recommended stamps Engraver turned Leather worker

[EngraverGuy]

I am 65 years old. I am a former gun engraver from Europe, Fabrique Nationale', and the USA. I am pretty good as I never finished worse than 2nd in the National Engraver Guild competitions. I do 13 different styles of floral work. So the floral aspects should come quickly. The layout should be a non-issue. The shading perspective as well. But the tools are entirely different. The application of the tools is entirely different. I am wondering if anyone can recommend about 20 stamps to get started. I do not mean the manufacturer, but the veiner, background, camouflage, etc.  I will not buy Tandy. I live near the FT. Worth shop so convenience and price is not an issue.

* I would like to also include a couple of basketweave stamps in this. 18-22 would be ideal.

* I planned to focus on Barry King and ProCrafters especially for the basket-weaves. But size is an issue? 

* Maybe the Gomph Hackbarth set of 15 for $145 is a starting point. If the Hackbarth set sounds like a good idea, then perhaps let's add 15 more?

Thanks much! I had to give up engraving so this really helps the 'ole man, 

Steve

(P.S. I got the tapered Barry King 14oz mallet and his swivel knife)

[Ferg]

Love it!!!

Have always enjoyed looking at this fabulous art form. I have never been talented enough to do the work you have accomplished.

Leatherwork should be a cinch for you in the carving field.

I have some of the Gomph Hackbarth tools, they are very good tools and that set is a good place to begin.

Ferg

[GPG]

Beautiful , absolutely Beautiful work  !!!!!  nothing more to say on this matter. Yes I have more to say "ABSOLUTLY BEAUTIFUL WORK" THANKS FOR SHOWING!

[EngraverGuy]

Thanks GPG and Ferg. But I am here in the US for many years, and this work is not as appreciated so I need to at least find a new hobby. I think I have a head start. I graduated from an art university in French Belgium. But as I said, transferring what I have to leather is another story. 

I will order the Hackbarth set tomorrow, and hopefully someone can give me more clues to fill out a reasonable set. What are Hide Crafter tools like?

[Thor]

Welcome to the forum. Very few things are leaving me speechless. Your engraving did.

Looking at your work I was wondering if you wouldn't want to have a look at pyrography. What some people do there in combination with tooling is just unbelievable. A professional set will run you about $600.

As far as I know Hide Crafter has gone out of production, but you can find them here http://proleathercarvers.com/tools/pro-crafters-series.html or here which is even cheaper https://www.stecksstore.com/brands/Hidecrafter.html. I'm having a few of them. They are good stamps, but still a step or two down from Barry King's. 

 

Edited April 12, 2016 by Thor

[TigerPal]

Stunningly beautiful engraving..... Just transfer that skill to leather work   LOL

[EngraverGuy]

1 hour ago, Thor said:

Welcome to the forum. Very few things are leaving me speechless. Your engraving did.

Looking at your work I was wondering if you wouldn't want to have a look at pyrography. What some people do there in combination with tooling is just unbelievable. A professional set will run you about $600.

As far as I know Hide Crafter has gone out of production, but you can find them here http://proleathercarvers.com/tools/pro-crafters-series.html or here which is even cheaper https://www.stecksstore.com/brands/Hidecrafter.html. I'm having a few of them. They are good stamps, but still a step or two down from Barry King's. 

 

Thank you Thor and Tigerpal. I looked at a guy in Italy doing it. It is somewhat similar in that it is called bulino in engraving, or "banknote". It is simply about applying the appropriate intensity of shading, through what could be described as pricks of the metal (dots and short lines). It seems the same principle when I saw him doing it. It might make for interesting combinations of floral and pyrography. I think that would be my second training issue. Again, the concept is similar, but different tools. 

Edited April 12, 2016 by EngraverGuy

[Martyn]

Absolutely stunning!

When you are at the top of your game like that, it must be very difficult to give it up.

Can I ask, how many hours in these guns and how do you figure out a price for something like that? Do you charge by the inch or for the project as a whole?

Edited April 12, 2016 by Martyn

[Martyn]

16 hours ago, EngraverGuy said:

* I planned to focus on Barry King and ProCrafters especially for the basket-weaves. But size is an issue?

I cant help with your other questions as I'm a novice and have no experience, but I've just bought my first BK basket stamp and can give you a size reference...

It's a number 2 Celtic basket stamp, according to my verniers it's 12mm x 5mm...

 

Leatherman Charge for scale...

 

 

Please forgive my poor stamping, but here's a closeup of the impressions...

 

Edited April 12, 2016 by Martyn

[Colt W Knight]

Your engraving is absolutely fantastic. You wont have any trouble transferring over to leather.  As far as tools, check out a fellow named Clay Miller, along with Barry King, Jerimiah Watt, and Bob Beard. Older, USA made craftools can be quite nice as well. You are use to doing quality work, so you will know that good tools are a paramount and unlike most of us who start off with cheap Tandy stuff and work our way up, youll probably want to start with the good stuff. Barry King is the only with a useful website.

 

Check out Leatherburnishers.com for nice burnishers and mauls.

Edited April 12, 2016 by Colt W Knight