This guide will walk you through how to stamp your leather and faux leather projects using our stamps with an arbor press.
The arbor press is the preferred method of application for our stamps. It will work across the broadest range of leather types, including vegetable tanned leathers, chrome tanned leathers and faux leathers, among other materials. We recommend the use of a heat gun in conjunction with the arbor press and our stamps for best results.
Things needed:
- Brass stamp (included in kit)
- 1000-2000W heat gun (preferred method for all types of leather, not necessary if using the damp leather technique described below)
- Spray bottle filled with water (damp leather is an alternative to heating the stamp, note this will not work as well with chrome tanned leather and faux leather).
- 0.5-1 ton arbor press
- Heat resistant gloves (if using the hot stamp method)
- Infrared thermometer (optional, helpful with measuring stamp temperature)
Begin by heating the stamp up to approximately 70-100C (slightly too hot to hold your hands on, test periodically to ensure the stamp is not getting too hot). An infrared thermometer can be used here to verify the stamp temperature, but is not compulsory. The temperature may need to be adjusted, especially for certain types of faux leather.
Wearing heat resistant gloves, position your stamp centrally under the arbor press, on top of your leather workpiece.
Apply moderate pressure to the handle of the arbor press, and hold for a few seconds.
Check your work - you should have a very clear debossing of the leather with all the details showing.
Optional - instead of step 1
An alternative to heating the stamp is to dampen the leather prior to stamping using a spray bottle filled with water, this softens the leather and allows it to take and hold an impression. This is only suitable for unfinished vegetable tanned leather.
Begin by heating the stamp up to approximately 70-100C (slightly too hot to hold your hands on, test periodically to ensure the stamp is not getting too hot). An infrared thermometer can be used here to verify the stamp temperature, but is not compulsory. The temperature may need to be adjusted, especially for certain types of faux leather.
Wearing heat resistant gloves, position your stamp centrally under the arbor press, on top of your leather workpiece.
Apply moderate pressure to the handle of the arbor press, and hold for a few seconds.
Check your work - you should have a very clear debossing of the leather with all the details showing.
Optional - instead of step 1
An alternative to heating the stamp is to dampen the leather prior to stamping using a spray bottle filled with water, this softens the leather and allows it to take and hold an impression. This is only suitable for unfinished vegetable tanned leather.