Potroast

Dirtclod and Chief, I agree. Great people, great products and great service. I also recommend Joyce's business. I had a customer ask me to make him various leather items with the Croatian GRB symbol on it. So I sent Joyce a picture of the Croatian GRB and she turned out two awesome stamps with incredible detail for an inch and an inch and a half stamps. I made up a simple money clip for him for starters... and him was astounded to see his country's flag set into leather. Joyce and her business make me look good. Thanks Joyce, Jason

Dear EDC, I meant what I said in my initial post that my words are not to damn you, but to shed the view of an outsider. I shared my feedback as you asked this community for feedback. When you ask a group for feedback - you have to accept and process all of the feedback, the nice and fuzzy as well as the honest feedback that can seem shocking to you. It's usually the hard to take feedback that can show you an opportunity. Focus the information on your item and marketing plan - not you. To answer the question you posed to me, I would contact Joyce to make a leather business card stamp if I wanted one. (Now stay with me.) As this board is for helping eachother, brainstorming information sharing... not for selling items. So don't take offense to that as that is the purpose of this board. If you are upset by that response, then you should have started this thread on the marketplace under "items for sale". If I were you... I would have to decide where I want this thread to remain and what is my goal or expected outcome.

Dear Embossing Die Co., Sometimes it's how we promote that rubs people (competitors and potential customers) the wrong way. I believe that business it's all about building rapport and earning trust. So I do get what Joyce is implying about all of the free blatant self-promotion some of the posters seem to get away with all over this forum for non leather items. I enjoy this forum and all of the wonderful people and talent here and like me, she is probably getting tired of Spam advertising too. I thought "Tacky" was being generous by the way. Think of your initial post from any of your competitor's view point. They read your pitch and then you admit that yes it is self promotion. You are knowingly flaunting your item and business here to gain market share over them. Who wouldn't have felt cheated. My words are not to damn you... But to shed the view point of an outsider. I personally find that my customers see the attention to detail in the items that I make for them. So my customers are my best business cards. So when people say "hey, where did you get that belt?" My customer can easily look to the tip of their belt and easily read off my name and phone #, thanks to the cool stamps that I have received from Joyce. I personally could not say enough about Joyce and her business-she is wonderful! As for leather vs paper - no offense, I prefer paper as I can put 5-10 in my wallet.

I use Tandy's glass burnisher and I love it. I was reluctant to by it at first...but has paid for itself. Go onto the Tandy website which is awesome, as they have a ton of educational videos. Watch the video on how to use the burnisher, and you'll get some ideas I use the glass burnisher before I start working the leather, sometimes during the if I need to smooth out a tooling mark and at the end of the project. I also switched over to Tandy's waterstains. I use them for carved and stamped belts for high lighting, block dying... They are all l use now as the more you buff the piece, or wear the piece...the better it looks. Which is great for belts, sheaths.... Just be see to burnish the entire piece as the burnishing effect the way leather will accept dyes or waterstains. As for buffing leather, I personally use my old worn out soft wool and acrylic socks. They bring out a beautiful finish with the waterstains. Which don't need to be sealed with acrylic.

I got my newest custom stamp from BLACK RIVER LASER www.blackriverlaser.com I emailed my concept to Joyce and Jerry on SUNDAY morning . Jerry made the stamp and then hand delivered it at1 pm this afternoon, which is Tuesday. That is great service from a local company, right here in Ohio. They also do more than stamps, like engraving, templates, leather thickness gauges... Check out their web site as they are fantastic. Check out these pictures of my new LIFETIME WARRANTEE stamp. It is built on the same design as one of my personally designed and truly custom made maker stamps. Notice that Jerry engraved the design into the top of the stamp as well - so you can see the orientation of the stamp before you press it. (that Jerry is pretty smart)

Those are very nice looking brass stamps. Today there are options for stamps. I have to say though, I am very pleased with BLACK RIVER LASER located in Ohio. If your are shopping for custom stamps...look them up, call them. They are real people that answer the phone. They treat you like family, they do great work (templates,stamps engraving...) and their prices are very fair (meaning you won't find anyone else that can take your design and make you a stamp...these are not cookie cutter stamps that you have to choose from). Support your U. S. businesses that do great work. This is a new LIFETIME WARRANTY stamp that they are making up for me.

I'm thinking of buying the cowboy 2500 without reverse to save a couple hundred bucks. Right now I mostly do belts... But I'm getting into wallets, and down the road - who knows what I might want to sew. Am I being foolish and should I save a little longer for the 2500 with reverse? Anyone's input would be appreciated. Thank you, Jason

Thank you Shawn and Wizcrafts... As I am looking at buying a cowboy 2500. I want it for belts, holsters and sheaths. Shawn, did you buy a machine yet? If so, what did you end up with and would you share your feedback. Thank you both, Jason

Glendon, I dig your Black River Laser stamp. Its different than mine. They're always making up new designs... You never know what you'll see. I know its been mentioned... But the BRL leather gauge is awesome. It is priceless when paired with the high tech leather splitter from Tandy.

Sounds great.

Glendon, Did you get the embossing stamp that reads "saddle stitched by hand"? Jason

Ken, I love your humor in the Black River Laser videos. Additionally, the tip of taping off the back of your strap with making tape works great. I use the Tandy's water stains and the tape keeps the stain from traveling. With my new custom stamps and nice clean backs... my belts have never looked so good. Thank you. Jason

Thanks Sylvia and Ken. I agree that they are super to work with. Ken, those are great detailed vidoes. I watched 1-4 so far and picked up a couple of tips. I've got to call Black River Laser for a leather thickness gauge. The people at my local leather shop have one and its pretty slick. Small and useful. Take care, Jason

okay, I got 4 custom maker stamps from Black River Laser last Saturday and I loved them so much that I called Jerry and Joyce to tell them thank you. Jerry said "if you liked those...you should see the new embossing stamp I made up". He was nice enough to send me the prototype that he just made. Now I talked to Jerry on Thursday night and I had the prototype stamp on Saturday morning... That's fast, and the new stamp is cool. It reads "saddle stitched by hand" with 3 little stitches on each side of the wording. Check out the sample that I pressed this morning. If you're looking for custom maker stamps with any design, wording, shapes... look at BLACK RIVER LASER. Jerry and Joyce will take care of you! http://www.blackriverlaser.com/ Thank you Jerry and Joyce, Jason Laboda

This is the "saddle stitched by hand" stamping. I was on a rush to take this picture and it doesn't do the stamp our my belly justice. I wish I would have got these stamps a long time ago. Take care, Jason

The top2 pics are custom stamps by black river laser. The name is my carving. The top2 pics are custom stamps by black river laser. The name is my carving.

Billymac814, I just had BLACK RIVER LASER make up 4 custom stamps and I love the stamps. Check out the pictures. I love the way my belts now look. I can't say enough about Jerry and Joyce, the owners and the only people you talk to... Unlike every other business you call. I love them stamps so much that they are making me an embossing stamp that will read "saddle stitched by hand". Jerry said its a brand new design...so I will post pics when I get it. They do custom, not the cookie cutter pattern that others offer. CONCEPTUAL.bmp