Large Stamp. How To Get It To Stamp Evenly?

[zaynexpetty]

I am going to purchase a large (10 x 10 cm) brass stamp to emboss some veg tan.

The stamp will fit into my adjustable heated embossing tool and would work well for its intended purpose, but I prefer the look of the stamp when simply hammered or pressed into the leather, rather than burned.

I was going to buy a 1/2 ton arbor press from harbor freight to see if that does the job:

http://www.harborfreight.com/1-2-half-ton-arbor-press-3551.html

The problem with that press is that it only has a 1 inch square ram, and I am afraid that the pressure won't be spread out evenly across the stamp, resulting in an uneven emboss.

I was thinking about getting a couple of square pieces of thick metal to place between the ram and the stamp, and then on the opposite side, under the leather, to see if that would help, but I am unsure.

Do you guys have any better ideas? The most economical approach is the one I would prefer.

Thanks!

Zayne

[Billsotx]

I use a 9 lb. dead blow hammer. Have also used a press - driven by 6 ton hydraulic jack, but the dead blow is quick and easy.

[AndyL1]

If you have the space I'd say a modified shop press from Harbor Freight would be the way to go. I use mine as a clicker as well as pressing in stamps. For a stamp as large as yours you'd need some surface area for even stamping.

Here's mine in this thread: http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=53195#entry341404

Andy

[billybopp]

A 10cm square stamp is pretty big. You'll probably find that 1/2 ton won't readily do the job. I've got stamps smaller than that which are difficult to do with my 1/2 ton. Most prefer a piece of steel under the leather, but I like a piece of 1/2 inch plywood. The slight amount of give of the plywood seems to make some stamps work better. For my bigger stamps, I back them with a piece of steel to spread out the pressure. It helps, but I find that I still have to press in several locations to get a good impression.

Unfortunately, it's hard to say just how much press you need. I think that 2 tons is about the biggest mechanical press that I've seen, and I think I'd start there. Most that I've seen bigger than 2 tons or so are hydraulic and slower in use. That speed may or may not be a problem depending on what you want to do (and how patient you are).

Hope that helps

Bill

[zaynexpetty]

If you have the space I'd say a modified shop press from Harbor Freight would be the way to go. I use mine as a clicker as well as pressing in stamps. For a stamp as large as yours you'd need some surface area for even stamping.

Here's mine in this thread: http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=53195#entry341404

Andy

Would this press be able to be modified in a similar way?

http://www.harborfreight.com/6-ton-a-frame-bench-shop-press-1666.html

I like what you did with that, although I am not a welder, Is there another work around?

Thanks!

I use a 9 lb. dead blow hammer. Have also used a press - driven by 6 ton hydraulic jack, but the dead blow is quick and easy.

Is the 6 ton press the harbor freight one?

I might buy one. Did you have to make any modifications to it?

[AndyL1]

Would this press be able to be modified in a similar way?

http://www.harborfreight.com/6-ton-a-frame-bench-shop-press-1666.html

I like what you did with that, although I am not a welder, Is there another work around?

Thanks!

Is the 6 ton press the harbor freight one?

I might buy one. Did you have to make any modifications to it?

I don't see why you couldn't do something similar to that press. I had a buddy of mine do the welding, I bet you could hit up any capable shop to do it. Or, maybe there's a workaround of some kind for bolting it up. Welding the plates would be the best option though.

I went with the larger 12 ton press as the area between the rails allowed for a more comfortable work space and my cutting dies need more room as well.

[Billsotx]

The press that Andy recommends is the ideal setup for the monet.

[EmbossingDieCompany]

I make larger stamps all the time and I test them on the 1 ton harbor freight arbor press and I get a perfect impression every time. I'm attaching a few pictures as examples.

The key is to start in the middle and then press it multiple times (it still takes less than a minute to do the whole stamp). The attached drawing kind of illustrates how to do a large oval die....the blue squares are 1" x 1" and represents where you should press. The key is to have your leather on a "baseplate" that you can slide around under the ram.

[zaynexpetty]

I make larger stamps all the time and I test them on the 1 ton harbor freight arbor press and I get a perfect impression every time. I'm attaching a few pictures as examples.

The key is to start in the middle and then press it multiple times (it still takes less than a minute to do the whole stamp). The attached drawing kind of illustrates how to do a large oval die....the blue squares are 1" x 1" and represents where you should press. The key is to have your leather on a "baseplate" that you can slide around under the ram.

Those look great. Ill have to give that a shot. Mine is going to be a perfect circle, how would you recommend pressing that? I would imagine in a "+" shape starting from the center?