Mike516

Haven't gotten a reply about this. Are you still selling these stamps?

Do you still have the birds, top and second row, 6th from the right?

Sounds reasonable. I really don't want to have to change a bunch of stuff. I think I'll start with what I have and save for a walking foot machine if that part of my hobby turns out to be something I want to pursue. Thanks for the advice.

Ok thanks Wizcrafts.

I'm looking to make leather dog collars, probably 7/8 oz leather with a pig lining. So what would you say is a good beginner machine? I see a lot of old Singers out by me, what should I be looking for? Keep in mind I'm not a very accomplished sewer. I'd like to get my feet wet before I look to buy a walking foot or anything super expensive.

I bought a Singer 96-10 some time ago with intentions to do some sewing. I actually also have a 95-10, but I think the 96 is a little better. Probably half a dozen of one, etc. But I digress. So I saw a 31-15 online for sale and out of curiosity I emailed the guy to see what he's asking for it. He's asking $100, which sounds ok. I told him I'd think about it and get back to him. Now he's trying to tell me he's been doing this a long time (I'm guessing working on sewing machines, not sewing leather) and it has an industrial heavy duty motor and I should bring over anything I want and see how good it'll sew it. My understanding is "industrial" just means it's a commercial machine. So, what do you all think, should I pick up the 31-15 or stick with what I have and learn on them? Is this guy on the level or blowing smoke?

I got the 1 ton as well. I was probably over thinking the set-up too. I simply drilled some holes right into my bench and bolted it down. Then I got a 3/16" thick 4 x 6" piece of rolled steel for the base and a Tandy Ramfoot. And that's it. Works like a charm. I can't believe all this time I been hammering these stupid stamps out with a mallet because I didn't want to spring for $360 for a Tandy imprinting machine.

There are a few stamps that I don't know if I'll get the entire image, the eagle comes to mind, can never get all the feathers to show. We'll see when I get all the parts and start pressin". Thanks for all the tips and advice, much appreciated.

dirtclod, you use the thing with the slots in it, or did you take that off?

I haven't used it yet, I'm still setting it up so don't take what I say as gospel. I hear some people don't like the small arbor presses and prefer heavier duty presses. Not sure yet but the 1 ton was cheap and I had a 20% off so I couldn't pass up the idea of trying it out. Not to mention it's at least another tool that I have now Never too many tools.

Good info Dwight. The tape especially is a very good idea. I was thinking if I used a thick piece of leather under the 3/4 oz it would help bring the image out.

TR I said I bought a Harbor Freight 1 ton press. MT you take the plate with the slots off the base and replace it with a steel plate, unless you want to try granite as TR suggested.

I think I wasn't clear. I use granite for stamping with a mallet. I'm referring here to an Arbor press (the title of the thread). Sorry for the confusion.

I posted this as a question in another existing thread but it's really not on topic there. So I decided to re-post it here...apologies for a double post but I can't remove the other one. I went to Harbor Freight and picked up one of their 1 ton presses. Mainly because I don't like the way my 3D stamps have been coming out on 3/4 oz leather. I ordered a 3/8 inch thick steel plate and am waiting for that to arrive. I have to get some wood clamps or something to secure it to my bench. And I'm trying to think what I should use to put on top of the steel plate - under the leather to get a nice crisp stamp. So I was wondering if anyone else uses regularly an Arbor press, and if so what kind of set-up you have. I could try trial and error but if I could get some help here I'm hoping to save myself some anxiety

I was having some issues getting the details in 3D stamps to show up using just my mallet in thin leather, so I broke down and bought the 1 ton from Harbor Freight. I was wondering what you all use, if anything, to put between the steel plate and the leather to be stamped when using thin, say 3/4 oz leather to help bring out the details of the stamp.

25/pk Blank Key Tags #4149-99 - $2 Is that $2 per key fob? Are you charging shipping also?

Are you selling these kits? If so can you give a price please...

Looks like I'll get original purchase price plus shipping but I'm going to eat the return shipping. On a defective tool. What a shame.

Hmm, interesting design. Never seen one like this before.

@Bruce, it looks like the guy I'm dealing with isn't a saddle maker as I had thought. If he was, I can't imagine him having to take more than one look at the tool to determine it's off. And the fact that he's comparing it to other tools bewilders me. Still waiting for a reply, but I did give him instructions on how to test it. If the next message from him isn't; "your refund is on the way" I'm going to do something I have never done and that I HATE having to do and this guy for making me do it...I'm opening a case on him and I'll just eat the return shipping. @dirtclod, overcharging for shipping seems to be common practice these days. I must be getting old, but I feel like it isn't fair to overcharge. A lot of people estimate because they're too lazy or too cheap to weigh their merchandise. I ship mainly with free shipping. But for things I can't ship for free, I have a 25lb digital scale and weigh everything so there's no discrepancy. I'm about done buying on eBay. Too many dishonest sellers. @Bob, The plough gauges are nice, just a little pricey for me right now. I may revisit this in a few months, but right now for a hobby they're a little steep for me.

I drop my packages off as well, but I guarantee next day shipping. Otherwise, as you say, you can schedule a pick up for them, so the buyer shouldn't get hit with a charge for that. It's only a couple of bucks, but over the course of a year this guy probably makes out like a bandit.

Yes, I tried switching the gibs top to bottom and flipped them around, so 4 different positions. It's off about a full 16th of an inch. I can cut strips but the leather folds after the handle and frays the edges. It's not the end of the world but I really expected this thing to be at least as good as the wood one from Tandy. So I returned it and now the seller is telling me he evaluated and compared it to 3 others and he's confident it will work perfectly. He's going to be a real pain in the a$$, I can see it already. The other thing that roasts me, and it wasn't bothering me but now I'm getting annoyed and it's all going to build up, he charged $7.50 for shipping. I know everyone says they have to pay for packing material and boxes etc etc. but he wrapped it in newspaper and put it in a small flat rate box so $0 cost to him for materials but he overcharged anyway. I'm not looking to make a stink even though he should have paid an extra couple of bucks and mailed it in something that it fit in, but now he's going to give me a hard time.

I have no problem sharpening a blade. But if I have to modify a tool to make it work properly, that's just too much. What if I sand it down too far or something? Now I ruined it and the seller is off the hook. No, I don't think I'm going to bother with all that. I guess I'll just stick with my Tandy wooden strap cutter.

I misunderstood when you said you wished someone would come and buy out your whole place. I was just thinking about the dyes and kits and such. I was saying if you want to sell them quick, Tandy sells the same dyes for cheap so you would have to undercut them. Personally I prefer stain, never been anything but disappointing with dyes. But if you aren't in a rush, who knows, you could get someone looking for all that. Tandy doesn't carry all of those kits anymore so you'll probably have luck with those. In my limited experience with eCrater, there doesn't seem to be much traffic, and the people that shop there aren't very reliable, so it may take a while if that's the path you're going to choose. But then again I moved away from them a couple of years ago so maybe they fixed it.

You will probably have more luck with the dyes if you separate the used from the new and sell the new separately. You can get new sealed dye from Tandy for $4.20 for a 4 oz. bottle with the elite club price, so you'll have to undercut them by a good bit, maybe half or so if you want to sell them fast. The used ones I would just give to a youth club or something. I don't know if anyone would be interested in a 1/3 or 2/3 bottle of anything. Again, this is just my opinion.