Frank James Rosettes

[WillGhormley]

Hey Guys,

Last year I tried to get Tandy Leather Factory to make the two rosette stamps used on Frank James' holster. They are nice, large, floral saddle-stamps. Good for fillin' corner decorations. TLF passed, so I started lookin' into where I might be able to get some made. At the same time, I was trying to find a source for good old west cartridge belt buckles. I ended up makin' the buckles myself, and now I've started in on the Frank James Rosette stamp project. I hope to have the first prototype stamps to test in about three weeks.

This got me thinkin' about other stamp projects there might be a need for. Since the arthritis in my thumbs has made decorative cuts more difficult, I filed down a pair of veiners to make a fake set of opposing decorative cuts. I use 'em all the time. It saves a lot of wear and tear on my hands.

I was wonderin' if anyone else thinks such stamps would be worth havin'. I've thought about makin' three or four sets: small, medium, large, and maybe a very curly set.

Any thoughts?

Will

[bruce johnson]

Will,

I hear you on the thumb deal. I have dislocated my right thumb 3 times in the last 2 years. I could do straight lines and smooth larger turns OK with the splint, but the tight curves were all but impossible. A few things I did to keep it going. I bought a fair amount of the cutting plates that Richard Fletcher makes. They are in oak leaf, flower, and floral leaf patterns. They can be used with a press or tapped and they cut the line. Some people call them "cheaters". As I have healed, I use them less. One reason is that they require some care in postioning, can't see through them. The other reason is that although I probably have 30 of them, I never have the right size for anything but a stock pattern. The third reason is I am getting bored with the same ol', same ol'.

I don't have those old J hook dec cut stamps that Tandy had eons ago, but I did like you did, took some veiners and thinned them up. Then ground the marks off them. Made a thin cutting arced tool. Tap them to make a cut, tip to the right angle. I also used them to cut the tight curves and scallops, by holding the stamp so the face was all flat to the leather. A little dremel work on off the rack veiners, and they are pretty good for that. Barry King makes some leaf and scallop cutter stamps, and I have had him make me some custom sizes to fit some of my own patterns too.

Jeremiah Watt makes some dec cut stamps too. They work decently on narrow sticker tips, but kind of get lost on wider things. I still use them a fair amount though, good for what they are designed for. I also use some thinner veiners on tips to make dec cuts is a "V" pattern, or a single impression from a thicker blade to end some stickers.

I see some demand for them, and think especially the curly set would have some market. Anxious to see the rosette stamps too.

[robert]

Hi Will

Welcome to the board... you and i talked (or emailed maybe) several years ago, but I dont remember exactly on what. I think it was when I was using your patterns for some articles and wanted to give proper credit.

Anyway, regarding the tools, I've recently started making a few tools to sell... I have sold 10-12 of them on ebay just to see what the demand was and how much people might think they are worth. That might be a way to guage interest in the tools you are making. You probably wont get as much as you could, but you wont have any marketing money invested either until you figure out how much demand there is.

Robert Wood

[Warren]

Will, I would be interested in the rosette stamps and probably others as well. Oh, and "THANKS" for all the work you put in helping us learning leatherworkers. It's great to be able to have patterns that show how to do something at such an affordable price.

Warren

[WillGhormley]

Hey Warren,

Not a problem. It's what I do.

Will