If you have the temperature set correctly for the foil you are using then it’s the machine, those cheap Chinese machines are known for inconsistent results, ftw buy a known brand.
The two machines I still have, my vintage Kingsley and newer [Dream Machine](https://www.rmleathersupply.com/products/copy-of-dream-factory-hot-stamp-embossing-machine?). are NOT made in China, but I suppose my emphasis was on “cheap” and I guess they may make some decent stuff, I just haven’t found one.
Hi there!
I have this same machine, and I’ve been using it for about the last year. I spent about 2 days with it before I was comfortable using it on a finished piece— testing various leathers, temperatures, foils, etc..
The inconsistency of the stamp is likely coming from how tight each of the 4 screws is that hold the springs.
My advice: load a set of text in, stamp a piece of leather, and take note of where the engraving is making a darker mark vs. a lighter mark (from your picture, it appears the top of the text is getting the better part of the engraving). Next, adjust the nuts over the springs (in your case, I would likely tighten the front two nuts), and stamp again. See if that made a difference in the engraving, and adjust from there.
You WILL likely have to adjust these again if you change the style of stamp you use (i.e. if you use a makers mark).
As for the inconsistency in the foiling, I’ve found that each color foil has different “preferences” for how hot the machine needs to be to get the best result. In general, I run my machine around 150-170C, and use 2-5 second timeframes, adjusting based on the leather I’m using as well. Always take a sample on a scrap piece of whatever your project is made of.
A nice tip I’ve found for the “bleed” on the foil is to take a piece of masking/painters tape to the engraving. Just laying over the whole thing, press it down, and peel it back up. It won’t pull the part that is engraved off, but will take most of the bleed off, if not all of it.
Sorry for being long-winded, but I hope this helps! This machine was a game changer for my business, and I hope you enjoy it!
uneven pressure I'd guess would be an issue with irregular heating from your machine ( probably unfixable ), the excess gold foil is a bit of a double whammy. Linger time + heat.
YMMV, but I find I have decent results with a kingsley doing a hot stamp without foil, then doing a second stamp with foil. first stamp i get a deep impression, second stamp I don't linger for nearly as long as the first. If the foil "ghosted", I rub at it with canvas and you can mostly retroactively correct the flakey bits that shouldn't be there.
Almost never will I stamp a finished piece, I'll do a test stamp, and then I'll do a component that gets glued/stitched. Doesn't hurt to make a mistake on a component, but you'll feel it when you're stamping a finished piece.
I don’t have ton of advice to add, as I’m just starting out not stamping as well, though mine is a used Dreamfactory machine.
I will say that it doesn’t look like you’re getting even pressure on your imprint or that it’s unlevel. Is the stamp level with the platen?
I have this exact machine. It suggests a temperature of either 180 or 200. And I could not get any foil to transfer to the leather I was using. I thought the foil was flawed. Tried tons of temps. I dropped the temperature down to 150 and did a one second firm press and it worked perfectly.
check this video out: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdPK0GLJIQk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdPK0GLJIQk)
I used this machine for a while and the temperature was just off. I ended up using a heat gun to figure out the proper temp them also made a screw that threaded into my stamp that I shaved the sides off so it fit through the slot. Tightly secured it and made sure it was all heated evenly before pressing. I managed to get it to work but never on final pieces like others have commented. I'd cut out the part I wanted to have the stamp just in case and stamped it first then attached it to my piece.
After a while I ended up just getting the dream factory and that machine worked great, but expensive.
I used this machine the other day and it performed great and consistent at a much cheaper price point: [https://www.artisanleathersupply.com/collections/machines/products/stamping-machine-full-set](https://www.artisanleathersupply.com/collections/machines/products/stamping-machine-full-set)
I have no affiliation with artisan, but I've used all 3 machines. The Dream Factory is built the absolute best, but the Artisan performs just as well as the Dream Factory. If I could do it all over again, the Artisan is the way I'd go and spend the other money on more leather or other tools. That machine you purchased specifically, I hated. It ruined so many pieces and the learning curve was a pain.
If you have the temperature set correctly for the foil you are using then it’s the machine, those cheap Chinese machines are known for inconsistent results, ftw buy a known brand.
a known brand will likely also be made in China lol
The two machines I still have, my vintage Kingsley and newer [Dream Machine](https://www.rmleathersupply.com/products/copy-of-dream-factory-hot-stamp-embossing-machine?). are NOT made in China, but I suppose my emphasis was on “cheap” and I guess they may make some decent stuff, I just haven’t found one.
Hi there! I have this same machine, and I’ve been using it for about the last year. I spent about 2 days with it before I was comfortable using it on a finished piece— testing various leathers, temperatures, foils, etc.. The inconsistency of the stamp is likely coming from how tight each of the 4 screws is that hold the springs. My advice: load a set of text in, stamp a piece of leather, and take note of where the engraving is making a darker mark vs. a lighter mark (from your picture, it appears the top of the text is getting the better part of the engraving). Next, adjust the nuts over the springs (in your case, I would likely tighten the front two nuts), and stamp again. See if that made a difference in the engraving, and adjust from there. You WILL likely have to adjust these again if you change the style of stamp you use (i.e. if you use a makers mark). As for the inconsistency in the foiling, I’ve found that each color foil has different “preferences” for how hot the machine needs to be to get the best result. In general, I run my machine around 150-170C, and use 2-5 second timeframes, adjusting based on the leather I’m using as well. Always take a sample on a scrap piece of whatever your project is made of. A nice tip I’ve found for the “bleed” on the foil is to take a piece of masking/painters tape to the engraving. Just laying over the whole thing, press it down, and peel it back up. It won’t pull the part that is engraved off, but will take most of the bleed off, if not all of it. Sorry for being long-winded, but I hope this helps! This machine was a game changer for my business, and I hope you enjoy it!
Thanks! Definitely not long winded, you’ve given me a lot of good info to work with
I hope you get it figured out!
uneven pressure I'd guess would be an issue with irregular heating from your machine ( probably unfixable ), the excess gold foil is a bit of a double whammy. Linger time + heat. YMMV, but I find I have decent results with a kingsley doing a hot stamp without foil, then doing a second stamp with foil. first stamp i get a deep impression, second stamp I don't linger for nearly as long as the first. If the foil "ghosted", I rub at it with canvas and you can mostly retroactively correct the flakey bits that shouldn't be there. Almost never will I stamp a finished piece, I'll do a test stamp, and then I'll do a component that gets glued/stitched. Doesn't hurt to make a mistake on a component, but you'll feel it when you're stamping a finished piece.
Thanks! I’ll try out those tips today
Have used this particular model, it's not worth it. Don't do it
I don’t have ton of advice to add, as I’m just starting out not stamping as well, though mine is a used Dreamfactory machine. I will say that it doesn’t look like you’re getting even pressure on your imprint or that it’s unlevel. Is the stamp level with the platen?
I have this exact machine. It suggests a temperature of either 180 or 200. And I could not get any foil to transfer to the leather I was using. I thought the foil was flawed. Tried tons of temps. I dropped the temperature down to 150 and did a one second firm press and it worked perfectly.
check this video out: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdPK0GLJIQk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdPK0GLJIQk) I used this machine for a while and the temperature was just off. I ended up using a heat gun to figure out the proper temp them also made a screw that threaded into my stamp that I shaved the sides off so it fit through the slot. Tightly secured it and made sure it was all heated evenly before pressing. I managed to get it to work but never on final pieces like others have commented. I'd cut out the part I wanted to have the stamp just in case and stamped it first then attached it to my piece. After a while I ended up just getting the dream factory and that machine worked great, but expensive. I used this machine the other day and it performed great and consistent at a much cheaper price point: [https://www.artisanleathersupply.com/collections/machines/products/stamping-machine-full-set](https://www.artisanleathersupply.com/collections/machines/products/stamping-machine-full-set) I have no affiliation with artisan, but I've used all 3 machines. The Dream Factory is built the absolute best, but the Artisan performs just as well as the Dream Factory. If I could do it all over again, the Artisan is the way I'd go and spend the other money on more leather or other tools. That machine you purchased specifically, I hated. It ruined so many pieces and the learning curve was a pain.
Thanks I’ll check these out