applying makers mark

[TinkerTailor]

My original I made using letterpress type from a garage sale. No hammering, works great in a press. Cost me 7 dollars for a box full. I use it for monogramming as well. I also use a transfer process to put art, text or my logo on some projects, even on the inside if it is smooth enough.  Here are some scrap bin test piece samples:

For scale, the letter stamp is just under 1.25" wide, and that antique oak mallet is HUGE.....

I just made a jbweld copy of my stamp it and it works great. See the thread about making stamps from jbweld, i will post pictures later today.

[OLDNSLOW]

Thanks yes photos always help and makers names can be mentioned as far as I know other wise no one would ever find out who made it!

[Red Bear Haraldsson]

I got mine from Jeff Mosby at Grey Ghost Graphics. All delrin, I set mine with an arbor press.

http://www.greyghostgraphics.com/stamps.html

I dampen the leather, slide it into the arbor press, and then lean my Chef Boyardee on it until I see water squeeze up from it. No complaints.

I wouldn't have called JLS old, but since he is going to date himself... 

[TinkerTailor]

On 9/12/2016 at 8:40 AM, JLSleather said:

 I've been at this since before some of these boys wore big boy pants, and I've never owned a "makers mark"

 

Owned a few Makers Marks over the years, I think the bottle from New Nears 2002 was the finest. Can't remember how old it was....Not surprising considering the circumstances......Takes some big boy pants to get through a whole bottle and wake up in a bed not behind bars.....

[OLDNSLOW]

its ok as along as you didn't wake up withsomeone elses other half that could lead to a shooten!!!

[JLSleather]

4 hours ago, Cheez said:

I ordered mine on order from (not sure if I can say) .  The price was right at $38, hopefully I'll find out soon of the quality. 

Yeah, you can and should say.  Seriously, if you made something for someone, and they were happy and felt like they got a good deal, wouldn't you want them to refer you to others?  Same thing.. if somebody treated you right, give 'em a reference!   

Now, I generally go beyond that, personally, and if somebody gives me a bad deal, I tell that too.  Though, I'm not recommending that to others.... 

 

[Boriqua]

If I do a makers mark ... and its hit or miss on how I feel.... then I prefer to do it before I dye. You have to wet the area you are going to stamp and with some colors you can land up with a nasty dark spot from the water. Not a big deal if you are just working in black but I have ruined a piece or two when a drop of sweat hit my virginal leather and then decided to stay a dark spot.

[OLDNSLOW]

Ya I had a drop or sweat hit some leather the other day, makes for a bad day.

[Boriqua]

On 9/12/2016 at 4:04 PM, OLDNSLOW said:

ok so to ask a different Q, who has a decent stamp for reasonable dollars?

I got 4 of them from Studio N and I thought the prices were very reasonable. I like that he makes the backs that accept the tandy Hefty handle because most of us that have been doing this for a bit have one around somewhere. When I use them I am more likely to use a clamp but its nice to have the option and I have done it both ways.

I bought a few of these

http://www.harborfreight.com/12-inch-bar-clamp-96214.html

they are great and fast and I use them for my molds as well. If I use them with the makers mark I put a piece of glass down then the leather then I clamp the makers mark. I let it set for say 5 minutes then remove. The clamps are great for the price but I did have one where the handle spun out. I stuck it back on with gorilla glue and it has continued working fine for the last year.

Here is the Studio N stamp after clamping. I should add Nick was a pleasure to work with!

[NVLeatherWorx]

I too get my stamps/marks from Grey Ghost Graphics and I can honestly say that they give a cleaner, and deeper, impression than ANY metal stamp or acrylic plate and I use the full sized version that requires you to use your mallet and whack the you know what out of it.  I highly recommend Grey Ghost for your makers marks/stamps.