Dried Distress Inks?

Dec '15 MichaelaJordanScrapbooking

Hi Everyone,
I am thinking of buying some distress inks as I am starting to get into mixed media and such, but I am worried that if I have too many inks they will go dry over time. Has anyone had any such issues. I hope that makes sense.
I would appreciated your insights on this. Thanks!
Dec '15 Wendy.t.perez

RE: MichaelaJordanScrapbooking: Hi Everyone, I am thinking of buying some distress inks as I am starting to get into mixed media and such, but I am worried that if I have too many inks they will go dry over time. Has anyone had any such issues. I hope that makes sense. I would appreciated your insights on this. Thanks!

I store mine upside down, tightly sealed. Opened one up today that I hadn't opened in 14 years. You'd never know as the stamp I produced looked perfect!
Dec '15 Kathy101

RE: Wendy.t.perez: I store mine upside down, tightly sealed. Opened one up today that I hadn't opened in 14 years. You'd never know as the stamp I produced looked perfect!

Wendy Good advice!! I will have to do that with all my ink pads. How would you get the dry out ink pads to work again?
Dec '15 Don1

RE: Kathy101: Wendy Good advice!! I will have to do that with all my ink pads. How would you get the dry out ink pads to work again?

I store my ink pads upside down to keep the ink on the surface of the pad, except for pigment inks, which are so inky they can create an inky mess if stored upside down.
I also label the color on the bottom of the upside down inks.
If they do dry out, just toss it.
Dec '15 Joanie R

RE: Don1: I store my ink pads upside down to keep the ink on the surface of the pad, except for pigment inks, which are so inky they can create an inky mess if stored upside down. I also label the color on the bottom of the upside down inks. If they do dry out, just toss it.

Plus, if you're talking about Ranger inks, they sell reinkers for all of their colors. But the pads themselves come so juicy, I don't see that you would need one right away.
Dec '15 Lilymommy

RE: Joanie R: Plus, if you're talking about Ranger inks, they sell reinkers for all of their colors. But the pads themselves come so juicy, I don't see that you would need one right away.

I stopped scrapping for 8 years. I thought all my inks would be dry but when I pulled them out, the majority worked just fine. Some of the cheaper brands were dry but I just tossed those. Also the star on pads were bone dry and cracked so those went also. All my distress inks were perfect and they weren't stored upside down just randomly thrown in a tub.
Dec '15 Don1

RE: Lilymommy: I stopped scrapping for 8 years. I thought all my inks would be dry but when I pulled them out, the majority worked just fine. Some of the cheaper brands were dry but I just tossed those. Also the star on pads were bone dry and cracked so those went also. All my distress inks were perfect and they weren't stored upside down just randomly thrown in a tub.

I have tried "re-inking" twice. I now just buy a new ink pad.
I also made the mistake of buying Staz-on silver. I didn't know you were required to use a re inker to charge the pad. I just thought it was nice of them to add the re-inker as a bonus.
Dec '15 Travelscrapper2

RE: Don1: I have tried "re-inking" twice. I now just buy a new ink pad. I also made the mistake of buying Staz-on silver. I didn't know you were required to use a re inker to charge the pad. I just thought it was nice of them to add the re-inker as a bonus.

Since the Tim Holtz/Ranger distress inks are water based could you spritz a little water on them if they started to dry out. I haven't tried it, just wondering.
Dec '15 Ppilgrim

RE: Don1: I have tried "re-inking" twice. I now just buy a new ink pad. I also made the mistake of buying Staz-on silver. I didn't know you were required to use a re inker to charge the pad. I just thought it was nice of them to add the re-inker as a bonus.

Actually, Tim Holtz himself insists that you don't need to store Distress Ink pads upside down to keep them from drying out. (He gets quite intense on the subject, for some reason).

Anyway, I store mine right side up and haven't had issues with them drying out. They're pretty "juicy" to start with and I've only ever had to re-ink the ones I use constantly. I've had my Black Soot ink pad for ages and it's still like new because I rarely use it.
Dec '15 MichaelaJordanScrapbooking

RE: Ppilgrim: Actually, Tim Holtz himself insists that you don't need to store Distress Ink pads upside down to keep them from drying out. (He gets quite intense on the subject, for some reason). Anyway, I store mine right side up and haven't had issues with them drying out. They're pretty "juicy" to start with and I've only ever had to re-ink the ones I use constantly. I've had my Black Soot ink pad ...

Thank you everyone!
May '19 Bevviemarie

RE: MichaelaJordanScrapbooking: Thank you everyone!

I think it might depend on how humid your climate is. I live in the desert SW and sometimes brand new distress ink pads are so dry they are barely usable. They definitely donâ€™t behave the way I see them being used on youtube videos. Distress oxides, on the other hand, seem to be moister. Any help on how to make a new pad moist would be helpful as just throwing them away to buy another dry pad isnâ€™t a solution.
May '19 Eflevin

RE: Bevviemarie: I think it might depend on how humid your climate is. I live in the desert SW and sometimes brand new distress ink pads are so dry they are barely usable. They definitely donâ€™t behave the way I see them being used on youtube videos. Distress oxides, on the other hand, seem to be moister. Any help on how to make a new pad moist would be helpful as just throwing them away to buy another d...

Tim Holtz sells a distress ink Refresher. I have it and it works great.
Jun '19 Ms. Fit

RE: Eflevin: Tim Holtz sells a distress ink Refresher. I have it and it works great.

I have in the past bought ink pads that were not as juicy as I thought they should be. I started making it a habit to buy a bottle of re-inker at the same time I bought a new Color Box or Distress ink pad. When I re-ink a pad, I make it very juicy. I have not bought a new ink pad or re-inker in years. Also, I quit storing Distress inks upside down a few years back and have had no problem. Other brands are still stored upside down but I don't know if it is really necessary.
Jun '19 Southgirl

RE: Ms. Fit: I have in the past bought ink pads that were not as juicy as I thought they should be. I started making it a habit to buy a bottle of re-inker at the same time I bought a new Color Box or Distress ink pad. When I re-ink a pad, I make it very juicy. I have not bought a new ink pad or re-inker in years. Also, I quit storing Distress inks upside down a few years back and have had no problem. Ot...

I put a rubber band around my Tim Holtz pads as they never seem to close a snug as I want and when transporting them they pop open and cause a mess. WHY on earth does he design such a flimsy container for such awesome pads?
Jun '19 Sewflake

RE: Southgirl: I put a rubber band around my Tim Holtz pads as they never seem to close a snug as I want and when transporting them they pop open and cause a mess. WHY on earth does he design such a flimsy container for such awesome pads?

I have had a few issues with the TH ink pads...reg size. No matter what the issue is the sales rep will take them back and exchange for a new pad. Some I could not even pry the lid off, another broke when I did pry it off, still another the felt pad was not adhered to the plastic "box"...all were returned and replaced even at my LSS where I DID NOT purchase those inks. The sales rep said, no problem!
I too purchase a re-inker when I get a new color....after 10 (for some pads) years they are still going strong!!!