small wheel embossing for belt border - how to guide it?

[deboardp]

I have an order for 20 belts for monks from the abbott of the local Orthodox Christian monastery, and I want to put a narrow (.2") vine border with a small embossing wheel. I've found several online, the vine border is okay, and a couple others may work, too. But I can't find any info on how to guide the wheel a set distance from the leather's edge. Does anyone know how this is done? 

Also, I'm trying to find a supplier for Orthodox Christian stamps of the Orthodox Cross, perhaps icons of Christ, the Virgin Mary, a dove, things of that nature.  

Thanks!

[fredk]

I would get some lengths of thinnish  (3mm to 6mm x 300mm ) nylon plate. Glue three pieces of plate in a stack; bottom is base, 2nd plate as belt edge guide and 3rd is the distance from the  belt edge. The 2nd piece would be the thickness of the belt. Run the wheel over the leather as you feed it through this 'jig'

[Tigweldor]

The embossing wheels are usually made to be used in an embossing machine.

Latter come in manual versions with a crank -- or driven by electric motors.

They most all have guides so that you can center the workpiece in the wanted position under the embossing wheel.

Here a link with an example - if you click through the pics to the machine - you can see the guides.

On the left top of the page, there is a stamp with a cross - is that "churchy" enough for you - if not, browse further through etsy

https://www.etsy.com/de/listing/673428225/leder-pragemaschine-lem-1000

Greetings

Hans

 

Edit : etsy is not really for the "thrifty shopper" - and a lot of merchandise shown there can be bought through Alibaba or Aliexpress for a fraction of the cost - you will have to do your own research though - which may take an hour or so.

 

For only 20 belts I would find someone in your city/state that owns an embossing machine and see if you can´t just buy the needed wheels and then use his/her machine for a modest "rental fee" - naturally at his/her place.

If you do find someone - ask for shaft diameter before ordering embossing wheels that will not fit their machine.

 

Do not be fooled by ads that suggest that you can use the hand held version for leather - you will not be able to exert enough pressure for a continuous deep and even imprint - they are good for clay and other very soft material - not good for leather. You only get one try to make the design - the chance of going over a second time and exactly overlay first imprint is very slim - naturally depending upon intricacy of the pattern - a simple single groove does work.   At least that has been my experience.

Edited April 29 by Tigweldor

[fredk]

When the OP said 'small' I assumed he meant these;

https://tandyleather.eu/en-gb/collections/tools?filter.p.m.filter.category=Embossing+Wheels

[Tigweldor]

Those are the ones I was talking about, when I said they don´t work good on leather.

At least not in my opinion.

Let´s just assume a belt is 3 feet long - with both boarders that makes 6 feet.

Times 20 belts that makes 120 feet = 40 yards

I wish him good luck doing those with the hand held unit.

 

Greetings

Hans

[Tigweldor]

of course I meant borders - not boarders - ain´t no one living there.

[deboardp]

8 hours ago, fredk said:

When the OP said 'small' I assumed he meant these;

https://tandyleather.eu/en-gb/collections/tools?filter.p.m.filter.category=Embossing+Wheels

yes, those, the ones made for the stitching wheel handle. Rolled back and forth with firm pressure makes a good deep impression, if the leather is cased properly. I ordered a couple of the wheels, and i have that stitching wheel handle somewhere...

 

[deboardp]

10 hours ago, Tigweldor said:

The embossing wheels are usually made to be used in an embossing machine.

On the left top of the page, there is a stamp with a cross - is that "churchy" enough for you -

 

as @fredk said, Tandy (and others) make small and large embossing wheels for manual application with a handle. Rolling the wheel back and forth in short quick strokes with firm pressure on cased leather gives a good impression. It's laborious, but work is something I enjoy.

I looked for that cross you mentioned, and yes, that cross is Orthodox enough for me. Thanks!

[Tigweldor]

I am definitely not knocking your decision.

I make belts and have tried this "thrifty method" with the hand wheels, years ago.

I will not recommend it to anybody - period.

The time and effort is not the object - you screw up on the path of the wheel - you will have ruined your belt.

In my projects I strive for absolut perfection for my customers - this method, as simple and as cheap as it first seemed, did not achieve that.

It is like climbing up Mt. Denali in Mt. Rainier suited gear.

Ain´t gonna speak up again upon this project.

 

Greetings

Hans

Edited April 29 by Tigweldor

[deboardp]

19 hours ago, Tigweldor said:

I am definitely not knocking your decision.

I make belts and have tried this "thrifty method" with the hand wheels, years ago.

I will not recommend it to anybody - period.

The time and effort is not the object - you screw up on the path of the wheel - you will have ruined your belt.

 

I'm hard-headed and will try these small wheels anyway. Thanks for your input. You're probably right.