How To Stamp Leather?

If you are wondering how to stamp leather, then this guide will be a great start for your new adventures. But before answering the question HOW, we need to cover a more basic question of WHY. So, why stamp leather? If you have never stamped leather before you may be wondering why people want to stamp their leather in the first place. There are a few reasons people stamp leather. The first, is for the craft of it. Like knitting, crocheting, or sewing, stamping leather is just one other form of a creative outlet.

Another reason people will stamp leather is for the aesthetics of it. Many leather products like belts, wallets, or bags are often stamped with a decorative design. This design serves no purpose except for the aesthetic value that it adds to the product. For example, many western products like leather cowboy belts or other accessories are stamped to give them a distinctive western look.

The final reason people stamp leather is for functional purposes. For example, many brands will stamp leather products in order for people to act as walking marketing agents, so people can see what brand of product the person is wearing. In addition, other products such as name badges or luggage tags can be made by stamping leather as well.

[Good Read: The Basics of Leather Working]

4 Steps How to Prepare for Stamping

• Good Leather

First part to stamping leather is purchasing the right type of leather. The best type of leather for stamping is vegetable tanned leather. There are also a couple other types of leather you can use, however for the beginners like yourself, it’s better to stick with vegetable tanned one as it is easier to work with, and it’s not way too expensive. The last thing you would want to learn an art like stamping leather on is a very expensive sheet of leather.

• Right Size

The second step to stamping leather is getting your leather to the right shape and size for the item you are making. If you have to cut your leather, make sure to cut with the flesh side up to make sure you get a clean cut. There won’t be any flesh, of course, we just call it the flesh side, so you don’t forget to flip it before cutting it.

[Good Read: What is Leather Made out of?]

In addition, if you need anything else done to the leather like a hole punched in it, now is the time to do it.

[Good Read: How to Make a Leather Bag at Home]

• Getting Leather Wet

Next, you need to wet the leather. Depending on how much time you have, and how serious you are about leather stamping, this process could take anywhere from a couple of minutes to overnight. A quick way to wet the leather to prepare it for stamping is to get a sponge wet and then apply it on both sides of the leather sheet, the top and the flesh side.

This will get the job done, but it may not be good enough for more serious leather stampers. These leather crafters should soak their leather pieces in either a bathtub, shop sink, or large basin. Leave the leather in the water until no bubbles form to ensure that the water has seeped into every fiber of the leather. Then hang the leather to trip the excess water away and put it in a plastic grocery bag with all of the air taken out. Depending on how much time you have, you can let it sit for just a couple hours or overnight until you are ready to stamp.

• Stamp

After getting the leather wet, you have to wait for it to begin to dry before you can stamp it. Once it is returning to its natural and dry color, but it still slightly wet, it is time to stamp!

4 Steps on How to Stamp Leather

Once all the steps above are behind, you can start stamping. To do that you will have to follow four very simple steps.

• Firm Surface

You have to place a sheet or a piece of leather upon which you will be stamping on a firm surface. Hard surface will ensure that enough force is applied for the stamp to stick to leather. Therefore, don’t hope putting your piece of leather on a sofa and then hammering away, as the stamp won’t hold up.

• Positions the Stamp

Once you find a firm surface, position your stamp onto the leather where you would like to have your chosen design. If you don’t know what to stamp onto your leather, there are millions of designs and ideas for you to consider online. Do a simple google search, and you will come across the sea of options.

• Using Hammer

Once you find a firm surface, place your piece of leather onto it and find the perfect spot for your stamp design, then all you have to do is hammer away. Make sure you don’t accidently shift or slide your stamp as you hammer upon it, as it might ruin the leather sheet. Think of those doubling images you see after a good night out, that’s what you will have in case you move around your stamp while hammering.

• Repeat Until Finished

If your design is made up of several stamps, then you will have to do the same process for other parts as well. Just make sure that the leather is slightly wet at all times while hammering your stamp upon it. If you need to wet with a sponge in the middle of the process, don’t hesitate to do that.

Final Words

As you can see, theoretically there is nothing complicated on how to stamp leather. However, in reality it’s somewhat more complicated, because if you don’t have passion for making leather items yourself, from scratch, there is no way you could stamp onto a finished product without potentially destroying it.

Another solution in case the design that you have in mind contains words and names, is to use laser application. That can be done on a complete and finished product. Therefore, if that is something of interest to you, contact us at info@dominileather.com with your inquiry. We will be more than glad to engrave your phrase, name or anything alike on your new Domini Leather leather bag.

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