Granite Slab For Pricking Irons?

[TinkerTailor]

Where poundy pound implements are concerned, don't forget to look at your local auto parts and home improvement stores! Some of the stuff they sell there is suitable for leatherwork, and in some cases exactly the same thing for less cash.

One of my favorites is a dead blow hammer, which is really nice for 3D stamps and other bigger stamps. You don't get those double strikes so much with a dead blow. Double strikes might make coins more valuable, but for leather not so much.

Bill

I forgot dead blows, they are cheap and effective, however they dont last long on punching and stamping duty for me. I have swung a hammer alot in my life and am pretty good with one. I have to be conscious to move the hammer around with them, because i hit in exactly the same spot every time, and end up drilling a hole in the face of the hammer with the stamp because they tend to be too soft.

[impulse]

ARFFGuy

Another option for a hammering surface is to obtain a granite slab for tooling and get some cheap cork tiles to lay on top for using the pricking irons. This absorbs the sound as well as protects the points of the tool when punching holes.

Cheers

Lois

[johnv474]

On top of your wood you can also put a piece of scrap 8 Oz veg tan. When you hit your stitching chisels in, then you won't have to worry as much about them even reaching the wood... and you know the leather won't ruin the tips. By the way if you contact a place that installs granite countertops you can usually get a sink cutout or a scrap end piece from their dumpster for free or nearly free.

[ARFFGuy]

Thanks for the replies Impulse and johnv, definitely giving me some more options to think about. With the wood round I plan on de-barking it and sanding the top smooth as it will double as an end table for beside our couch, thus saving me the hassle of hauling it up from our storage unit every time I want to work. Also, pine is a really soft wood so i think it will be fine on the tool ends. Thanks for the tip about the countertop stores, I'll be calling around to some local countertop stores to see what I can find for free/cheap. I'll also keep the cork tiles in mind for when I do get a granite slab. I may even look at gluing them to the bottom of the granite and using it on my kitchen table.

Cheers,

Paul

[Nuttish]

You can get a 3" thick granite surface plate for a machine shop on Amazon Prime for less than $50 shipped.

[whistler]

......Check out nigel armitages videos if you have not already. He has a really cool stump setup. His tools and stitching clam are attached to it..

TinkerTailor what is your thought on the species of wood in Nigel's setup? Every time I watch one of his videos my attention ends up on that round! I given thoughts to trying a sycamore,got any opinions?

[TinkerTailor]

Whatever works and you have.handy. Stay away from woods that split easily. I have a mountain ash round because that is the type of tree that blew over in yard next door in a wind storm.

[whistler]

I think sycamore is prone to check. We have ash an I actually have some pretty nice pieces waiting to be split into firewood. They've been cut 18 months or so I think I'll dig through my pile.

[ARFFGuy]

I'll be using a chunk of pine beetle kill from up north. It's free, plentiful, and its virtually kiln dried already. Hopefully it wont split on me too soon.