How will I use this #@*!# tool??

[Boothill Bob]

Howdy.
I cant get this POS to work for me. Can anyone help me or I will trow it away.

//BhB

[KidTerico]

Bob thats how mine turns out also. KT

[LoneRider]

    what's wrong??

[Boothill Bob]

I cant get it stright  Dont know how  to do it. Have tryed with a guide line but its not good enough for me.

[GunClick Rick]

A shot of Glen Fidich to strieghten out the curves.. ~~~---------

[Boothill Bob]

GCR, you know I dont drink. Although it looks like I did when I made that border 

[Paladin UK]

BB..........
JMOHO..

I think that your tooling is jest fine, it is handcrafted and has the charactor that a die striaght machine line cannot reproduce.

Paladin (Whats gettin even more excited `bout Santa comin  ) UK

[KidTerico]

Bob I quit using mine for that reason. KT

[Cliff Fendley]

I don't have that stamp but some other geometric stamps and such that are hard to get straight I have had luck laying a flat straight edge with some weight or clamps and using it as a guide for the edge of the tool.

Might be worth a try.

[Andy Rombach]

Hey Bob
Put a little line, not very deep into the leatehr and try to use the tool at the line.... My english is too bad:-(
Will send you pic tomorrow:-)
Otherwise the tooling is not realy bad.... it is handcrafted!!!!!!!!!

So long
Andy Rombach

[Boothill Bob]

Thanx guys. I will try your Proposals on some scrap leather tomorrow 

[LoneRider]

If you want it perfect get a machine. Handcrafted work isn't perfect! Adds Character!!

[Drayton Calhoun]

Most of my stuff has LOTS of character! LOL

[Cliff Fendley]

LOL, nothing wrong with that and it's probably more period correct.

To be honest I've looked at original pieces before for inspiration and thought if I do the carving or stamping just like the original I wouldn't want my name on it.

Then it was a tool, I think today people tend expect a higher level of craftsmanship than during the period. Kinda like comparing the paint job on a piece of machinery to a show car.

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

LOL, nothing wrong with that and it's probably more period correct.

To be honest I've looked at original pieces before for inspiration and thought if I do the carving or stamping just like the original I wouldn't want my name on it.

Then it was a tool, I think today people tend expect a higher level of craftsmanship than during the period. Kinda like comparing the paint job on a piece of machinery to a show car.

   Har Har Cliff, and I think you are right, we expect more of this craft than they did in yesteryear, even though there were the top end makers that did great work, not all cared that much as to make things perfect, I've seen old gun leather to that wouldn't pass muster today, our world today expects perfect as a standard.

             tEN wOLVES

[KidTerico]

TW I think its people like BB, Cliff, you ,myself etc expect it from our selfs or close. KT 

[Slowhand Bob]

I am afraid thet perfection will require devine intervention OR an embossing machine!  Someone was converting the small arbor presses to take hand stamping tools and selling them on Ebay not to long ago BUT it will no longer be truly hand stamped then.  A little dye and some antiqueing to make your stamping stand out even more and fokes will love it just the way it is.   

[bedbugbilly]

Boothill - we are our own worst critics.  I personally don't see anything wrong in your photo - I think it looks fine and who the heck is going to get down and put a ruler on it when someone is wearing it?  As stated, things weren't "perfect in the day" - nothing that is hand made is.  I have also taken the time to examine original pieces and I have to tell you that some of the things I have seen on here far surpass them.  I'm no different that the rest of you - we all want to "get something perfect" and there's nothing wrong ins triving for that - but I'd be proud to wear that belt you're showing.  I done work for a lot of folks and I see all of my mistakes - but I've never had one of 'em point 'em out - they're too excited about having something that has been hand made expecially for them.

I have to also say that I'd treasure something that was hand made, mistakes and all, that was made with love and by someone who strived to preserve the techniques of handwork than I would for something that is "perfect" made by a machine.  There's no comparison.

[knucklehead]

looks fine to me.

this remindes me of what my friend said about his bead work "ONLY GOD IS PERFECT". he puts a bead completely out of place so that its not perfect.

i now use this rule when i do my leatherworking. mostly use it to calm myself down when i put the tool in the wrong spot and hit with hammer before i relize what i did. then i use my spoon to smooth out the oops stamp as much as possible or decide to make that area a background area so i can hide my oops spot.

[Drayton Calhoun]

Not an oops spot, it's an accent point...