Before storage in the warehouse, how they should be in stock and how to prepare them for printing

The preservation of silicone swabs is essential: a poorly treated swab loses elasticity, dries out or “sweats” oil, compromising the quality of the ink transfer.

Here’s a handy guide to how you can manage your pads, from pre-storage cleaning to preparing for printing.

Before Storage (Cleaning)
Never store a dirty pad. Ink or solvent residue can attack the silicone compound over time.

Gentle cleaning: Use a soft cloth soaked in a pad cleaner or isopropyl alcohol (if permitted by the manufacturer). Avoid solvents that are too harsh as they could swell the silicone.

Drying: Make sure the pad is perfectly dry before putting it away.

Protection: Apply a very thin film of silicone oil to the surface if you plan to store it for a very long time, to prevent the rubber from drying out.

How to store them Silicone
is sensitive to pressure and light.

“Upside Down” Position: The pads should be stored with the silicone part facing up. Never place them on the tip or stack them on top of each other: the weight will create permanent deformations.

Protective containers: The ideal is to store them in their original boxes or in closed cabinets to protect them from dust (which is the sworn enemy of pad printing).

Controlled Environment:

Temperature: Between 15°C and 25°C.

Humidity: Dry environment.

Light: Protected from direct UV rays (sunlight or strong lamps), which accelerate the aging of the polymer.

Preparing for printing
When you take the swab from stock, you can’t use it immediately if you want a perfect result.

Waking up the pad: If it has been sitting for a long time, wipe it with cloth tape (the one you use for cleaning during printing) to remove dust and surface oil residue.

Activation (Optional): If the pad is new or very dry, it may “reject” the ink. In this case, wipe it with a soft cloth and a little ink thinner to slightly “open” the pores of the surface.

Integrity Check: Visually check that there are no micro-cuts or air bubbles on the print surface.

Golden tip: If the pad “sweats” oil (small droplets on the surface), clean it thoroughly before use. If the phenomenon is excessive, the swab may have reached the end of its useful life.

Need help choosing the type of hardness (Shore) of the pad based on the part you need to print?