Is It The Leather Or The Stamp?

[stef73433]

I am having stamping frustrations lately. I feel like i am BEATING by stamp hard and still not getting a deep impression. Is it a leather issue? I use herman oak, so I would like to think not. Is it a casing issue? Junk stamps? I whack that stamp several times hard and still dont get an impression i am pleased with.

[dirtclod]

It could be all of the things you said along with your mallet / maul not being heavy enough. If you using one of the poly mallets their to light to be of much use. Pictures of your problem ?

[Cyberthrasher]

I used a poly mallet for a long time with great results. First thing I'd look at is your casing if you're pounding that hard. Sounds like your leather is dry. Depending on the stamp, you may need to rock it corner to corner to make sure everything is stamping evenly.

[rosiart]

Any of the things mentioned above can cause these issues. Also, what are you using as a base for your stamping? If it is not firm enough, like a slab of granite or if your table has too much bounce, you will not get good impressions.

[electrathon]

try moving to a cement floor and try again. It may surpruse you how much bounce your table has.

Aaron

[Harag]

Try the casing tutorial, see if that helps.

http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=19121

I'm new to this but have tried the above tutorial and just simply wetting the leather with a sponge, I get far greater results from "casing" it overnight, and i've also noticed I can tool for longer. When I simply wet the leather, I noticed I had to wet it again after an hour or so, casing it I didn't have this problem.

[stef73433]

Here's some pics to show the dry leather, the cased leather, my bench, the and some impressions.cement slab I stamp on

[stef73433]

I get clean impressions, just not real deep.oh, and I use a rubber mallet or a rubber hanger type thing.I don't have a good mallet yet.

[Cyberthrasher]

How much deeper do you want to go? Honestly, it looks more like you're just hitting the limits of the stamp. Looks like you need to rock it side to side and corner to corner to make sure the whole impression is a consistent depth, but I don't see any real problem with the overall depth. I would suggest ditching that brick and going to a counter fabricator to ask them for a sink granite sink cutout. They usually give them away since they have to pay by the pound to have them hauled off. It will be a lot more dense and have a finished surface that won't damage your leather.

[dirtclod]

Get a bigger maul or mallet 20 ounce or so, it will work wonders.

[electrathon]

Here is what I see could be causing trouble: Your bench is too thin of plywood, solid core doors work great. You are using a piece of cinder block as a stone, very soft and low density compared to granite. You have rubber under the cinder block absorbing some of the impact. You are using a rubber mallet, no where near big enough or dense enough.

At a minimun, turn the hammer over and use the plastic end.

Aaron

[penguineer]

I'd go with the other suggestions here - things need to be more "solid" all round.

Another small thing that may help is to move your tooling surface over a table leg(without the rubber underneath) - this means that the leather is between the stamp and a solid mass that runs directly to the floor. Also helps with punching, and it eliminates some of the bounce on the rest of the bench that makes things rattle.

Cheers!

[stef73433]

Thanks guys. The stamps on the end of stamp handle were done on the concrete floor. I've been meaning to get granite just haven't.I just started leather work this past October, so trying to slowly get set up.maybe the stamp is ok,I just thought it should be deeper.maybe I'm just off base in what I thought it should be.I'm literally learning everything of this site and the Web, so winging it.I will invest in a maul next tooling buy.thanks for the ideas.

[dirtclod]

When i was in the shop stamping a couple of projects i tried my 16 ounce maul right after i used my 22 ounce maul on the same piece. I was able to get a impression but no where near as deep or as good as the bigger one.

[tnawrot2]

I have a 4 lb rawhide maul and a 7 lb urethane maul, the secret is to either stamp on a concrete floor, or if you use your workbench, stamp over a leg that goes to the floor.

[bizbeblu]

As noted by others, you are loosing a great deal of your stamping force due to the type of maul, the force absorption of the bench, and perhaps most important the concrete paver as a stamping surface. I understand that you are just starting out, but folks use polished granite slabs for a reason: it deflects (that is resists) a blow better than most other materials. Even stamping on a concrete floor won't help much because concrete is quite elastic. (That's one reason it is used in making highways.) I'd suggest you make purchasing a granite stone your highest priority and then a good maul. If you are careful you can use a 16 oz carpenter's hammer in the interim.

Robert

[stef73433]

I'm looking for granite today actually! Thanks

[electrathon]

I'm looking for granite today actually! Thanks

Most granite fab shops will give you sink drops for free. They are waste to them and have to pay to get rid of it.

[Harag]

Most of the mentions here mention 16 or 20oz mauls, I have a 16oz rubber hammer and a cheap wooden hammer (not sure on weight but very light). I find that using the 16 oz for tooling even though it's good and a lot quieter than the wooden one, my arm aches after about 5 minutes and I have to keep putting it down. Yes I must be a weakling or something. but it just seems too heavy for me. Don't you all have this problem?

[Cyberthrasher]

Don't you all have this problem?

Nope. It's all in how you hold it. Tooling leather isn't about force, it's finesse. The weight of the maul/mallet should be all you need without swinging it. I use an 18oz maul for my regular tooling and just cup the head of it in my palm, rocking it up and down with my wrist - no arm motion whatsoever. If I'm using a mallet, I still hold it up close to the head and use the same motion. The only time I ever give a swinging motion is when I'm using a mallet on stamps - like the alphabet stamps, in order to give it a swift even blow in one shot.

[electrathon]

Most of the mentions here mention 16 or 20oz mauls, I have a 16oz rubber hammer and a cheap wooden hammer (not sure on weight but very light). I find that using the 16 oz for tooling even though it's good and a lot quieter than the wooden one, my arm aches after about 5 minutes and I have to keep putting it down. Yes I must be a weakling or something. but it just seems too heavy for me. Don't you all have this problem?

Rest your Elbow on the table and let the mallet fall rather than swinging it.

[PcCowboy]

Check a for a tombstone that a mistake was made on. You can get them cheap like that. That rock you are using will make a mess of the back of your leather. Hope it never shows.

[bizbeblu]

Check a for a tombstone that a mistake was made on. You can get them cheap like that. That rock you are using will make a mess of the back of your leather. Hope it never shows.

Now there's a great idea! Stamping on the dead I've been wanting a bigger stone and that was a excellent suggestion.