Steel rule die fabrication table

[toxo]

1 hour ago, sbrownn said:

The main advantage of fixing it to the outside is that it gives you something to form it around.

You could learn enough CAD in one day to create the files needed to 3D print any plug you wanted on a $200 3D printer.

Here's an idea:  print a plug to form the rule around and then print another fixture to hold the shaped die.  While you are at it might as well print a die you can use to bend the rule around the printed plug using a bench vise.

I keep threatening to get a 3d printer but I'm a sod for losing interest in something once I've proven to myself that I can do it. I do have a laser engraver and that's not getting overworked either.

But back to the dies. Start with the right thickness ply for the size of rule steel and the thickness of leather you want to deal with. It's no good making a perfect die if there's nnot enough blade sticking out to go through thr leather.

Draw your accurate die shape on the ply but don't cut it yet. Use that drawing to constantly test your bends on as you get the steel rule into shape. Only when your steel rule is ready do you cut out your ply.

I made my first basic die with two 6inch nails with the heads cut off in a decent sized vice.

An ordinary set of Gilbows will make short work of cutting the steel. (make sure you're using 2 point steel rule and not 3 point.)

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/164869157349?hash=item2662f7b1e5:g:L8cAAOSwTMpgoRoo

and one of these will make the screw holes, (a drill will do it but fiddly)

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224242689947?epid=3015943430&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item3435e7e79b:g:xI4AAOSwoexfuDXt&amdata=enc%3AAQAGAAACkPYe5NmHp%2B2JMhMi7yxGiTJkPrKr5t53CooMSQt2orsSvtkx670Z0mbyfWqmxLFLYW%2BaSx3niIF%2F1d%2Bl8Wg0woZHbZXocL5cf39NgZFMdIWWRSC5XElcIVKAedRwiawfnr%2FxC93e5QDsveVB8rPMOw%2Faq%2FkbYgWyMEJ4LhSQCLNx8MNLWiLd8buEKkWOQMLtM5unsG2LhZAGsYZjTLCL9M56aMWi5RCxt%2BS7jaUkFh9LWYPrwz%2Bs9TkxxQ3tNKYE74ucw2%2BN%2Fxn3LwxPZzeb%2BWjp8B%2BpgAJyRjwxRb0OYlAiQBCrca6r%2FpzVlM9%2BnWu%2FCegr23To0cc5agDY4i0WxM65nKsGVB%2BBdJgXxGf2VkMTA63219eyZpGXtffTTfmYKy2L72yosX%2BYIcOZYJ2tZxU%2B%2BcWnzbkgWOpglT0BZAE4U5AKaxec2B1VB5FSd%2F%2BH%2B6gReBtt75cy7xkwzgbBO0eS6jTSWVtrEm7QEzieYyBsdmyXzfzdlCNRE4O8uTSdWSrsn%2BB82%2FYVNRdkIHD%2BqEvVq8zGb7CxWZjUvXBUKaLPug4U22qjVTCYq1uNW0YWgK%2FBe872rxbVxijuhGxkkbGR8XsbyUQk2%2BG1LLsftx9c1K2qd9MzbDt%2F%2FV8g99CCPKpJ4DGBfv40y7opng6g%2BSmEjbCWbToY5aa%2FHfFH0To04kDlKEnVELQEHq%2BSS2lTn2W6H5NxwYpEwbHAXpPt2HvmDejw5TsrsoJhzEq9xZsVFm9g%2BhfH3EfXDesfpmEFEO%2FRKKSy6sQEHh7guwPxDADxhhdBq%2FzF25A41wWTc8yDTCyEm%2BAD3e82TVfRqZZN3hBT1N41EDwDxDso%2B5QWXf7y4BXDh8Tr3tvCNJPMqC0g|ampid%3APL_CLK|clp%3A2334524

One other thing, by using a plywood plug you do have some scope for extra bit's. If you look closely at my pic of the luggage tag you'll see a thin line going top to bottom. I did that with a jigsaw and it contains just a straight piece of R/S which cuts a slit in the underside of that orange tag which allows you to put your data card in the plastic window..

 

[sbrownn]

21 hours ago, toxo said:

I keep threatening to get a 3d printer but I'm a sod for losing interest in something once I've proven to myself that I can do it. I do have a laser engraver and that's not getting overworked either.

I understand the losing interest part but I find the 3D printer products so useful and so much fun to design that I can't imagine leather working without it.  For me, it eliminates a lot of the drudgery jobs I hate like making cardboard patterns and doing layouts with pencil and paper.  It is sooo much faster and accurate to do the basic design in a CAD program and once that is done you are essentially done, as the printer just makes what you have designed with virtually no additional input.

I use the 3D printer on every leather project I do; for male and female molds, 2D patterns, stitching and cutting guides, gluing jigs, embossing patterns etc...  There is just no end to the things you can make that make your leather working faster and more accurate.  The 3D printed parts are very helpful for limited production items that benefit from some sort of "automation" but are too few in numbers to justify expensive dies and patterns.  That being said a set of molds and patterns would be good for at least 100 iterations if you were careful with them.  I rarely do more than 25 uses before I make a design change so my patterns go into the scrap heap long before they are worn out.  The cost of the materials is so low that it is virtually irrelevant and prototyping new designs costs less than a latte. 

The CAD program, 3D printer and my screw operated clicker are the three of the most used tools in my leather shop.  

[toxo]

18 minutes ago, sbrownn said:

I understand the losing interest part but I find the 3D printer products so useful and so much fun to design that I can't imagine leather working without it.  For me, it eliminates a lot of the drudgery jobs I hate like making cardboard patterns and doing layouts with pencil and paper.  It is sooo much faster and accurate to do the basic design in a CAD program and once that is done you are essentially done, as the printer just makes what you have designed with virtually no additional input.

I use the 3D printer on every leather project I do; for male and female molds, 2D patterns, stitching and cutting guides, gluing jigs, embossing patterns etc...  There is just no end to the things you can make that make your leather working faster and more accurate.  The 3D printed parts are very helpful for limited production items that benefit from some sort of "automation" but are too few in numbers to justify expensive dies and patterns.  That being said a set of molds and patterns would be good for at least 100 iterations if you were careful with them.  I rarely do more than 25 uses before I make a design change so my patterns go into the scrap heap long before they are worn out.  The cost of the materials is so low that it is virtually irrelevant and prototyping new designs costs less than a latte. 

The CAD program, 3D printer and my screw operated clicker are the three of the most used tools in my leather shop.  

I love your enthusiasm for what you're doing. Everyone should feel something similar. I don't do patterns. I enjoy working things out in my head. I might jot down the gyst of what I'm thinking so I get it clearer in my mind. I'll use a ruler and common sense to get to the size I want and work out what needs skiving and what order to do things in. I don't need fast and I don't need extremely accurate for most of it and there are very few that I'll make again. I made a wooden form to wet mould a pouch to hold my Pard night vision. Worked out very well but I've never used it since. My output isn't great mainly because I'm on my own and retired. What I do make goes to family and friends or is sitting on the shelves because I'll never get back what I've put in. I need to look for a leatherwork buddy. That'll do it. Then maybe I'll look at one of those resin ones.

[sbrownn]

48 minutes ago, toxo said:

I love your enthusiasm for what you're doing. Everyone should feel something similar. I don't do patterns. I enjoy working things out in my head. I might jot down the gyst of what I'm thinking so I get it clearer in my mind. I'll use a ruler and common sense to get to the size I want and work out what needs skiving and what order to do things in. I don't need fast and I don't need extremely accurate for most of it and there are very few that I'll make again. I made a wooden form to wet mould a pouch to hold my Pard night vision. Worked out very well but I've never used it since. My output isn't great mainly because I'm on my own and retired. What I do make goes to family and friends or is sitting on the shelves because I'll never get back what I've put in. I need to look for a leatherwork buddy. That'll do it. Then maybe I'll look at one of those resin ones.

Same here.

I love perfecting a design though and CAD/3D printing helps me with that process.

[artprintguy]

finding this convo very interesting... been trying to figure out DIY die making... been watching a lot Youtube... I am a complete newbie.... it mostly comes down to the steel table-kicker Die Bending set up (as used by Bad&G Leather) or using a Helmold bender or JA Smith multifold bender.  All of these options are pretty pricey... even used... if you can find them.

The Kick Benders seem to be used mostly made & used in India or China... originally used mostly for Shoe Manufacturing it seems.  They look great... and allows one to work hands free... and the table top keeps the die rule flat and in place while bending... utilizing mostly using the same pair of die set... this is the ideal set up in my opinion... although may not be perfectly precise.  It does seem Bad&G leather uses heavier steel rule... it appears unmarked, and he puts the sharp edge on it once he has finished the die... so i believe it is unsharpened rule.

Good luck finding this equip in the US... seems to be either made in India or China... and i have not found a US distributor.

Perhaps this set up could be rigged up... reasonably?? I will not be making a lot of dies all the time... Im thinking just making a flat board with various (male)  angles and arcs pegs that can be switched out along with a couple of (female) angles i can apply pressure with... it seems this might work... we will see!  I guess generating and applying the pressure might be the sticking point... 

Im the mean time... i am playing around with a lot of the ideas above.  I have purchased an old large Arbor Press, an CultAwl Scroll Saw to cut keft, have some rule on order... We will how it goes!  RIght now i think i am suffering with analysis-paralysis... once i start the process... solutions and work arounds will hopefully reveal themselves.

I will be cutting heavy paper tho... I am  printmaker & mobile maker... and not a leather guy.

Would love to see some pics of what folks have come up with... DIY'ing dies

 

[MPS]

Hi. I have just done a factory clearance and now have one of the shoe knife benders for sale.  

[Northmount]

16 hours ago, MPS said:

Hi. I have just done a factory clearance and now have one of the shoe knife benders for sale.  

Post it in the marketplace > miscellaneous/other

This is not the right place for it.  Read the marketplace rules as well.  https://leatherworker.net/forum/forum/70-announcements/