Tri Weave

[rickeyfro]

Is it just me or is it really hard to get a clean pattern with Tandy tri weave stamps? No matter how hard i try it seems the tool itself prevents a good crisp design. I know there has to be a reason for the major difference in prices between tandy stamps and other makers. Is the difference worth the price? Any suggestions on a good Tri Weave?

[Rawhide]

Is it just me or is it really hard to get a clean pattern with Tandy tri weave stamps? No matter how hard i try it seems the tool itself prevents a good crisp design. I know there has to be a reason for the major difference in prices between tandy stamps and other makers. Is the difference worth the price? Any suggestions on a good Tri Weave?

There is a BIG difference in the B/W tools from Tandy and other makers. The Tandy's can make a decent impression, but take considerably more effort to do so. Are you using a 2 lb mallet or maul? That can make a difference too. I seem to do better with my heavy maul for B/W tools.

I have a couple of Hidecrafter Basketweave tools and I think they give a far better impression than tandy's. That being said, I have a Barry King Crazy legs tool (which is a type of B/W) and the tandy version. The difference is astonishing. I can hit Barry's and give a clean impression with little effort, but the Tandy, takes everything I got, without risk of the tool slipping.

Marlon

[TwinOaks]

There's another aspect of the quality that Marlon mentioned....namely, how symmetrical the stamp is. Ever see the 'sale's that Tandy's been promoting? Ever wonder why they're trying to get rid of a whole lot of stamps? It's because several lots of them are poorly made; QC has apparently been outsourced too. Most of my 'new' b/w stamps are asymmetrical. I went through every d443 stamp in the Montgomery store before finding one that was even close to being cut the same on both sides. The 'geometric dots' set I bought won't make a stamped circle for anything. So take your triweave and mark one side of it (sharpie, nail polish, etc.) Then on a piece of scrap, get a GOOD impression with it. Next, rotate the stamp 120 degrees (1/3 of a circle) and place it back in the impression. Repeat. Does it match up PERFECTLY?

If not, that's a good reason why the pattern doesn't line up right.

[TomSwede]

There is a BIG difference in the B/W tools from Tandy and other makers. The Tandy's can make a decent impression, but take considerably more effort to do so. Are you using a 2 lb mallet or maul? That can make a difference too. I seem to do better with my heavy maul for B/W tools.

I have a couple of Hidecrafter Basketweave tools and I think they give a far better impression than tandy's. That being said, I have a Barry King Crazy legs tool (which is a type of B/W) and the tandy version. The difference is astonishing. I can hit Barry's and give a clean impression with little effort, but the Tandy, takes everything I got, without risk of the tool slipping.

Marlon

Can you call my supplier and tell them this?

Peter Main is their idol and they say he uses only Tandys and if I can't get a good impression I must practice more he he well I'm interested in getting the job quicker done really, so cleaner crisper and easier to use tools would still make me work faster wich I'm sure my customers would appreciate when orders pile up.

What I really would like to know now is what tools he is using, if you happen to read this Marlon or Peter? (so I can continue the debate with my supplier;-)

Tom

[Rawhide]

Can you call my supplier and tell them this?

Peter Main is their idol and they say he uses only Tandys and if I can't get a good impression I must practice more he he well I'm interested in getting the job quicker done really, so cleaner crisper and easier to use tools would still make me work faster wich I'm sure my customers would appreciate when orders pile up.

What I really would like to know now is what tools he is using, if you happen to read this Marlon or Peter? (so I can continue the debate with my supplier;-)

Tom

Tom, here's the catch to that statement. It's true that Peter uses quite a few Tandy tools, however, He modifies EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM! I didn't hear this from a friend or read it on a forum. Peter told me this in person, face to face. He says that NONE of the tools work the way they should when you buy them. So it's not just Peter's skill with a tool from tandy, it's what he does to the tool, as well as what he with the tool that makes his work unique and fantastic. And another thing you can tell your supplier is Peter doesn't use Tandy tools exclusively. He has some real gems, Don King swivel knife, Some Al Stohlman personal tools, his own designed modeling tool, etc...

Marlon

[TomSwede]

Thank you Marlon, I really appreciate it!

I prolly get into that debate with them again and I'll tell 'em allright. Now I understand they can't bring in exclusive tools for a single customer (Sweden is a tiny market) but quite frankly they try to bullsh** me around with such arguments instead of at least hearing me out.

Tom

[rickeyfro]

Glad to see its not just me, I was planning on getting some of the hidecrafter pro series, I was thinking of buying there set of sheridan tools all 20 of the procrafter sheridan collection for $198 according to the website.

[Rawhide]

Glad to see its not just me, I was planning on getting some of the hidecrafter pro series, I was thinking of buying there set of sheridan tools all 20 of the procrafter sheridan collection for $198 according to the website.

Here's an example folks. Try and guess which is Barry King's tool and which is Tandy's. I didn't alter the picture (other than sizing for posting) or the impression, I just hit them with the same intesity as I do when basket weaving.

Marlon

[superchute]

might check with hidecrafters about there mid priced tools i have some and there nice and there about 10 bucks each if i rember right .

Russ

[TwinOaks]

I think the biggest issue here is that Barry's tools are stainless steel that's been milled, filed, ground, and polished into shape. The Tandy tools, from my observation of MY tools, are definitely a lesser metal AND they appear to have a hard chrome finish. I say this because I've got a few that have been nicked/scratched and then had chrome flake off in small pieces. This last part is probably the culprit, as the act of plating the mild steel will fill in

the corners and round off the edges... slightly. Even a little bit will be enough to make the impression less defined.

A while back, I heard that Tandy wanted to buy back or borrow any of the OLD tools if people had them. The reason was to remake the dies for the tool, using the older version. Apparently, the casting dies (?) were fairly well worn out, and there were no 'master' versions to use.