Shadow mark when using basketweave stamp

[doublehbar]

Thank you all for your suggestions. I am getting a little better with each practice and feeling a little more encouraged. I am about to be thrown in the fire on it though. Have a guy that wants me to make him a knife sheath with basketweave. Lord help me. 

[Boriqua]

I will throw my hat in with some of the others and suggest a heavier tool. Of course you want to grip the stamp tightly and work on a surface that doesnt bounce but I find with a light hammer you have to strike it a few times or the hammer itself bounces. My maul is a touch under 2lbs but I have worked quite well with the 1lb garland. Once you set your stamp in place .... give it a WHACK! Being tentative about it I find is the worst culprit to shifting stamps and ghosts.

[JMcC]

Something else that you may want to try which was suggested to me by someone here on the forums...get some of that elastic bandage wrap like they use in a doctor's office to wrap you after they stick you with a needle. Get it in a 1 inch width and use it to wrap your tool handle to make the stem of the tool fatter and easier to grip. It is also less tiring on the fingers. I am here to tell you that it works great for me. You can find that elastic wrap at any pharmacy chain store. Good luck

[doublehbar]

On 4/24/2018 at 12:34 PM, Boriqua said:

I will throw my hat in with some of the others and suggest a heavier tool. Of course you want to grip the stamp tightly and work on a surface that doesnt bounce but I find with a light hammer you have to strike it a few times or the hammer itself bounces. My maul is a touch under 2lbs but I have worked quite well with the 1lb garland. Once you set your stamp in place .... give it a WHACK! Being tentative about it I find is the worst culprit to shifting stamps and ghosts.

Just now seeing this reply. Believe it or not, that is how I just stamped my new project. I held the stamp somewhat firmly and whacked the stamp with commitment. I also held the stamp down low so my fingers were resting on the stamp portion itself. Seemed to help my problem some. Thank you so much for your input!

On 4/24/2018 at 3:25 PM, JMcC said:

Something else that you may want to try which was suggested to me by someone here on the forums...get some of that elastic bandage wrap like they use in a doctor's office to wrap you after they stick you with a needle. Get it in a 1 inch width and use it to wrap your tool handle to make the stem of the tool fatter and easier to grip. It is also less tiring on the fingers. I am here to tell you that it works great for me. You can find that elastic wrap at any pharmacy chain store. Good luck

I think you are referring to Vet Wrap and I actually thought about using that, but wasn't sure how well it would work. Now I am going to give it a try and see how I like it. Thank you!