A rechargeable ink pad having particular use with solution ink. The ink pad has a bottom layer of porous polychloroprene latex foam with pore sizes of 200.mu. to 500.mu. and a top layer of polyethylene foam with pore sizes of 10.mu. to 20.mu.. The two layers are secured to one another by a fusible web adhesive. A method of customizing the porous polychloroprene latex layer to obtain desired properties by felting has been discovered. Such felting renders the finished porous polychloroprene latex foam suitable for controlled ink flow required for printing purposes.

A method of felting porous polychloroprene latex foam to obtain desired properties. Such felting renders the finished foam suitable for controlled ink flow required for printing purposes. The felting is accomplished by reducing the volume of the porous polychloroprene latex foam and heating at a temperature of 400.degree. to 460.degree. F. for five to ten minutes.

A method and an apparatus for stabilizing a microporous marking structure is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of placing a microporous marking structure in conjunction with an absorbent material within a stabilizing device. A positive pressure is then applied to the microporous marking structure within the stabilizing device until a sufficient amount of ink originally retained within the microporous marking structure is forced to flow therefrom into the absorbent material so that the microporous marking structure obtains a substantially stabilized state. The apparatus may comprise a pair of substantially rigid plates arranged for relative movement with respect to each other wherein at least one of the substantially rigid plates is adapted to support a microporous marking structure thereon until the microporous marking structure is arranged between the plates. The apparatus also includes a pressure generating device for compressing the microporous marking structure between the pair of rigid plates until a desired amount of ink is removed from the marking structure.