I'm looking for a source to buy some rubber stamps for numbers, and I'm hoping someone here may have had some experience.

I need them to be 1/4" tall, and would really like a simple font, not one those fancy artistic types which is all I can seem to find. I'm going to use them to mark part numbers on some sheet metal parts that I'm restoring, and a few I'm making new, and really want them to look correct.

So far the biggest issue is finding ones that actually state their size. Has anyone bought this type of stamp before?

I appreciate any input!

We had a set of 7/32" (actually 5.5mm) tall character stamps made by a local firm - for the 37 individual stamps, we paid a modest $59 Each are on the end of a wooden 5/16" diameter dowel length, with the number 6 and 9 sharing the same stamp, and we have a dash and a period. A-Z, 0-8, dash, period. We use them to mark circuit cards with a part number, as they come without them from the subcontractor.

The company used a laser engraver to make them - in a Helvetica Narrow font.

Etsy may have been cheaper....

https://www.etsy.com/listing/205878831/ ... 5AQAvD_BwE

Back in the machine shop days, doing work for Bell/Textron and their subs, as well as Big Red and Big Blue, we had to use a permanent metal marking system using rubber stamps and certain inks. I bought from
http://www.opcompany.com/
at the time, as they were on the approved vendor list. They were good to work with.

Have you considered electrochemical etching? Or would that not meet your needs. It's permanent even moreso than indelible inks make for metal marking.

Have you tried an office supply store? I used to see rubber stamp sets there but I don't know the size. Or, as mentioned above, a rubber stamp shop can make them to your specifications.

Also, as briefly mentioned, you have to use special ink to print on metal. Regular stamp pad ink is made to soak into the paper and will rub off of metal. One place where I used to work did stamp metal. The ink had to be applied to the stamp pad IMMEDIATELY before use. I dried on the pad in about 30 seconds. I don't know where they got it from; as a start,I would ask at your local rubber stamp manufacturer.

Try a crafts place, Michaels, Hobby Lobby....

McMaster-Carr
https://www.mcmaster.com/rubber-stamps