Adapting a craftool

Skeeter Lewis · March 03, 2018, 09:57:18 AM

Pards, I'd like to remove the stippling from this Craftool stamp. I have no skills in this area. I have files. I have a Dremel. How would you go about it?

Marshal Will Wingam · March 03, 2018, 06:09:15 PM

I'd do it with swiss files. I made this stamp from a bolt with swiss files.

The second photo shows what it does. It's very similar to your stamp (once you remove the stippling) only with one cross groove instead of two. I made it to copy a border stamp on a holster from the 1880's (Packing Iron, P 102, bottom).

The last photo is the border on a holster.

Yours should be just as nice.

Buck Stinson · March 03, 2018, 10:33:13 PM

Skeeter, I made the same changes to this same tool, many years ago. I used a sharp cut V-shaped file, with 1/4 " cut. It was very easy, just stay within the outside line on the double line border.

Skeeter Lewis · March 04, 2018, 02:32:29 AM

Thanks, pards. That tells me what I need to know.
Good job, Marshal.

Holsterguy · March 04, 2018, 04:14:16 AM

Not to hijack this thread, but were do you guys find the flower stamps? Marshal, I really like the one you show on the holster in the earlier post, looked all over on line, but can't seem to finf anything.

Marshal Will Wingam · March 04, 2018, 11:54:40 AM

Thanks, Skeeter. Looking forward to see what you make with that one.

Quote from: Holsterguy on March 04, 2018, 04:14:16 AM
Not to hijack this thread, but were do you guys find the flower stamps? Marshal, I really like the one you show on the holster in the earlier post, looked all over on line, but can't seem to finf anything.

Will Ghormley had a few made, two sizes, some years ago. I got them from him. You may want to contact him and see if he has any left. http://www.willghormley-maker.com/index.html

Slickshot · March 14, 2018, 04:30:45 AM

I just contacted Will Ghormley about those rosette stamps. He discontinued them. I just got his response yesterday, as I wanted one.

Hope this helps.

Slickshot

Marshal Will Wingam · March 14, 2018, 11:34:30 AM

Other than finding one of the originals from the 1800's, it's custom work for them. I don't know if any of the quality stamp makers offer anything like them.

You may be able to get one made from one of the companies that make maker's stamps. It would probably be an outline but you could then dress it up with other stamps. Here are some that came up on a search. I used Infinity for my Maker's stamp and their quality is outstanding.

Infinity Stamps

Leather Stamp Maker

LW Leathers

Steel Stamps

For delrin stamps: Grey Ghost Graphics

Delrin stamps are less expensive but won't last like steel ones. If you're going to use them a lot, stay with steel.

Sir Charles deMouton-Black · March 15, 2018, 09:50:38 AM

Quote from: Skeeter Lewis on March 03, 2018, 09:57:18 AM
Pards, I'd like to remove the stippling from this Craftool stamp. I have no skills in this area. I have files. I have a Dremel. How would you go about it?

Seeing the tool that the Marshal made, it looks simple. Just a couple of tapered grooves to eliminate the stipling, but carefully as the other two sides show a very fine border of stiple. Haven't done it, so just saying!

Marshal Will Wingam · March 15, 2018, 10:06:56 AM

Quote from: Sir Charles deMouton-Black on March 15, 2018, 09:50:38 AM
Seeing the tool that the Marshal made, it looks simple. Just a couple of tapered grooves to eliminate the stipling, but carefully as the other two sides show a very fine border of stiple. Haven't done it, so just saying!

If there is a slight line of stipling left after the center is filed out, it might be a fine addition. Maybe even to the point of adding it to the other two sides. One could always file the grooves deeper and face the whole thing off to clean it up that way, too.

Skeeter Lewis · March 29, 2018, 10:00:46 AM

A pal of mine, a retired toolmaker, did this work for me. He removed the other two quadrants. There's a slight line of stippling but it's only visible in closeup. I'm more than happy with it.

Capt Quirk · March 29, 2018, 10:49:15 AM

I'm a member on a leather forum. There is a fella in Romania, I think, who makes some of the prettiest leather tools. Good prices considering. If you want to see his stuff, let me know, and I'll dig hp his etsy page. If you want something that you can't find, he is the guy I would recommend.

Marshal Will Wingam · March 29, 2018, 08:22:07 PM

That looks really good, Skeet. That's a beautiful stamp, now. I actually like the lines with the fine stippling. What about filing that into the other two lines?

Skeeter Lewis · March 30, 2018, 01:21:35 AM

Thanks, Marshal. I was trying to duplicate a Meanea stamp so I think I'll keep it as it is.

Marshal Will Wingam · March 30, 2018, 10:49:36 AM

I look forward to seeing what you do with it.

Skeeter Lewis · March 30, 2018, 02:12:45 PM

Odd thing is, that slight line of stippling no longer appears. Waling on it with a hammer a few times seems to have flattened it.

Marshal Will Wingam · March 30, 2018, 06:30:12 PM

You been trying to get it to make impressions in aluminum or something?

Skeeter Lewis · March 31, 2018, 01:36:24 AM

Capt Quirk · March 31, 2018, 07:55:57 AM

Maybe "wailing on it with a hammer" is what hurt it.

Buck Stinson · April 01, 2018, 05:59:36 PM

Skeeter, you did a fine job. As I mentioned in an earlier post, when I made that change to the same stamping tool, it changed the look completely. I was very pleased with the outcome. Years ago, I had a Meanea #10 half seat, Sam Stagg rigged saddle, called the Denver Citizen. It had the same stamp running along the edges of the skirt, side jockeys and fenders. I also had a 5 1/2" Meanea holster with the same stamp. That is what propted me to alter the Craftool stamp. Glad I did.