Stamping Text Into Leather

[jwmspencer]

Hi,

I am new to leatherwork and I have some work which involves stamping peoples names into pieces of leather.

This means that I need a stamp set that allows me to easily and quickly change the text whilst lining up each character properly. It is worth mentioning that I may need more than one full alphabet for people who have repeated letters in their names.

I am sure that pieces of kit like this exist, however I am not sure what they are called or where to get them. I am in the UK and so a UK supplier would make things easier.

*Can I use a cold stamp to do this or should I use a hot stamp?

*Can I hit the stamp with a hammer or should I use a press?

Any help would be appreciated.

[TomG]

There are lots of guides and suggestions here to help you get a handle on this.

Practice is the key to stamping. I'll try to give you some highlights of what I've learned.

1 - Most stamp sets made today have a varying amount of casting slag left on the edges. First thing you want to do is carefully file that off. Make your you keep the edges square. Next, look at the bottom edge of the stamp on the top. You will see each stamp has the letter embossed on it. Use a black marker or a dab of bright paint and draw a line from the letter, up the post socket. This helps you avoid getting letters upside down as you stamp.

2 - You can get by with 1 stamp set. Let's say you have the name REESE as an example. 2 issues you need to start out planning for. Centering the word and aligning the bottoms.

3 - Take your "E" and find 2 more UNUSED stamps that are the same width - Letters like "I" are narrower.

4 - Take all of your letters and line them up, sides touching, on the leather and center it where you want them. Use the 2 "unused" letters for the 1st and 3rd "E"'s.

5 - Use a ruler or straight edge on the bottom edge of the letters to align them. Make sure this is all lined up on your leather where you want it and small and very light mark at the center of the middle letter - in this case the 2nd "E".

6 - Without letting anything move, insert your stamp handle into the center letter (2nd "E"), double-check the alignment and smack it once about medium hard.. Carefully left the stamp, make sure it's lined up, replace it and smack it hard enough to leave a nice deep impression, but NOT leave the square edges of the stamp body.

7 - Move the handle to the next stamp - In our case go to the "S" as we still need the "E" for alignment. Make sure all is still lined up and that the previously stamped letter is firmly seated. Snug this next letter up to it and stamp it. Check, replace and finish stamping..

8 - At this point, leave the "S in place and move that 2nd "E" in place of whatever "unused" letter you used for the spacer for the 3rd "E". Keeping it snug against the "S", stamp it in place as we discussed.

9 - Now, we go the other way. Leave the "S" in place, and use a space letter on top of the previously stamps "2nd E" and butt the real "E" against it to the left. Use your ruler to make sure the bottoms are aligned, and stamp that 1st "E".

10 - Using the same procedure, stamp your "R".

Lots of steps on paper, but once you do it a time or 2, it will be easy.

A couple of points to watch for.

Sometimes the stamps tend to rotate as you stamp them. If you lightly stamp the first one, you can often realign it and stamp harder to cover it up.

Sometimes, the stamps will move or bulge the leather if it is too wet. Be sure to case it properly.

If you stamp too hard and the corners of the stamp show on the leather, you can use a modeling tool to wet the impression and gently work the impression out.

Look on YouTube. You can probably find videos of all this.

Good Luck

[stelmackr]

I did find my process to emboss letters in leather in the UK. Here is a link to see what I used:

http://aaleatherbigbookcovers.com/download/Typography%20in%20Leather%20Article.pdf

Bob Stelmack

[leatherjo]

If you want brass letters, try Eden Workshops. Brass is expensive, but their prices are good if you need brass. They are in France. Here is their website: http://www.edenworkshops.com/

Once you go to their website, click on "Brass Finishing Tools" in the left hand column. I have spent several days going over the catalogs accessible through those links. The letters and designs he has available are mind-boggling. I sincerely wished I lived in England or France so that I could go and visit this place. I tried to attach his catalogs for letters, decorative wheels, and stamping tools, but the system here said the files were too long. But you can download the catalogs through the entries under "Brass Finishing Tools".

I haven't tried these tools yet, but I certainly intend to. If you do try them, let us know what you think. Enjoy the catalogs! I certainly did.

[leatherjo]

If you want brass letters, try Eden Workshops. Brass is expensive, but their prices are good if you need brass. They are in France. Here is their website: http://www.edenworkshops.com/

Once you go to their website, click on "Brass Finishing Tools" in the left hand column. I have spent several days going over the catalogs accessible through those links. The letters and designs he has available are mind-boggling. I sincerely wished I lived in England or France so that I could go and visit this place. I tried to attach his catalogs for letters, decorative wheels, and stamping tools, but the system here said the files were too long. But you can download the catalogs through the entries under "Brass Finishing Tools".

I haven't tried these tools yet, but I certainly intend to. If you do try them, let us know what you think. Enjoy the catalogs! I certainly did.

[stelmackr]

Corrected link to article.

Had some issues with internet.  That article on Tutorial--Typography in Leather  has been moved to:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qgV6aH_FkHa5lBX_kNceroW2elQju_XW/view

[Northmount]