retiredff

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

So you dyed it first then antiqued it? I you did, I had not thought of that and will try for a belt I'm making. BTW, good work, looks great!

Grey Drakkon - I won't be using dyes, I'll use acrylic paints either Angelus or Com-Arts. The Com-Arts are airbrush ready if using a .3 or larger tip and they have a camo set that has 10 colors. For detail and a .2 or smaller tip the paint will have to be reduced. The Angelus will have to be reduced 2:1 (reducer:paint) or more depending on your airbrush/needle size and PSI. A cheap $25 brush is OK for dyes but a PITA for acrylic paints and detail work. Don't ask how I know...

same here, looks good to me.

I have a deer rifle I want to camo. I thought of buying or making a few stencils, then use an airbrush to apply the various colors. The synthetic stock is black so I assume I need some browns, reds, green and maybe yellows. Then seal with something like Liquitex Varnish Matte. That will be a winter project.

I saw the same video awhile back. I have no idea what people did w/o youtube or web sites like leatherworker.net.

CrazedLemming - I put my finishes, paints (Angelus) and dyes (Fiebings) in a bottle that have been thinned. I use my wifes old hose stockings to filter it into a dropper bottle, coffee filters in a small funnel may work also.

You probably need to thin it with water if acrylic, it should say on the bottle or ask where you bought it. Find the specs on your harbor freight airbrush, f the needle is .2 anything you spray will need thinned, .3 less thinning and a .5 for dyes probably not, but finishes like tan note and bicks will need thinned. I thin dyes 1:1 because I can control the color better. If the airbrush is spitting, skipping or not spraying at all it could be the media is too thick. If it has been thinned then raise the psi. A top feed (gravity) requires less pressure and a bottom feed requires more pressure. Alot of airbrushing is practice and testing then remembering what works with what. Practice spraying dyes on scrap (maybe light brown), when dry spray black along the edges for a sunburst. With very little practice that is quite easy. Tony

what Tina said and use an airbrush if you have one or try and borrow one. I found it easier to control colors with the airbrush.

I think a resist or block is suppose to do that. The areas you resist will not take on the color of the antique but it will get in the low areas (in tooling) to give it a 3D effect.