Time to buy an alphabet set. What to look for?

[Tallbald]

Time for me to shop for an alphabet set, 3/8 inch tall I'm thinking. Looked at a bigger set at a local big box hobby store, but don't know what construction to seek. Advice would be appreciated. Don

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

  Don, it sounds like you need a Tandy catalog, you can call them or email them, or just go on line and request one, it will show you everything that's pretty much available, small sets of 1/8 and 1/4 " alphabet sets you can get at Harbor Frieght for a cheap price, Tandy offers several different styles and sizes.


        tEN wOLVES 

[rickk]

Tallbald,

Are you talking leather stamping or metal stamping?

You can stamp leather with a steel stamp, but you will usually get round marks on the leather around the letter. They are not really deep enough to do the job well.

A leather stamp can't stamp steel, but it will do the job better than a steel stamp will. Also, they tend to be easier to line up straight because the stamping surface does not taper down near the marking end.

[Tallbald]

Hi folks. I guess I should have elaborated some. I do indeed have a Tandy catalog, but buying something based on a photo can be difficult at times. I held a set of 3/4 inch letters at some big catch-all store recently but they felt a little, well, awkward. The dedicated leather crafting catalogs I have only list that a handle is included on some sets, and I don't know if there are different ways some sets are assembled or if all are pretty much the same in how letter blocks are attached to the handle. I'd like something rugged that I can adapt to my embossing press if possible, in a 3/8 inch tall decorative motif. Just a big hmmm for me to try to buy through the mail. Thanks everyone. Don

[rickk]

Tallibad, the intended-for-leather letter stamps work pretty much like any other leather stamp. They take a handle that has a round end with a ball detent in it (like a ratchet wrench would have) to hold the stamp on the end....

And yes, they do feel awkward. The diameter of the handles is small. For my bigger stamps there is a big handle availanle that fits them... it is bigger than the handle that would normally be used with such stamps, and lacks the detent to hold the die. In fact, it does not even go into the hole in the die, but rather straddles the bosses on the back of the die to contact more of the die. I don't believe anyone makes such a handle for the smaller dies, and the lack of a detent to hold the die is sort of another problem. It sounds like a solution that still needs to be implemented.

Different sized letter sets have different sized diameter handle ends.

The handle major diameter is bigger than the end that goes into the die, but it is round as well.  If your press has a hole in the end, you should either be able to slide the handle in, or make an adapter if the diameter of the supplied handle does not work out right.

[Slowhand Bob]

Tandy/Hidecrafters  had some of the early basic How-To videos that showed use of their alphabet stamp sets on a simple belt.  It would not surprise me if that clip wasnt available somewhere (u-tube or facebook?) and if it isnt it should be, anyone have any pull with their Texas power group?  Not knowing which press you have, most will work fine with the press accessory sets Tandy sells for their original long handled embossing type press.  Sorry I do not have a catalog in the house to use model numbers but I do find a 1/2" and a 3/4" to be most used for decorative stamping, the edge going to the 3/4" version.  The small 1/4" is great for doing small logo type personals on the rear of projects.

[rickk]

http://www.youtube.com/user/TandyLeatherFactory?blend=23&ob=5#p/u/24/5_BzcVN3ZO0    <--- Tandy Letter Stamping video

also has links to other Tandy Videos.

[Slowhand Bob]

Great job rickk, proof positive of "ask and ye shall receive".  The tool he uses to set the stamps has a bottom that is similar to a hefty stamp and this is made to work with the press I mentioned while using an adapter for attachment.