Calleather

I had a steel stamp made at Infinity that cost 325.00 had the same stamp made at DeCrevel in Napa, ca for 100.00. I also hear good things about Harper.

Hide and Leather House in Napa, Ca has great product too. Ask for Roger.

I wanyt to add a THANK YOU too. I'm pretty new at this site, but missed not having it already!. I have received a lot of valuable information here and hope to see this site grow. Count me in on a contribution.....

Andy, \I have three machines for heavy use. Not sure if they use needle and awl, I'll have to look. Have Singer 9710, Landis 16 and Union Lock stitch. Looking to sell them. I just bought them in a machine deal and haven't really looked at them very hard yet.

so did you stamp an original, then make a trough and pour it in there?

David, Do you know who you used for electroplating? I am currently working with American Galvano in L.A. Also, how many uses can you get from the resin die? I have 4,000 glove pouches to basketweave!

I use Dave at Stevenson Paxson in Novato California. Nice people and always try to help! THey have Hermann Oak and WC in stock

Thanks, that's great info!

easiest and cheapest way might be to have a contract cutter do it. Have a clicker die made, send to them and have them cut as you need them. A few leather suppliers do it. Stevenson Paxson did some work for me before I bought a Atom SE20. They are in Novato Calif. Ask for Dave F

I change out snaps all the time on LE Duty gear. Just pinch them off with a pair of wire cutters. easier than a drill. MAke sure to pinch from the back or socket side.

thanks for the info!

here is a picture of a nickle electro mold. sorry it's kind of fuzzy, but you can get the idea of what it looks like. I can use a 20 ton hydraulic press to emboss, but a hand press works too.

I had a stamp made by Paul DeCrevel in Napa. He had to laser cut then go in and do hand work. It's pricey. Like I said earlier, I found an article on leather embossing using Electro Thermoforming. Basically you stamp your pattern in the leather then they spray thin coats of nickle untill it builds up strong enough for a mold again pricey. I just got an order for 4,000 pouches and it may be worth it....can't hand stamp that many!

Bruce, The problem I am having with laser engravers is that I use a basketweave pattern and it's 3 dimensional and the laser seems to only do 2. Do you have any input or suggestionb?

10mm, If the holster is lined, the lining and glue will stiffen it up. A lot of the professional holster makers are heat pressing the leather while wet around an aluminum mold with a hydraulic press. The dyed holsters are dipped, left to dry then sprayed with a finish. Oiled holsters are wiped with oil then hit with harness dressing. Hope this helps a little.

Ryan, Keep us updated to what you find. I have been searching every where!. I have found people that engrave dies but they are built to last and expensive. I also found a giuy that does Electro Thermnoforming, but a 9x9 piece with as many patterns you can fit in that space costs $3500.00!

Welcome Matt, I just left John's namesake company!. I was the Regional Sales Manager for the company that owned both Bianchi, and Safariland. Left to pursure my own Police Leather business. Are you guys in Temecula?

I have recently purchased a large amount of misc items that include, machinery, hand tools, leather, hardware etc. and need to sell some of it. What would be the best area to get exposure? I have everything from multiple Singer 97-10 sewing machines to old osbourne hand tools, to solid brass buckles and thread. The "for sale" forum looks good, but has too many sub forums to deal with.

I just purchased some dies from Weaver. I sent a PDF drawing then follwed up with a true piece cut from leather. Their work and follow up was great (talked to Steve, great guy) But I think they were a little pricey!. Two dies came to almost $650.00 I've seen the name Texas Custom Dies a couple times now and are going to try them next.

Michael, I'm doing some small stuff too and have looked in to contract cutters. There seems to be a faurly good supply of people looking for work like that!

Sorry it took so long to reply, I have been buried at my real job and just picked this back up. My family business was a small place called L&A Leather in Northern California. We made Law Enforcemnet holsters and accessories. I am making some Sporting goods stuff like slings, game straps etc.

Jordan, Not sure about the sporting goods market, but be very careful in the Law Enforcement business. The liability is huge. I just left a job with two major manufacturers and that is a big concern.

I just received a catalog from The Ohio Travel BAg www.ohiotravelbag.com

You can also try The Hide and Leather House in Napa, Ca or Stevenson Paxson Sales in Ignacio, CA. Both great people with good choices.

Does anyone know who makes dies for stamping basketweave patterns? Both flat and for Randall Embosser? I know you can get them from Weaver, Tandy, Randall, etc. I am looking for an actual manufacturer not a distributor. Thanks!