retiredff

Thanks Bob for the reply. So you are saying to glue it to a board, then case and stamp/tool the leather? My design so far is to glue it to the clock back anyway after tooling/stamping.

I am in the design stage of a clock I want to make. It will be in a shadow box and the leather will fill the inside completely and will be carved/stamped. To date I have mainly practiced carving, experimenting with the different stamp designs, basketweave etc. I have not yet tooled on a good piece of leather, I usually buy scrap, cheap belt strips or anything 'on sale' at SLC. So my question is; what weight of veg tan would be a good choice for the clock face/ interior of the box? It will be tooled/stamped and probably have multiple colors of dye/acrylic paint. My guess would be 6/7. I have noticed while practicing some of the 3/4 and 5/6 will curl when tooled, will a heavier weight not do this? Thanks Tony

Try and find a used yoga mat. Cut it to size...

I thought about that, and picture frames or shadow boxes. Just looking for ideas. Thanks

I have a few ideas for a clock, but I don't have woodworking tools to make a body or frame for a clock. Anyone have ideas where to buy these? Thanks Tony

UPDATE#2: I received the lot I bought. The tool #'s were correct except for 1. The tool he had listed as 812 was actually 312 that is a RARE sunburst stamp. The stamp listed as 104 I had so I compared them side by side and stamped. One of them was slightly smaller but the impression was the same (just smaller). I didn't see any reason to keep both so one of them will be sold. Tony Everyone have a nice XMAS and a Happy New Year!

EDIT on above post, it won't let me edit again. By breaking even, I mean if a lot cost me $2.50 per tool w/shipping included, the ones I don't want if I can sell them for the $2.50 I'm happy. I have bought some where my cost was $1.70, if I can get $2-3 I will but like I said in my last post, I have some marked down to $2 each and still no offers.

Art, Just scored a 'LOT' last evening on evil bay. There were 18 pre-'63 tools and they cost me $3.20 each, shipping included. That is alot less than I can buy any tool anywhere. The tool numbers were: 103-3 103 103 1/2 104 204 207 349 422 RARE 431 444 RARE (NOT D444) I think it's a starburst or camo 451 524 RARE? 6 point star I think 701 705 812 816 851 877 RARE 7 of the 18 I already have and will sell off any duplicates and hopefully break even. I won't know for sure the number of duplicates until I get the tools and verify the numbers the seller posted. I have some pre-63 on ebay now and the response even at $2-3 each has been poor, maybe because XMAS is close? Tony

I understand all of the responses on this subject, however, for the beginner or even advanced hobbyist I can't do $25 per BK tool vs a pre-'63 craftool on ebay that are in 20+ lots I can buy for $2-3 each. These pre'63 tools might need to have some rust removed, but for practical and financial purposes, they work fine and have put out countless leather pieces since they were made. If you have a production shop where these tools are tax deductible that might be a reason to upgrade or if your ideas there are no tools available and a custom tool is required. With my limited experience I think practice, practice and more practice and some GOOD leather makes more difference that a $25 BK basketweave stamp. Most people that are buying a tooled custom belt have no idea if the tools you used are '63 or BK's newest. I've always leaned toward being cheap, OK, I squeak when I walk I'm so tight, but the collection I have of mostly pre-'63 (Craftool Co. no letter prefix) and Craftool Co. USA (with letter prefix) and I have had no issues with the tools! Some of the lots I bought there were the newer Craftool USA/Craftool that look off color to me and I have compared say a pre-'63 #400 veiner with a NEW V400 and there is a difference in the impression. I have read the pre-'63 tools no 2 are alike because they were hand made, not stamped. I'm at the point now I don't buy lots of the old tools anymore because I end up with over half or more in duplicates and have to resell them, not for profit, just break even, and sometimes that is difficult. Just my $0.02 Tony

I found them, thanks Howie.

I found out this: 444 is a sunburst or a camouflage and rare. 524 is a 6 point star 877 is a rope stamp and rare.

I need info on 3 more: Craftool 444 (NO 'D' prefix) 524 (I think 5 point star) 877

I found out something from proleathercarvers, they sell on ebay. He told me the 602 is a flower center and the 517 is a border and are rare. They haven't been made since the '60's are are worth $20-25. Thanks for the help.

Hmmm, the stamp I have does not look much like a flower center, it would make a good border. It looks like a G611 only slightly rounded at the top and the bottom is like a camo with a cutout.

I found a pic but can't figure out how to upload it. It looks like a G611 geometric only rounder at the top and the bottom is shaped like a camo with a cutout area. try this link to ebay and scroll to the bottom. It is a link to an ended auction, this one has a 'G' in front, mine does not, that's the reason I assumed it was a geometric stamp. http://www.ebay.com/itm/VTG-Craftool-USA-Leather-stamp-tool-G517-RARE-DISCONTINUED-/311435119827?nma=true&si=ZJ7OnIZIwsK2sKmWLcuF%252FsWILo8%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Thanks Elliot. I have maybe 1 or 2 more odd/rare stamps coming.

What can someone tell me about a Craftool Co. 517? It appears to be a geometric stamp and very rare. I found nothing in the craftool conversion and another pre 63 list I found on this site. Thanks Tony

It's obvious they are made better and slightly smaller and thinner.

Thanks KingsX. I think I'll keep the old stamps and sell the newer ones.

I have bought the stamps and craftool crafted celtic designs on ebay and have not had an issue. Instead of buying just the stamps, look for a 'lot' of leather working tools. Usually the bigger the lot the less each piece is, but the lot price could be hundreds, the sell off what u don't want. On ebay now the crafted templates are $8 or so plus shipping (search ebay 'Tandy celtic craftaid' then 'tandy celtic stamps'). Leave Tandy off and I found many rubber stamps. Tony

I won a ebay auction and in the lot were these stops: Craftool Co. 902, 905, 906. I have the more recent ones: H907, H908, H903, H904. These work fine. I wondered if the older stamps are rare and what they are worth? I did a google search and found a site that sold the 905 and 906 for $18 each! I haven't found much of anything on these, not even on evil bay... Thanks Tony

Im looking for a Craftool L556 stamp. I have L555. I have watched ebay for a while but only see sets or L555, never the L556. Thanks

Has anyone modified an arbor press to use these dies? What size holes do I need? From their web site the bottom die requires a hole and the upper die is threaded (1/4-20 or?) I would buy their press but if I can use my arbor I save some $$ Thanks

Has anyone tried to make the Orange that is close to Harley Davidson's? What ratio did you use? I'm close but that's about it... close.

I'll try that, Thanks Rohn. Tony