Makers Stamp

[jpstees]

I have been lurking this forum for a year or so and have learned much of what I know about leatherworking from here. I want to give back , so I am going to attempt to do a how to make a personalized makers stamp. This method could be used for many other kinds of stamps as well. JB stick by JB Weld ,Pocket Poxy,and other names is, the name of the stuff used to make the stamp. It's a two part epoxy putty that can be bought from many auto supply , hardware , and department stores. I comes in plastic sleve that's about one inch in diameter and contains a roll of two part epoxy that is kneaded ,until a uniform color before used, and then allowed to harden.(use latex gloves when handling)

I first made my original design on leather using alphabet stamps and twisted copper wire for a border design as seen in photos. Be sure to get all impressions as fine and deep as possible. Once your original is complete, take a piece of JB stick putty big enough to cover the area of the stamp and be at least three eights of and inch thick. Make it into a hocky puck shape. Put the kneaded putty over the original stamping, press and work into the stamped impressions using your fingers and what ever you need to get worked into the pattern. Work fast, it will start hardening within minutes. Remember to keep 3/8 inch thick it will spread out . Let harden and set to cool at least one hour. When ready, peel off of the leather . You can take a power sander or grinder to dress up the edges and make a smooth flat bottom for recommended use with a press of some sort. I use a flat washer between the stamp and the arbor on my press to distribute the pressure evenly.(see pics)

Tip 1 Use spray can laquer or similar to spray the original to help release the hardened putty .

Tip 2 I don't recommend using a hammer for impressions but have done it in a pinch (risk of breaking)

Don't know how many impressions can be made but should last as a makers stamp.

Have fun!!!

[WyomingSlick]

Nice contribution to the forum.

Looks like a nice cheap alternative for those who are still toying with the idea of a custom stamp and are not sure what they want. With this method, they could make several differant styles, and see how they work out for their products.

[Chavez]

Thanks for the idea!

My work is still too crappy to honour it with a makers stamp, but at least I can start experimenting with the design=))

[Suicide]

[ramrod]

this is awesome!! what a cool idea.

[John D]

Fantastic, I have a mark but it takes me about 10 minutes to hand carve on each project. I am going to give this a whirl over the weekend.

[5Rings]

I don't have an arbor press, but I did pick up a few "sacrificial" 3D stamps at a recent TLF sale. I was thinking I would use them as starting points for learning to shape my own stamps. Do you think it would work to embed a 3D stamp in the back of your epoxy stamp? The idea would be to evenly distribute the impact from a mallet and provide a convenient attachment point to a handle I already have. What do you think?

[jpstees]

I have hammered on mine without breaking one yet. it sounds like a good plan, the worst you could do is break it . just make another they're cheap to make j.p.

I don't have an arbor press, but I did pick up a few "sacrificial" 3D stamps at a recent TLF sale. I was thinking I would use them as starting points for learning to shape my own stamps. Do you think it would work to embed a 3D stamp in the back of your epoxy stamp? The idea would be to evenly distribute the impact from a mallet and provide a convenient attachment point to a handle I already have. What do you think?