leatherworklee Report post Posted June 19, 2011 I would like to have a hand press of some kind or other but do not feel like i can justify the cost of a new one. Has anyone ever built one or modified something else ( C-Clamp, pony clamp etc.) to use? I use a lot of 2-D and 3-D stamps and alphabets but sometimes have problems with "bounce" or double images. Any Ideas? Thanks Lee Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tree Reaper Report post Posted June 19, 2011 The best solution for you would be a drill press with a burnt out motor unless you can find a inexpensive working one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TwinOaks Report post Posted June 19, 2011 Arbor press from Harbor Freight. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bkingery Report post Posted June 19, 2011 I use my shopsmith Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tree Reaper Report post Posted June 19, 2011 The arbor press works but the working height is limited and you might have to drill out the ram to make it work. With the drill press you can use a large chuck and there is ample room between the table and the chuck. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
$$hobby Report post Posted June 20, 2011 Id do more practice with stamping. its free other then the scrap you use. if you use a press, you would have to get one large enough and one with a throat deep enough to reach into the center of the work. You can roll up the leather to get in further into the work space, but the throat size will dictate how much you can get into. if youre handy with metal tools, there no reason you couldnt fab something up. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LNLeather Report post Posted June 20, 2011 I am not sure I understand what you are saying........ If you had a press, you would not use the handle for the stamps. You would just use a flat piece of metal big enough to cover the stamp so it would emboss evenly. It looks like you could get a press from Harbor Freight for less than $100.00 There is some old information here Arbor press Read through the posts and there are pictures of Hydraulic presses available 6 Ton A-Frame Bench Shop Press and a little more than $100.00 12 Ton Shop Press for $121.99 on Amazon.com They are probably a little more expensive now, but you might save enough wasted leather to make up for it. That's what I decided when I got my press. Once you have a press, then you could get some cutting dies to make your pieces faster with very little waste. I make a lot of round coasters and it sure makes it easier to make one perfectly round... I hope this is of some help..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tree Reaper Report post Posted June 20, 2011 Cheryl, what press did you get? Kevin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LNLeather Report post Posted June 21, 2011 (edited) Cheryl, what press did you get? Kevin Hi Kevin After I tried the 1/2 ton Arbor press... I was fortunate to buy a Tippmann 700 Clicker (I was lucky to be able to buy it at the time... of course I had to get laid off where I had worked for 20 years & collect severance pay to be able to afford it... ) I use the Clicker a lot because I make things combining using emboss plates and 3d stamps and hand tooling and I also have cutting dies for a watch band, round and square coasters, round and square mouse pads, check books, wallets & ID cases. Read through the link for Arbor Press There's Lots of info & pictures there... The company I buy the emboss plates from Duckreektraders uses a 12 ton shop press for their business and they shared pictures and directions for what they use... Knowing what I know now, if I couldn't afford the Clicker & Air compressor I would probably get the 12 Ton Shop Press for $121.99 from Amazon.com and put it on a work bench. 12 Ton Shop Press from Amazon Hope this helps Edited June 21, 2011 by LNLeather Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tree Reaper Report post Posted June 21, 2011 Very helpful, thank you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dwight Report post Posted June 21, 2011 If you are handy with wood working tools, . . . and if you have a couple of 2 x 4's laying around, . . . you can make one like this. I use it for all kinds of stuff, . . . plus molding holsters. The 8 ton press from Harbor Freight at $19 was THE expensive part of the whole thing. May God bless, Dwight Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
leatherworklee Report post Posted June 23, 2011 Thanks for all of the suggestions. I made a round of the local welding/ Blacksmith shops today and bought an old but working drill press for $10.00 It doesn't have along enough throw for the work they do so they had replaced it with a bigger newer model. it should work great for what I need. Thanks again, Lee Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
