latest embossing plate

[nicksilva]

This is my latest embossing plate for leather. I decided to do both the positive and the negative although only the negative is needed. trying to squeeze it between the plates tears thru the leather so I'll just use the positive as a showpiece. 3" tall in brass cut on a HAAS vertical mill using Aspire.

[mtylerfl]

Another very nice embossing plate. Thank you for showing the pics.

Could you explain the process you use to emboss the leather? Do you use padding of some sort while "squishing" the damp leather into the negative? I'm curious how you get the leather to conform so well into the deeper cavities of the plate.

[highpockets]

Beautiful job!

Thanks for sharing.

[nicksilva]

Another very nice embossing plate. Thank you for showing the pics.

Could you explain the process you use to emboss the leather? Do you use padding of some sort while "squishing" the damp leather into the negative? I'm curious how you get the leather to conform so well into the deeper cavities of the plate.

required tools: arbor or shop press, foam rubber.
the leather is wet (a little more than surface wet in this case). The rubber is under the workpiece to push the leather into the die. press it in sections on the arbor press or
squish it good in a shop press. Mine is 1 ton on the arbor press and 12 ton on the shop press. Once the workpiece dries, it will hold the shape permanently.

[mtylerfl]

Thank you, Nick! I have my eye on a 20-ton shop press, but haven't pulled the trigger (have to find a place for it in the shop.)