How To Set-Up Arbor Press

[lydian8]

Does anyone have pics of mods done to the ram rod to hold the ram foot in place, or mods to convert the arbor press to making snaps and rivets and such?

Lydian8

[SteelcityK9Cop]

I am on my tablet right now or I would search for the info.. if you knock a tooth or two off of the Arbor press it will allow your arm to ratchet so it's easier to use. It's worth looking up.

[cst]

I don't even use the ram foot when I'm stamping using my press (usually in the middle of the night) I just push right on the stamp. It doesn't seem to matter what size, shape or font. I just mash em down in the leather and get on with it. I might build one of Dwight's fences though. That is a good idea. I have an old cutting board that looks like prime fence material.

Also, I glued a couple pieces of 1/8th" thick steel together to make my base. I put a magnet in the little crotch between the thing's legs and it holds the plate still. I covered the steel with tape, and found that if you are not square on a stamp (beveling etc) that tape will slide all over the place and then I cuss so much I shoulda just used a hammer in the first place. I took the tape off, and bought a push beveler and some spoons. It is slow, but works pretty well. This press is pretty good for lettering and big stamps and not bad for geometrics, but I can't tool with it worth a damn. Same goes for snaps and rivets. When I use the press, I bend every one. Maybe one day I'll drill a hole in the arbor, until then I have a rubber mallet and a 1/2" thick piece of rubber glued to the back side of my marble.

[BDAZ]

Go to your local granite place and ask for some scrap or samples. They are more than happy to let you pick through the scrap pile or dispose of samples no longer necessary. After using a 1 ton for a few months, I invested in a 2 ton and what a difference! Much more accurate, more working room and much easier to get a crisp impression. It also has a deeper throat so I can stamp much bigger pieces as well as larger custom stamps.

Cya!

Bob

[MavericKLeathers]

I was delighted to find this thread because I've been researching clickers, arbor and other presses for a fair while now.

Learned a lot. So, thanks to all of those who contributed.

The only thing that I would add is that most of my other research indicates that there should be a pad of some type between the leather and the bottom steel plate of the press. Apparently, this both allows for a deeper, clearer impression AND makes the stamps themselves last longer.

[silverwingit]

Lydian8, seeing that no one directly answered the part of your question about setting snaps, etc., I'll offer the following.

Many arbor presses come with a 3/8" hole in the ram foot. Mine even came with a magnet in the top of the hole to hold various bits(?) that came with it. I had a machinist drill and tap a hole in the side of the ram to hold a set screw that I can use to hold various leather tools, setters, and punches and the like in place. Many leather tools have 3/8" shafts, while others are smaller. Knowing this I also had my machinist make a slotted steel sleeve of the smaller inner diameter that would fit into the hole in the ram, ala Ian Atkinson. Later I found that the smaller tools are held just fine without the sleeve.

Hope that helps,

Michelle

[biglew]

you can also look on ebay and see the ones that are converted... they tell you what size holes to drill

[barehandcustoms]

I use a 1/2 ton from Harbor Freight for my logo stamp and sometimes rivets. No more breaking out the sledge hammer for a clean logo! I just put a clean piece of steel on top of the revolving piece and press directly on the stamp. I have a few custom 3d hard plastic stamps and they do just fine under the press.... so I know the metal stamps are good to go unless you get crazy with the press.

I regret not going with the 1 or 2 ton press though. I figured a 1/2 ton was already overkill when I bought it.

Edited June 19, 2014 by barehandcustoms

[jimmy eng]

I do the same as CST and press the stamp directly but if I need to do multiple copies I use a bit of my contact cement to keep it on (and stamp on a bit of scrap to set the stamp in place and prevent any slippage). I've found that thinner leather needs a thicker piece of scrap leather under it whereas I only need a steel base for 8oz or higher to get a clear mark.

The biggest I've ever used on my 1 ton arbor is a 50 x 50mm stamp. I also mark in permanent marker the centre of the image on the stamp to help alignment.

[Red Cent]

A cowboy friend gave me this press.



In a hole in the ram head is a bar that is rounded on the end and is held by a magnet. Removed, any metal stamp will be held rather firmly or can be easily moved by hand. Seems with a touch of water, any stamp would show on 3-4 ounce.