If you don’t want to purchase stamps, or can’t find the stamps you want, you can make your own. You can buy blank steel or a length of brass rod and use it to create any pattern you want or need. This will require an anvil, a file, and possibly a drill or Dremel tool, but will give you an incredible level of control over your designs, not to mention the fact that it’s a lot cheaper to make a tool than it is to buy one. Plus, you will gain a better understanding of how different tool shapes will impact the impression they leave on leather.
There are some key elements to keep in mind when designing a custom stamp. First, the stamp face should be flat and should be at a 90-degree angle with the handle or it will not stamp consistently and will either cock or strike too deeply. For line work and details, the tool edges should be crisp and sharp and should not mushroom easily; for larger stamps or for background tools, the shoulder (the edge of the tool, where it meets the shaft) should be slightly rounded so that it doesn’t cut the leather. A design should be drawn on paper first to work out proportions and spacing (the negative space around the tool). It’s best to begin with simpler stamps such as borders, icons or textures before moving on to more representational work. The sample stamp should be tested on scraps of leather to see the effect of small changes in bevel and depth on the image that the tool stamps, and adjustments can be made until it stamps as desired.
It is crucial to heat treat the completed stamp, as this hardens the striking surface, which is important, because this will be struck many times with a heavy mallet. If it isn’t heat treated, the stamp will not hold up to this abuse. The heat treating process involves heating the business end of the tool until it reaches a specific temperature, then cooling it in either oil or water. Then, the tool is tempered, so it is not too brittle. This process can seem daunting at first, but it can be easily performed with nothing more than a propane torch and careful attention to the color of the metal. In fact, a well-made set of custom stamps will actually last longer than many store-bought stamps, because the fabricator can select a higher grade of metal or add additional thickness to high-wear areas. This extra time will pay off over the life of the tool.
Custom stamps used within a current design system can add another dimension to the work that is very personal. A handmade accent stamp can become a personal trademark that can be used in conjunction with other stamps on a variety of different projects. Using custom stamps with commercial stamps can result in interesting combinations such as a commercial border frame with a custom floral insert, or a custom texture background with a commercial figure image. Stamps can be used at angles or overlaps and even partial impressions can be used to create variations of the same image. Eventually, the custom stamps accumulate to become part of a personal stamp library with memories of the development process.
The best part about creating your own leather stamps is the sense of proprietorship. You now have the ability to create designs and patterns that you previously couldn’t find or afford to buy, and the process of creating your own tools teaches you the same lessons of patience and attention to detail as tooling leather. Furthermore, when you tool with your own stamps, you feel an additional sense of pride knowing that you created not only the leather project, but also the tool used to create it. Over time, as you make more stamps and as your skills improve, you start to feel like less of a consumer and more of a craftsperson.
