I know I've posted about making your own stamps before. I couldn't find where it was so I'll just start a new topic on it here.
For years I've made my own stamps. This doesn't mean I would rather make them but often what I need just isn't available. I got the idea when I worked in the saddle shop with Charlie Miller, an old time saddle maker who in the 1940's and 1950's, with his partner, made his own stamps and even manufactured them to sell to other saddle makers. He eventually sold his equipment and the rights to his designs to Tandy. I was fortunate to see some of the original prototype stamps that they would duplicate for production stamps. Those stamps were made from odd bits of steel or bolts. It was really cool to see those and watch saddles go out the door with the designs stamped into them. After that when I needed a stamp but couldn't find anything to do the job, I simply went into the garage and made one from an old bolt or piece of steel. Also, there have been times when I wanted to duplicate something from the 1800's but the stamps just weren't available.
Today I probably have close to 200 leather stamps and a full third or more of them are ones I've made. I have 9 basketweave stamps and only one was purchased. I seldom make anything without using a couple of hand made ones.
It doesn't require any special equipment. With a bench grinder, a vice and a set of fine swiss files you are in business. You can even do without the bench grinder if you're so inclined but it does make short work of roughing the shape in.
Here are some examples of stamps I made from old bolts. Of course I chose the nastiest looking ones for examples. One was a rusty carriage bolt I pulled out of some old wood. Really, any old bolt the right size will work for this, even new ones. I actually like the pitted ones because I don't have to texture the shaft for ease of holding them. The stamping on the left shows what those stamps do. I used lined bevels on the one on the upper left to clean things up so I stamped those next to the example, too.
These holsters were made possible by stamps I've made. Not the flowers but the other stuff.
With a bench grinder, a vice and a set of fine swiss files, you are in business. So increase your potential and get to making your own. It's fun and certainly makes your work your own. If you have made any, let's see them.