Using Alphabet Stamps

[Eccho]

Hi folks. One of the things that gives me the most problem, is putting words on leather goods with stamps. I don't mind carving letters or names, as long as the area is large enough to make that practical, but sometimes I have to get out the dreaded stamps. I just do not seem to be able to make a nice even name. I leave the last letter stamp in place after hitting it with the mallet and line up the next letter abutting the first, but for some reason they often come out askew. One is a little higher or lower, or a little crooked. I also scribe a very light bottom line as a guide. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I am using 3/8" and 5/16" stamps for the most part.

[ReneeCanady]

I don' t even know if I can actually explain this but I will try lol. The guide line is an amazing thing. I always stamp the first letter and pretty much leave it where it is with the stamp head in it so I can use the side of the first letter head as a guide to make sure the next is straight vertically. Now, when lining it up horizontally, use your guide line that you drew to begin with not the previous stamp. It will be slightly off if you use the stamp because the first stamp is now an impression and has basically pushed the leather out/down deforming that spot. I notice that I have to move the stamp slightly up from the previous...SLIGHTLY. This isn't always the exact case either. Mainly use the first stamp as a guide to keep the next straight vertically and use you guide line for the bottom of the stamp for horizontal guide line. Sorry I am so bad at explaining lol.

[Tree Reaper]

I always use a wooden fence to place the stamps against, leave the last stamp in the impression, butt the next stamp against it and keep going.

I put the leather under the fence so it can't move.

[Eccho]

Thanks ReneeCanady, now I am embarrassed, I never even thought about the fact that after the initial mallet blow the stamp head is now in a different position relative to the guide line. Thanks Tree Reaper, I like the idea, I am just not sure I understand. Are we talking placing say a piece of 1x1 in a clamped position over the area to be stamped and then butting the stamp heads up against that, while keeping them tight against the previous letter head? Thank you for the ideas, I will work on my approach to the situation.

[veedub3]

I pretty much do the same thing Tree reaper does but I use a wooden ruler and tape it to the bench. I lay the leather on the bench, place the ruler across the leather in the spot I need it then tape the ends to the bench so that it won't move. I then make sure each stamp is butted up against the ruler to ensure they are all level. The only thing I don't do is leave the first stamp in place when I move to the second. The spacing is slightly too big for my taste that way, so I gauge the spacing by eye,

but using the ruler keeps the letters inline. You can use pretty much anything, I have even used cardboard before.

Karina

[ReneeCanady]

I too use my ruler when I am doing lightly colored items and don't want the guide line to show. I usually put my little anvil on the ruler so it doesn't move lol.

[BDAZ]

I was having the same issues not only with Alphabets but other 3D stamps. I sprung +-$40 for the Harbor Freight 1 ton arbor press and have never looked back. Not only is it much easier to line up the stamps, but the impression is nice and even..no dark or light corners. No more discarded work due to miss-aligned stamps.

Cya!

Bob

[veedub3]

Bdaz, you are obviously more skilled than I am because I too have that arbor press form harbor Freight, and if I have to put a name on an item, unless I line them up with something, the letters will still go askew. The ram is not large enough to do say a five letter last name at once, and if I do one letter at a time, if not for a ruler or guide, things would get wacky quick. I agree you get a much better impressions, but simply using the arbor press does not automatically fix the problems the poster is having. I have still managed to stamp a letter slightly higher than the next when just eyeballing it with the press. Maybe with more practice perhaps, but until then, a guide is a must for me whether doing it with the press or by hand.

Karina

Edited February 5, 2014 by veedub3

[Tree Reaper]

This is one set up that I use and it works well.

Edited February 5, 2014 by Tree Reaper

[Dwight]

I'll add a second vote for the arbor press, fence, one letter at a time, . . . etc.

BUT, . . . if for some reason I have to use a mallet, . . . mine is not very large, . . . not really heavy, . . . and I do a lot of "tap, tap, tap" in stead of "WHACK". Several lighter blows always does a much better job for me than whaling the thing.

And I don't have any problem with the mallet, . . . when I'm "carpentering", . . . 16 coated sinkers go in flush on the 3rd hammer stroke, . . . with my 28 oz Estwing.

But I digress, . . . Tree Reaper's setup is really good, . . . make one similar for the arbor press, . . . VOILA.

May God bless,

Dwight