Bookbinding And Hot-Foil Stamping Questions

[Matt T]

This makes me think of felling a tree because you only need 1 toothpick.

+1. Unless this is something you enjoy doing, or are going to be doing on a regular basis in the future, I would have the job done by a professional. We aren't just talking about cost of materials here; you will invest a lot of time and make mistakes before getting it right.

[Wilshire]

Odd, I kind of figured leatherworker.net would be a place where people were, I dunno, encouraged to do some leather working? Now 2 people have told me to just buy it, and I'm sensing some disillusionment around the corner.

Anyway, like I initially responded, the analogy is not applicable. The cost of doing it myself is at least half the cost, if not more (more discounted, less expensive, take your pick). Cutting down a tree, assuming you have to at least buy the saw and/or axe, would be far more expensive than buying a 25 cent pack of toothpicks.

Besides, I think it sounds like fun, as should be evident by the amount of time I've spent just researching the thing. Time and mistakes are an obvious 'duh', though saying so potentially seems abrasive, so I'll abstain.

Thanks for those that have offered some help, I've learned a lot. As for you nay-sayers, carry on, you'll not dissuade me.

Edited January 28, 2015 by Wilshire

[TwinOaks]

The reason for the comment about the toothpick is that when looking at the material and equipment cost of doing this, I doubt you'll even break even when compared to having someone with experience do it. You intoned in your first post that you wanted this done as inexpensively as possible.....and get good results. The two are not mutually exclusive, but it's rare to have Good and Cheap

together. If this is a '3 book only' project, I think you'll find the non-recoverable expenses growing rapidly.

And why tell you this? Because I've seen many people get into this craft /trade and make the comment "I wish somebody had

told me how much all this was gonna cost", then sell their barely used tools at a loss.

Hot stamping is going to require a way apply controlled heat to a plate, then evenly apply several hundred pounds of force spread over that plate. For small stamp designs you could use a heat gun and arbor press...for larger things you might need something like a clicker. Can you 'chop' the design into smaller segments? Maybe use negative space to create the break in the pattern?

[thefanninator]

Have you checked Amazon for books on bookbinding?

Also a quick search on Google and you'll find several classes offered in bookbinding. Perhaps not in your area. But they are in the couple hundred to thousands of dollars. If this might be more than 3 books you might consider a class.

Edit: Just re-read that you have a bookbinder to help you...

Good luck.

Edited January 29, 2015 by thefanninator

[Northmount]

I'd consider using a laser instead of hot foil stamping for this size a project. Most hot foil presses have a small type box/platen. About 2" x 3.5".

Tom

[Wilshire]

@TwinOaks

With the help of the bookbinder and free use of her tools, the costs are kept far lower than the cost of the finished product. However, the more I learn, the closer things are coming to breaking even. After this one, I'll have to decide if its worth buying tools myself and making a hobby out of it. We'll see. Thank you for the clarity .

Side note, any chance you could ballpark the pressure? Several hundred is more than I would have guessed, but again, i have no idea what im talking about.

@thefanninator

I spent a bit of time looking, but the pretty much, like you suggested, the price is too high for one book. I would consider it if I end up enjoying the process.

Does anyone around here sell tools, used or otherwise, that would be a good buy rather than going to a store or ordering online. Probably looking too many steps ahead at this point, since I might never want to buy one, but I figured I'd ask.

I'd consider using a laser instead of hot foil stamping for this size a project. Most hot foil presses have a small type box/platen. About 2" x 3.5".

Tom

Please explain. If there is any way to leverage the laser I have access too, I would really love too.

Can you elaborate on how I might use the laser? Something like branding the leather with it rather than using foil?

I'd really prefer to use foil, I want the silver-on-grey-leather look. Could the laser itself be enough to heat the foil and 'bond' it to the leather?

[Northmount]

With a laser, you just burn/brand the leather. You won't get silver.

Tom

[Wilshire]

Damn, well thanks for the suggestion. I'll save that for later if ever I need it.

[TwinOaks]

The larger the area, the more pressure you'll need. Take a look at Harbor Freight and you'll find an arbor press that will do 1 ton, and it has about a 1 sq inch ram. That's enough to hot stamp a maker's mark on dry leather. Compare your proposed stamp size and extrapolate. there is a video by Ian Atchison showing him heat stamping leather with an arbor press....you might check it out.

[Wilshire]

Any links to anything you mentioned, especially the video?

I plugged it into youtube and not nil. Google was not helpful either regarding Ian Atchison and leather.

Also, its tough to extrapolate with one bullet point . 1:1 ratio sqin:pressure, scaled linearly to infinity seems unlikely. Why so much force? I thought the point was to get the foil to release onto the leather. Its got adhesives and release agents on it.

Edited January 29, 2015 by Wilshire