question for j. Loose

[Omega]

jonathan in a past thread you said you make your own stamps could you give a run down on how you make them? Thx


Bill



Sweeet:evil

[J.Arthur Loose]

Hey Bill,

It's a lot like making a knife. You need a rod or square bar in a very annealed state. I use a flex-shaft but you could use a dremel... and a combination of whatever files will do the job. Carve your design in reverse. A good way to do this is to draw it in pencil, turn over your paper and place it on another piece of paper and blacken in the spot on the reverse of the original... it should transfer in reverse to the bottom paper... or some similar trick. When you have carved your design in to the desired relief depth you need to make sure the design is nice and flat and about a 120 grit or better. You'll want to harden the tip with the design and leave the other two thirds or so soft. Temper to a nice brown or dark straw.

I stamp hot during the first normalizing course of my heat-treat. Strike quickly so you don't mess up your temper, but not so quickly that you aim poorly... it takes some practice to get it right and every now and then I have to clean up & reharden the stamp because I left it on a piece too long getting the positioning right.

It's a look that I think is well-suited to my work but not one that would look right on every piece. I like an 'ancient,' look about my work and a nice perfect stencil would be out of place... but if I was going to start making folders I'd be looking for a stencil.

Good luck!

[Omega]

thanks for the reply im gonna give it a shot


Bill



Sweeet:evil

[Omega]

when you said carved, the design is raised right (seems the only way it would work) is there any chance you have a pic. or your stamp i could study if its not a prob, if it is i understand. Thx


Bill



Sweeet:evil