Kilgo Report post Posted December 4 Hello, Im new to leather crafting and want to learn the craft but having a problem with stamping, carving part. I get my leather peace, case it hit it and nothing so I repeat and nothing, I can barely see the impression. What is it that i"m doing wrong. I got good leather, my stamps is new good heavy mullet, the only thing I can think of, the3 hitting surface.I uses the kitchen countertop which is garnite and still nothing. I know it is something simple, I like leather crafts and want to learn the craft. If anyone can help me out or give me any advice please I'm all ears any advice well be highly appreciated, thanks. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mulesaw Report post Posted December 4 As far as I know the leather needs to be vegetable tanned (veg tan), if you use chrome tanned, it won't work. I am not sure if something with a lot of oil in it like an oil infused leather is good for stamping either. So the leather has to be the correct type for you to be able to do any stamping. So that is my best guess. Brgds Jonas Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DieselTech Report post Posted December 4 7 hours ago, Kilgo said: Hello, Im new to leather crafting and want to learn the craft but having a problem with stamping, carving part. I get my leather peace, case it hit it and nothing so I repeat and nothing, I can barely see the impression. What is it that i"m doing wrong. I got good leather, my stamps is new good heavy mullet, the only thing I can think of, the3 hitting surface.I uses the kitchen countertop which is garnite and still nothing. I know it is something simple, I like leather crafts and want to learn the craft. If anyone can help me out or give me any advice please I'm all ears any advice well be highly appreciated, thanks. Can you show us a pic of the leather you are using? Mulesaw might have already mentioned it, but chrome tan & oil tan leather will not take & hold a stamp impression Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kgg Report post Posted December 4 8 hours ago, Kilgo said: I got good leather, my stamps is new good heavy mullet, the only thing I can think of, the3 hitting surface. Like @Mulesaw and @DieselTechhave mention if you are using Chrome Tan leather the tradition way of striking an impression will not work. You maybe could get a better impression if you used a hand press or hydraulic press and maintain the pressure for few minutes but nothing close to what could be done in Veg Tan. Another alternative maybe would be a heat press. kgg Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nowandagain Report post Posted December 5 In addition to the good advice that was already posted, what weight leather are you using? Lightweight veg tan often refuses to take an impression from larger stamps such as basket weave stamps. A tip I learned from a Don Gonzales video: if your leather is under 6 ozs (that’s my suggested thickness, not his) try putting a flexible cutting board between your leather and your granite or other stamping surface. That lets your leather take a deeper impression. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handstitched Report post Posted yesterday at 02:53 AM Back in the early days, I just practiced a lot on lots of veg tan scraps just to get the feel of the stamps , carving knife etc. A lot of what I learnt came from books, Al Stohlman mostly, but also just trial and error , doodling on scraps . But when I finally go the hang of it, and it looked good, that was it, I was hooked , 19 years later...... HS Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
