Making Your Own Custom Stamps

[Greg528it]

A couple weeks after I started this leather working thing, I was standing in the local Tandy store. You know, like you do, not wanting to spend $1000 but also wanting to as well. Another man was stopped in and was asking about custom stamps. I didn't say anything but my mind got to working. I deep carve marble all the time. That might work. A few days later, I'm making some carved glass for someone, and I try an piece of granite I had laying around. FAIL. The porosity of the granite did not leave a smooth carved surface. If it would contact the leather it would leave a pebbled imprint. DANG IT.

Having previously re tiled some in my bathroom I have a fair number of 1x1 and 1x2 inch glass tiles. Glass used for tiles is about as tough as glass gets. The key is to supporting the glass fully on the back side.

Solution, 2 part epoxy tiles onto wood dowels larger than the tile.

I epoxied, created a pattern or 9, and deep carved the pattern onto the glass tile. My 1st stamps (pictures) were using a standard leather making mallet, striking it quite hard. I've since started using a 1/2 ton Arbor Press from Harbor Freight. As long as the stamp is against moist leather I doubt one would be able to break it. The only problem one might have is if they dropped it or dropped something else into it.. say a normal metal stamp.

For as easy as they are to make, even if one did break it, just whip up a new one. I've made 12 some stamps without having to buy anything.

When you are ready and want to expand into making your own I can go deeper into what it takes to make the high detailed patterns. You could always wrap in electrical tape and hand cut your pattern for that matter.

[RavenAus]

Nice work! I would love to see how you carve those, the detail is great. As for the granite, sounds good for a backgrounder...

[Redrum]

Looks Great!I would be interested in how it's done.

[JoeSnuffie]

They look great. I think we're all ready for the detailed instructions.

[Greg528it]

OK. This will be a little long.

Acquire a 1x1" glass tile. (it's actually 7/8")

Cut a 1" - 1- 1/8" dowel rod to length. Ends should be even and square to the length. initially I cut it about 5" long, enough to clear my hand when using the mallet. Since I started using my arbor press I shortened it to 2"

Epoxy the glass tile to one end of the dowel rod. I used 2 part epoxy for it's high strength and thick nature. Use enough so that the whole bottom of the tile is covered with epoxy. I went ahead and let it drip over the side. You must ensure that the tile is fully supported across the bottom. Push the tile down so it is flat on the end. Let epoxy cure.

Apply pattern to glass tile: I will list a few options here.

1) use thick vinyl tape and an exacto knife and cut your pattern. I know a couple people who are masters with an exacto knife and can cut some amazing patterns. I am NOT one of them.

2) Use a sign vinyl cutter and cut your pattern with it and apply. I just purchased a Silhouette Cameo www.silhouetteamerica.com This machine is amazing and have used it for several projects to date. You can cut adhesive vinyl and make staining masks for your leather, signs, cards. It's $250 ish, so JUST for leather stamps mmmmmm maybe not the ticket but.

3) Use a system similar to www.ikonicsimaging.com This is the material I use primarily for making patterns to blast / carve glass. When asked the detail I can obtain in glass, I generally indicate a common business card and say I can transfer it exactly. This process is similar to silk screening and uses UV light to cure a film so that you can wash with warm water away the image to be later blasted. The film can be purchased for about 7 cents a square inch. I buy boxes of 10 sheets. 10x14" sheets for about $100. To process you need a UV light source. My original light source was a single grow bulb. I would hold the pattern printed onto a clear sheet and then the film around the bulb, expose for a length of time. I have since built a flat light box. This IS advanced glass and rock carving stuff here but you may know someone in your area that does this already.

Once you have applied your pattern onto your glass tile. Sandblast the ..... out of it. Until it has a well defined pattern.

You can do this outside, with a respirator on. I did a bunch that way. You can use a cheap siphon feeding sand blasting system, though it takes longer.

I blast most of my objects in a Harbor Freight 40 lb capacity Floor Blast cabinet. It goes on sale. It comes with a siphon feed system on board but I did not hook it up.

My blast media, comes from a Harbor Freight 40 lb pressurized Abrasive blaster. Blasting with one of these is easily 10x more efficient than a siphon feed system. It can wear a hole in a 1/4" piece of glass or rock in under a minute.

Obviously buying all this equipment just for stamps is not very cost effective. Some of you may already own some of it. Or better chance in your eclectic hoard of crafting compatriots, you may know someone who already knows and has this. Now it's time to barter.

I've attached some glass blasting so you can see the detail one can obtain.