Laser Engraved Leather Patch Hats

[dikman]

I once made a couple of notebook covers for members of our police force (SAPOL), they have their own logo of course but it is very detailed and finicky. There's no way I could have manually copied that logo but the little laser I had was perfect for that job. But yeah, it does make it easy for anyone to copy almost anything.

[Samalan]

I agree, Ferg, it has its place. Sometimes I have my son make  3D printed stamps for me, then I back them with steel. With that setup, you can do things you could never do by hand. Even if you could, you wouldn't, for instance, one stamp he made was a club logo with a ton of detail, a circle about 3"dia, it had dogs, birds, fish, trees, a pond, and more fine detail on the outer edge that is glued to a piece  of steel 3/4"thick over kill yes its what I had at the time worked great. 

[Samalan]

13 hours ago, dikman said:

I once made a couple of notebook covers for members of our police force (SAPOL), they have their own logo of course but it is very detailed and finicky. There's no way I could have manually copied that logo but the little laser I had was perfect for that job. But yeah, it does make it easy for anyone to copy almost anything.

Agreed, I did the same thing, just in a different way, amounts to the same thing though, way too much detail to copy by hand.

[Jennifer Gates]

On 8/28/2025 at 5:00 AM, chuck123wapati said:

 

 https://www.defense.gov/Resources/Branding-and-Trademarks/

i don't mind laser engraving it has its place i guess but not on my hand made leatherwork it really makes things look cheap and factory made, not clean and stylish IMO. But if your in competition with the Chinese or Walmart, then have at it.

The problem I have with it is that it's very easy to just steal intellectual property from others to fill your own pocket.  It's a crime to use other people's artwork or logos without permission. Yes even the Marine Corps emblem is a legal logo, and it's against the law to reproduce it for sale without paying the gubment. I have three artists in my familly and all, including me have had our work stolen and reproduced by others at one time or another, its really not cool, fun, or enjoyable to see something that took days to produce on a t shirt someone else prints in minutes and is selling for themselves and taking credit for the work.

I'm sorry but printing out patches and sewing them on hats is one of the most uncreative things i can think of doing with my time. 

I'll get off my soap box now ans say those are swell!!! And just as good as they sell at Walmart and the gubment has a website you can actually buy the rights to copy and reprint for sale thier military logos

Let's be good citizens of our communities and not do shady things just because "everyone else does".

Totally understand your point handmade work has its own soul. I just personally like how laser engraving gives a modern touch, but I agree respecting original art is really important.