I would use denatured alcohol on the fresh leather and after that neatsfoot oil.
If you see any sign after that then let the neatsfoot oil soak in for a couple of days and then try a deglazer..
That's pretty much what I do, over stitch or back stitch, leave about 1/8" of tail and melt it down and press it into the stitch hole with my thumb on both sides.
When hand stitching I can put both ends on the back side.
I use a press for 3D stamps so that might be a consideration for you, it never fails to leave a deep impression.
Even something as simple as a 6 inch C clamp might work better for you.
What are you using to put the leather on to stamp it?
Which tool are you using to put in the 3D stamp?
The larger the stamp the more pressure it will take because of the larger surface area.
Do you have one of these
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Craftool-Ram-Foot-Heavy-Duty-/290313567372?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4398097c8c
or a hefty handle?
Joe;
It's an idea that worked for you and you were good enough to share it with everyone so if people want to modify it in any way to make it work for them then all the power to them.
You deserve a lot of credit for not only the time spent on designing and testing this idea but more importantly sharing it and allowing people to decide for themselves what they want to do with it.
Good work!
The only thing I didn't mention is the 1/2 inch router bit is a half a hair too large to get a friction fit so when I inverted the stamp to place it on the leather the individual stamps would have fallen out so to keep them secure I used rubber cement in the groove of the jig and it did the trick.
It can be made fairly quickly, I think this wooden one I made took about twenty minutes on the router table.
If I was using it a lot I would have one machined out of metal but with the wood I can make a strip three feet long and just cut a new one if I needed it.
Here's an end view ...
Joe;
I've been working on a prototype that would allow you to use the "I" in your words.
It's just a 1/2 inch groove with a 5/8 counter bore that will accommodate 7-8 letters.
I put it in the shop press and give it 1/2 ton worth of pressure.
Kevin.
Tan Kote over dye will give your leather a nice mellow look.
You have to put it on in light coats, if you wipe the leather more than twice you'll remove dye with it.
I put it on quick and let it dry before applying it again.
Questions can be submitted on this forum.
Critique is usually done on this forum Critique my Work!
I use a soldering iron with a pointed tip to burn thread ends.
I recently made a case for the same splicing scissors but mine has the combination knife and scissors.
When I was a cable repairman I made one like that with a belt clip that could be clipped to the pocket of my coveralls when splicing a cable back together.
The scissors were always handy hanging off the front pocket and when I retired one of my co-workers asked me for it so I gave it to him.
Kevin.