How To Set-Up Arbor Press

[dirtclod]

I lay a piece of steel on the plate that came with the press and it works fine. No need for any tape on the steel that i can see unless your steel is rusty. I've never had any discoloring on the leather using the steel. It's not like it going to be on there a long time.

[Mike516]

dirtclod, you use the thing with the slots in it, or did you take that off?

[Dwight]

You can do it either way, . . . but if you remove it, . . . lay the plate steel across the legs, . . . you get a little wider base, . . . less chance of tipping the thing, . . . and you can drill the back of the plate, . . . screw it to the legs. That will let you build a moveable fence that you can use to align your stamps and make your stamping look a lot more professional.

May God bless,

Dwight

[dirtclod]

Mike516 i leave the sloted plate on and lay my piece of steel on it. The steel doesn't go any place when you press. Theirs no need to make mountain out of a mole hill IMHO.

When i do a piece that has several letters i find the center of the piece set a letter on the center and measure to the edge. How ever wide it is from the top edge of the letter i measure and cut a piece of scrap 1/2 wider and glue a lip on it then hold it all togeather with a couple of binder clips and you have a fence made in a couple of minutes that you could / can use over and over if your making the same thing over and over.

[TomG]

I stamp a good bit of 3/4. And your thoughts on putting a heavier piece of scrap under it is a good one. It will make a world of difference. Try some different firmnesses of leather to get the impression you want.

I haven't used my arbor press is a while so I really don't remember if I used a piece under those jobs or not.

[Mike516]

There are a few stamps that I don't know if I'll get the entire image, the eagle comes to mind, can never get all the feathers to show. We'll see when I get all the parts and start pressin". Thanks for all the tips and advice, much appreciated.

[eglideride]

Dwight-

Would you post a picture of your arbor set up? (I just brought the 1 ton home an hour ago)- trying to visualize yours....sounds like the way I want to go...

Thanks!

[Mike516]

I got the 1 ton as well. I was probably over thinking the set-up too.

I simply drilled some holes right into my bench and bolted it down. Then I got a 3/16" thick 4 x 6" piece of rolled steel for the base and a Tandy Ramfoot. And that's it. Works like a charm.

I can't believe all this time I been hammering these stupid stamps out with a mallet because I didn't want to spring for $360 for a Tandy imprinting machine.

[Pounder]

Anyone have any ideas (pictures preferred) of constructing an apparatus to keep letter stamps in line. I have basically the same set up as above but still have trouble lining up letters and stamps. Saw a device on LW once before but for the life of me I cannot find it again.

[Dwight]

I don't have the fancy one made yet, . . . when I do, . . . it will be square white vinyl tubing, white vinyl angle, . . . the square tubing being bolted to the back of the press, . . . the angle guides being adjusted in and out by 1/4 x 28 threads and springs.

I figure when I get time to do it, . . . it'll be a couple hours work, . . . but it will be worth it.

Presently, . . . I'd use the "C" clamp set up if I couldn't just eyeball it. I did a leash for a friend over Christmas, . . . name and 10 digit phone number, . . . did it on a 1 inch strap, . . . all by eyeball, . . . turned out AOK, . . . but I wouldn't do that with belts or something I had a lot of other time or material invested in it.

Hope this helps.

May God bless,

Dwight