trying to locate a manufacturer of custom embossing plates

[robert]

I have use a number of magnesium plates for a number of projects - they are definitely economical. One example - - I had an order for a bunch of checkbooks for a wedding, and got a plate with the couple's names and the date (maybe 1.5" by 2" or so). I dont remember the exact price, but seems like it was $15 or so (probably 4 years ago). And... my maker stamps are magnesium plates! The downside is that they dont stamp really deep (since they're for embossing), but the upside is they are cheap... i bought a couple in two sizes a few years ago as a "short-term" solution, but they have worked well and i have never replaced them. The place i buy them ususally mounts the plates on a wooden block, but for the maker stamps i asked them to leave off the blocks, and I epoxied them to 1/4 steel plate. I set the plate down on my leather, then use a bolt (head down) as my "handle".... i actually epoxied the bolt on but it didnt stay, but now i just hold it firmly...which works. For the checkbooks or other plates that have the wooden block, i use a press to emboss them.

Since they dont stamp deep, you have to be careful or the edges of the mounting block will leave an impression on your leather, but other than that, they have worked well for me. I have bought mine here: http://www.capitolengraving.com/ .

robert

[Calleather]

Thanks, that's great info!

[David Genadek]

I have attached two photos. One is of a guest book I did using Magnesium dies, the small border dye I epoxied a bolt on to and just banged it in. The bigger portion I used a clicker.

The other picture is of a design a did for a saddle company. It was done with a fiberglass plate. There is a guy that does this for the saddle companies but you could easily do it at home. You just take a strip of leather and glue it around the edge of the piece to make a bucket then you spray it with a release agent and pour in some resin ( which you should be able to get at any boat supply). If you want you can throw in some fiberglass fibers for added streangth.

When I worked for Ellis Barnes I worked on the plates he made for his belts. They were all done by electroplating and this is really the way to go but it is exspensive and you have to do a lot work polishing decrative cuts ect. to really get them to look like hand carving .

David Genadek

[Calleather]

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!

[David Genadek]

I think it was Garr electroplating out east some where but the was 25 years ago so who knows if they are still there.

On the resin plates I have attached a picture of one that I have used for thousands of impressions you can see it has some cracks but it still give a good impression. You can just save the original and pour a new one when needed too. There is a lot going on in resins and boat supply places are usually up on what is what so if you explain the application they can generally give you a good idea of what to use.

David Genadek

[Calleather]

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

[David Genadek]

In this case I stamped the original and sent it to a guy to pour the plate. I have learned a lot about the epoxies for my tree company so now I would just do it myself. I have found the Epoxy guys to be really helpful and they love strange projects. I went to a place in Seattle and my mind was blown at some the artistic applications for epoxies. You may have to take a trip to San Franciso where there just has to be a boat supply place.

You can see in the picture how I just added layer around the border I used a bandsaw and a sander to clean the plate up. You might screw a few up learning but once you get it it will pay.

David Genadek