but

they only last so long. I've worn out 1 stamp completely on this commission and I'm limping along until my renewal in 2 months with 1 slightly blurry stamp and 1 that is a little bit better. I hate to have to buy a new stamp right now. However, I am already planning to order 2 stamps with my renewal.