Border Stamping

[Coyote Tim]

I'm in the process of making a belt and holsters and I was wondering what the secret was to keeping the border stamp straight? I've been practicing on a scrap of leather and I can't keep this border straight to save my life. If anyone has a good border stamp pattern I'd also appreciate it also. I don't really like the one I've got.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

I stamp my borders against a line made with an edger or a swivel knife cut.

There are many ways to make a border. I usualy mess with ideas on a scrap until I get one I like. Here's one of mine made with home made stamps, but you can use the general idea with production ones.

[Silver_Rings]

Marshal, that's right nice looking stamping. It is simple but eligant. 

SR

[Silver_Rings]

Tim, as the Marshal said, start by making a line to follow, then stamp along it.  At first you will make oopses, we all did and do.  The oops usually look worse to us, the maker, than anyone else.  When the piece is done you will not notice the oopses unless you go looking for them.      You will get better with practice. 

So cut yourself some slack and enjoy making things.

SR

[Dark Star]

I stamp my borders against a line made with an edger or a swivel knife cut.

There are many ways to make a border. I usualy mess with ideas on a scrap until I get one I like. Here's one of mine made with home made stamps, but you can use the general idea with production ones.

That is nice looking - what did you use to make the double line on that rig, a swivel knife (two separate cuts or a beading blade?) or an edger?

[Marshal Will Wingam]

That is nice looking - what did you use to make the double line on that rig, a swivel knife (two separate cuts or a beading blade?) or an edger?

I made a swivel knife cut and ran an edger along it to make the bead. Then I stamped the pattern on both sides, following with the edger again to clean up the bead.

[Slowhand Bob]

Has anyone tried the beader blades that are made fore the swivel knife?  Good beaders are almost impossible to find in any variety of sizes.  I have a nice little one, as put out by Horseshoe brand, but have seen no others available.

[Banjer Dave]

Working you border stamps next to the straight cut or "bead" as the others have described it is the best way to keep your border stamps looking straight and clean.        As far as a good pattern?     Go for one you like off of an old photo or make up your own.      I started making border examples on a scrap piece, it works well to use as a guide if you need it.      I make two parallel cuts with a swivel knife and bevel on the outside of each cut to create the raised "line" and then use whatever border tools I want on each side of that "line" to make the full border design.
   I will try to post some photos if I can figure out how to save them at less than 100 KB per photo.    Anyone got a clue?

Dave

[ColonelFlashman]

When I've done it, I've used thje Edge of the Leather itself as a guide.

[Irish Dave]

Nice work, Marshal Will. A very tasteful pattern. I like it.
If you don't mind my asking, what kind of stock do you use for making your stamps?

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Dave, I've used bolts, mostly old square head ones but as those ranout, I started using the newer hex-head ones. The harder ones make a better tool. Often I'll find one that is close and minimal modification will do the job.

[Flinch Morningwood]

Marshall:

I'd be interested in your process for making "home-made" stamps.

I made a spade stamp (Tandy only sells the heart, club and diamond) out of a bigger stamp...it is a fairliy plain stamp so it wasn't so tough.

If you don't mind sharing, what is you technique for making the more intricate stamps? 

Anyone else have a home-made stamp making technique they would like to share?

Thanks!

[Marshal Will Wingam]

The first thing I do is see if what I want already exists. If it does, I buy it and smile broadly. That failing, I break out my swiss files and start in. I usually flatten the head and polish it on my polishing wheel before anything. Next I shape the outline shape and bevel the head if the stamp will need that (this is for bevels or other such stamps). With the general shape done, I make large cuts with a medium-sized fine flat file and detail work with swiss files. I've made raised dots in the stamps with a center punch and shaped the tool around those impressions.

Here is a pic of three stamps I've made. I chose these three to show it doesn't matter how nice the bolt is to make a good stamp. Once you file through the rust or finish, the steel is the same. The other photo is a close-up of the smaller flower one. You can see how I made an impression in the center with a rounded center punch, next shaped the outside and finally finished it with swiss files.

[crossdraw]

Marshal
Thanks for the pictures of your stamps, now I am going to have to try a few. I read about using the end of wood dowel's for background stamps and thought I would try that also.
Even though products are available to buy I still have to make my own for some reason (even if it means greater cost  ).

[Irish Dave]

Thanks, Will. Those are neat. I may have to try a couple myself. Much obliged.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Thanks for the pictures of your stamps, now I am going to have to try a few. I read about using the end of wood dowel's for background stamps and thought I would try that also.
Even though products are available to buy I still have to make my own for some reason (even if it means greater cost  ).

Background stamps are the easiest because they don't have to be symmetrical. I understand the need to make your own. When you do, be sure to make something slightly different than a production one so you can really enjoy the uniqueness of it. I also have modified production ones that are close to what I needed or stamps that I bought and just don't like or intend to ever use. As to cost, a rusty, pitted, square-head bolt from an old farm implement, like the one in the middle, doesn't cost $7.00+ like a production one.

Thanks, Will. Those are neat. I may have to try a couple myself. Much obliged.

Be sure to post the results if you do. You know we're addicted to photos around here. I'm modifying a production one to be exactly like an original for my new holsters.