Traditional Basketweave Stamp...

[Fullmetalsam]

... similar in size and design to crafttool X511

http://www.tandyleatherfactory.ca/en-cad/home/department/leather-stamps/6511-00.aspx

I've finally understood yesterday why everybody is saying that the tandy tools are crap... I've been doing a traditional basketweave pattern for an item that goes with a Sam Browne belt (with basketweave).... and while I was tooling, the stamp "handle" was bending with each hit. I had to hit the handle with my mallet on my workbench to straighten it out to be able to finish tooling.

Needless to say, I'm not using this stamp anymore... but then again, I need it since I know I'll have to make this pattern again. Where can I find a stamp that I know will last me for years to come (will not bend), but has the correct design to match the basketweave found on a Sam Browne Belt ???

I've looked over to Barry King Tools... and the "Bar" Basket Stamp seems similar, but I'm a bit put off by the fact that the "lines" on the part that are going under the center piece of the basket stamp are less defined or present when compared to the crafttool stamp.

If that's my only alternative, I won't mind much and buy it... but I'd like to know if there are any other alternative.

Thanks for your help!

[TXAG]

I've used the BK stamps and I think they're fine...don't know of any others that are high quality...maybe someone else will...

Edited January 21, 2014 by TXAG

[electrathon]

Lots od other answers. Bob Beard, Hides to Art, Chuck Smith, Hackbarth, to name a few.

Tandy will warranty he tool, but the new one will be just as bad.

[Fullmetalsam]

Electrathon... thanks for the list, but ...

... can't seem to find a website for Bob Beard (the domain robertbeardtools.com is closed/parked)

... Chuck Smith is currently moving his workshop and not taking any orders (at least from what I can gather from his facebook page)

... can't seem to find the proper basket weave stamp from Hackbarth or HTA

OK - maybe I'm just too accustomed to ordering online and send an email or get on the phone and see if these guys can come up with what I need.

[electrathon]

Most of the tool makers are old men who do not fully understand the internet.

[camano ridge]

Here is contact info for Bob Beard

Robert BeardAll Pro-Series

36 Road 5243

Farmington, NM 87401-1541

(505) 632-7039

E-mail: robertbeardtools@yahoo.com

[Chief31794]

Barry King has a website and his stamps are very high quality. One other note, if the leather is cased properly, you shouldn't have to be hitting the stamp hard enough to bend even the Tandy ones. My complaint with the Tandy Stamps are that they are inconsistent from end to end and the tooling is very poor quality. None of those problems will occur with Barry King Stamps.

Chief

[Fullmetalsam]

That's something else I was thinking about - i was trying out a new (heavier maul) this time and I guess I went with the same force I used with my lighter maul.

The leather was "cased" - but it was hard to work with.... I'm trying to go through a bad batch.

But then again, I never thought the stamp was gonna bend.

If the handle is truly perpendicular to the stamp - then regardless of the force (talking about a human hitting that stamp with a tooling maul - not with a hydraulic 20 ton press) used, the thing shouldn't bend. I was expecting the top of the handle to "mushroom" first, but not bend.

[mlapaglia]

Try the new pro series of Tandy tools. Not the best but much better than the old ones.

[Fullmetalsam]

that's the first thing I looked at - Tandy Pro line (since I would get the stamp sooner (being in Canada and everything))... but I only see "floral style" related stamps (camo, veiner, bar/backgrounders, flower centers/seeders) - no basket weave.

Do you guys in the US have access to "more" pro stamps from Tandy ???