Press Video

The press has a 3/8 inch hole in the ram with a set screw (The last one I measured was 0.365). Machined all steel handle with a set screw. A better quality press. The leather stamps in the last photos are to show the perspective in size and are not sold in this sale. 3-D and other leather stamps are all different in how much pressure they require to get the leather to contact all of the detail in the stamp. That was a problem with discontinued stamps. I tried an 8 pound hammer and anvil with some success. That will work for thick leather but not for 5 oz and down. What is happening is that the edges of the stamp are sinking into the leather but not the detail. Even a thick piece of leather will leave a deep impression to get the detail out of the stamp. A lot of force is required and the stamp can bounce or an indirect strike ruins your work. So I started using a leather press. The image was sharper since it could not bounce. No more finger pinch and assembly of the handle and the stamp.  The work was more rapid. I adjusted the press for the die and work size, made a press plate of steel and invented a press pad. The press pad is pressure bonded to a steel backing to prevent curling. The press pad is the right hardness and thickness to have an amazing result. The leather and stamp sinks into the pad and cures the problem of high relief leather stamps. The pad pushes the leather into the details of the stamp. The pad greatly reduces the force required to stamp the leather.  Unsightly deep stampings now appear as raised details on the surface. 3/8 inch letter stamps work better on the steel press plate. Set the press handle in the center and small stamps come out perfect. The press pad works on the larger stamps with the handle set at the end. When you see or feel the stamp sink into the press pad the image is finished. It takes a lot less force than you expect. Turn the leather over and you will see how it has domed up into the stamp. Even the outline artwork stamp has a contoured body. For the people who don't have the press tools they will have no idea how you achieved a unique product. The keychain was custom made on the press in just a few minutes. I make, adjust and test the press tools and press. Look at my other sale items for a leather press video. The press must be "C" clamped or securely fastened to prevent injury. If it falls it could severely injure what is under it. The press handle and gear set is supposed to be 20:1 so you have to generate 50 pounds on the end of the handle for the press head to exert 1,000 pounds per square inch. You don't need to generate that much force to stamp damp cased leather. Ten pounds is plenty except for some of the tough bargain vegetable tanned leather. Shipping is $19.50. Returns? Ask questions before you buy. When you buy it you own it. Everything is new and made of cast iron and machined steel. Make sure you have a use for it. If it is a gift make sure they can use it. No returns. I have described its operation and posted pictures and I use the press and accessories myself in a leather business. The leather stamps are not included. The press, press plate and press pad are new. The working height between the flat arms of the press and the bottom of the ram is 4.0 inches. The large star and the horseshoe stamp is 4 5/16 inches so they need to be shortened unless they fit into the 3/8 hole in the ram, see the photos. I supply a 3 by x6 inch thick iron plate. If a stamp is too long I just cut them down. The 2,000 pound press has 5.5 inches. See the last photos for some of the stamps that I use and how I set some of them up.