It also means you have to do a little more work to use your stamps. Of course, if you cannot handle sharp tools without inflicting hemorraghic wounds, read no further. For those with average dexterity and craftiness, continue on. Rubber cushion can be hard for a civilian to acquire. We do offer cushion to those who mount their own stamps.
Wood Handles most people can improvise.
Wood is fairly easy to obtain and our favorite local places are wood shops and picture framing stores. Acrylic handles are really nifty as they allow you to see thru the handle and align the image very precisely. Acrylic handles are very tricky to find outside of the rubber stamp venue, and most of the window shops that sell sheets of acrylic really don't want to mess with cutting small blocks for a civilian. Also, putting a hour glass shape on the edge of a handle is best left to the pros, as acrylic routers are not a toy for the novice. This is a very clever product first shown to the Poets by Michael Meador of Coffee Break Designs back in 1994.