The magnesium is pressed into a material called Matrix. Matrix has a wall, that when heated for the first time, accepts the print of the magnesium. It is pressed under about 4000 pounds of pressure and 312 degrees of heat in a machine called a vulcanizer, for about 10 minutes. At this point the magnesium plate can be stored. It is not needed again unless the matrix becomes damaged.
Rubber comes in large rolls as a thin formed sheet.
A sheet of rubber is cut to size and laid on top of the matrix plate, and the rubber is pressed into the matrix in the vulcanizer just as the matrix was pressed with the magnesium. The molded sheet of rubber can now be trimmed into individual images. Foam is usually placed between the wood mount and rubber on a stamp to help deminish any regularities in the rubber and make a better impression. The top of the wood is often imprinted with the image of the rubber stamp. All the content has been submitted by Info Network members and we make no claim as to its accuracy or validity.