15 Best Leather Embossing Kits for Every Leather Crafter in 2023: Reviews & Buying Guide
Leather embossing is a beautiful art because of the practical projects you can make with vegetable-tanned leather. However, to make lovely leather wallets, purses, and journal covers, you need the best leather embossing kit for your specific needs. For this reason, we reviewed some of the leather stamping tools with good ratings to know if they are worth every crafter’s money.
If you don’t have time to browse through the article, we picked the best kits based on our review criteria. However, feel free to check the article to find tips and hacks littered within.
Our Top Picks
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Best Leather Embossing Kit for Starters: Big Teddy Leather Embossing & Stamp Set• Stainless steel construction |
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Best Complete Leather Embossing Kit: Bagerla Leather Embossing & Crafting Kit• Complete set of leather embossing, sewing, and finishing tools |
Best Letter Embossing Kit for Leather Crafts: Owden Number & Letter Embossing & Stamping Set• Well-defined stamps |
1. Butuze Leather Embossing Craft Set
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What Customers Have To Say
Newbie crafters like this leather stamping tool kit because it is a versatile set. However, some crafters feel that the leather stamps only work on thick leather sheets because the resulting images are not as defined in thin leather sheets.
Why We Think It’s Great
The kit includes 20 stainless steel leather stamping tools, a swivel knife, an I-mallet, plus a bonus Allen screw. The bigger stamps measure 1.0-1.5cm, while the smaller ones range from 0.3-0.5 cm, and everything is 10 cm long. The rod for the stamp is an alloy metal and has a textured body for a better grip.
The hammer is not the best type because it is lighter than it should be but works fine with a few more blows. On the other hand, the ½-inch swivel knife works fine for tooling projects and gives depth to the stamped images. You can also use some of the stamps for detailing and highlighting your tooled leather.
Who Should Buy It
The Butuze Leather Embossing Craft Set is best for starters because it is affordable, and you don’t need to buy other leather stamping tools. This kit also makes a good gift for your leather-working friends and family members.
2. Uoou Leather Embossing & Stamp Tools
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What Customers Have To Say
The satisfied customers think that the tools included in this kit are of good quality and make fantastic stamped images. One crafter even claimed that these tools and crafting made him through depressing times. Another crafter received it as a gift and couldn’t thank the giver enough for such a lovely gift.
Why We Think It’s Great
The Uoou Leather Embossing & Stamp Tools include 6 stainless steel leather stamping tools, 5 embossing styli, and a nylon mallet with a wooden handle. The stamps measure 10.5 cm long and have 4 patterns in different sizes.
The nylon I-mallet has a lightweight and ergonomic wooden handle for easier embossing and stamping. It measures 21 cm and has the right weight to make a good impression on any leather surface.
The 5-piece embossing styli come with different metal head balls sizes to add highlight and details to manually stamped images. You can use this kit for various handmade leather projects - belts, wallets, coin purses, bags, etc. You can even use the embossing styli for cardmaking.
Who Should Buy It
We recommend this kit to leathercrafters who want to do manual embossing and stamping on their projects.
3. Big Teddy Leather Embossing & Stamp Set - Best Leather Embossing Kit for Starters
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What Customers Have To Say
One customer asked himself why he spent so much on one stamp when he can get more with this kit. The best thing about this kit is that it works on other crafts as well. One pet lover made a clay sculpture for his departed pet and used these stamps to decorate it. Another crafter received this set as a gift and decided to add more tools when he discovered the beauty of leathercrafts.
Why We Think It’s Great
The Big Teddy Leather Embossing & Stamp Set is an excellent 20-piece toolset for newbie crafters who want affordable stamping tools for their leathercrafts. The larger stamps measure 1.0-1.5 cm, while the smaller ones measure 0.3-0.8 cm.
Each tool measures 10.5 cm and has a diameter of 0.9 cm. The middle part of the rod has ridges for better grip, while the end has a code designating the design. Storage is not an issue with the velvet drawstring bag that comes with the tools.
It is very greasy upon delivery, though, so you need to clean it well with warm soapy water to remove all that grease. Dry it well before using but oil it before prolonged storage.
Who Should Buy It
The Big Teddy kit is the best leather embossing kit for crafters who want variety and affordability in their tools.
4. Horusdy Number & Letter Embossing & Stamping Set
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What Customers Have To Say
Most customers used this stamping set to customize their keys, pendants, and other metal things, but one crafter admitted she uses it for her cards. Most of them believe it’s very affordable and gives a lot of value for their money.
Why We Think It’s Great
The Horusdy Number & Letter Embossing & Stamping Set is an excellent and versatile stamp set that you can use on almost any surface. These are small; the letters are 3mm long, and the stamps are 6 cm long. It does not leave very deep impressions as some stamps, though, because its depth is just 1mm. Be sure to case your leather before stamping to deepen the impressions.
This set comes in orange plastic boxes that are easy to store and stow into your craft bag if you want to bring it along for crafting. We recommend using a metalhead hammer instead of a mallet when stamping. You don’t need to worry about wearing it down, though, since it can withstand thousands of hammerings without getting damaged in the process.
Some batches come encrusted with crud upon delivery, and it seems very hard to remove. However, you can remove it by heating it with a heat gun and picking the dirt out with fine-tipped tools. It should come out, and you can wash the rest of it off with hot, soapy water.
Who Should Buy It
The Horusdy Set is the best leather embossing set for crafters who love customizing their leather projects with names. It also works for metals, and it’s small enough to use on keys.
5. Simpzia Leather Embossing & Crafting Toolset
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What Customers Have To Say
Customers recommend this kit to crafters who love to start with a complete set of embossing and leather sewing tools. Several satisfied users posted their finished projects in the reviews. Many customers agreed that this kit is the best leather embossing kit for both professional and newbie crafters. It includes multiple tools, from adding your designs to finishing your leather goods.
Why We Think It’s Great
The Simpzia Leather Embossing & Crafting Tool Set includes 20 leather embossing stamps made from durable metal. It includes pebble design, clamshell, teardrop, nuggets, flowers, butterflies, and basketweave designs. Each of the stamps measures 0.8 cm in diameter and 10.5 cm in length. When using it for the first time, use a word of caution: wash with warm, sudsy water to remove the oil that protects the tools from rust during storage. Also, do not use a metalhead hammer as it may damage the tools.
The set also includes wax ropes, needles, an overstitch wheel, a stitching spacer, a stitching spacer, a stitching groover, finger cots, a swivel knife, polishing tools, and prongs. Each of these tools is a quality tool that you can use for a long time.
Who Should Buy It
This kit is best for you if you want just about every tool in your leather craft tools, from embossing to sewing your projects. You can make a mean leather coin purse without needing anything else with this stamping tool set.
6. Bagerla Leather Embossing & Crafting Kit - Best Complete Leather Embossing Kit
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What Customers Have To Say
Many satisfied users recommend these tools for beginner crafters. While they agree that some tools are not of the best quality, they were also willing to overlook those minor details because of the great value they get from this kit. However, they also agree that they’re not the best quality for professional leather crafters.
Why We Think It’s Great
The Bagerla Leather Embossing & Crafting Kit is a very extensive kit for every newbie leather crafter. It includes a set of alphabet and number stamping tools, 20 leather embossing tools, and a hammer.
The toolset includes circular cutting tools, precision knives, replacement blades, and a swivel knife for cutting. It even has tools for casing and applying leather dye and oils.
For sewing, you’ll get different sets of needles, several spools of waxed thread, stitching wheel tools, awl, groovers, rulers, silent pliers, seam rippers, scissors, and finger cots. For finishing, you’ll find a wooden burnisher, a block of wax, files, rivets, snap buttons, and press studs.
The cutting mat is an excellent addition to the set too. It protects your work table from damage and your tools from unnecessary dulling.
Who Should Buy It
Every practical crafter would love this toolset in their craft room. Not only is it a complete set, but it also comes with a black case to keep all your tools together in one place.
7. Jupean Leather Embossing & Stamping Tools
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What Customers Have To Say
Customers agree that these tools have the best quality and the price is very reasonable. Many of them reported that the stamps work well, making clean and clear stamps on leather. They were also very proud of the projects they created using these tools.
These tools, made from 304 stainless steel and plated to prevent rusting and corrosion, are larger than most leather stamps. The rod is 11 cm long and has a diameter of 1 cm, giving you a better grip and less hand fatigue.
Why We Think It’s Great
The Jupean Leather Embossing & Stamping Tools consists of 6 leather embossing tools (pebbles, teardrop, Celtic knots, and a basketweave).
Who Should Buy It
This set is an excellent choice for crafters who want to buy backup or replacement tools for their craft shop.
8. Dorhui Leather Crafting Kit
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What Customers Have To Say
It’s well worth the price, according to many users. The tools come packed professionally, and each item is accounted for and ready to use. Even for newbie crafters, the Dorhui kit is easy to use, especially with the leather crafting guide included in the kit. It’s also a great value for the crafter’s money.
Why We Think It’s Great
The Dorhui kit includes 3 sets of tools - embossing, sewing, and finishing. You get a nylon hammer, 20 leather stamps of different designs (flower, butterfly, teardrop, pebble, clamshell, circles, etc.) for embossing. Swivel knives best for adding dimension to the stamped images.
To assemble your leather projects, you have all the tools you need as the kit includes prong punch, leather edge beveler, stitching groover, flat wax ropes, needles, an awl, thimbles, rivet, snaps, fixing tools, and finger cots. You have the burnishing tools, nail file for sanding, wool dauber for applying finishing oils for finishing your projects.
Who Should Buy It
The Dorhui Leather Crafting Kit is an excellent gift to first-time leather crafters as they have everything they need for doing simple leather projects like a coin purse, knife sheath, etc.
9. Owden Number & Letter Embossing & Stamping Set - Best Letter Embossing Kit for Leather Crafts
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What Customers Have To Say
Crafters love this stamping set because it has the right size for stamping on small items such as leather key fobs, coin purses, tags, and bracelets. They also print legibly, comparable with more expensive stamps, and are very affordable too.
Why We Think It’s Great
The Owden Number & Letter Embossing & Stamping Tools is an excellent leather embossing stamp set. The ¼-inch letters and numbers sit on a plated steel material with a ⅝ inch stump where you insert your steel rod for stamping. Use a nylon head mallet to put pressure on your stamps instead of using a metalhead hammer.
Use veg-tanned leather thicker than 1.5mm, so it doesn’t get damaged during the stamping process because the letter stamps make an impression of more than 1mm. Always case the leather before stamping to make your embossing durable.
The stamps come packed in plastic packaging and sit in a foam bed so it won’t get tarnished from bumping with other stamps. You can make a DIY wooden storage box to store this leather kit, so they don’t get lost, given their small sizes.
Who Should Buy It
This alphabet and number stamping tool kit is the best leather tool kit for crafters who want to customize their leather products without spending much on stamping machines. You can also use this stamping set on an arbor press.
10. Joypea Leather Working Tools
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What Customers Have To Say
One professional leather crafting mentor said the Joypea Leather Working Tools is an excellent piece in quality and price. One novice couple also got this and enjoyed using it with their leather projects. In a word, most users describe it as incredible.
Why We Think It’s Great
The Joypea 195-piece leather crafting tool is an excellent toolset for every newbie leather crafter. Although it carries different designs that you usually find in the 20-piece leather embossing tools included here, it still has limitations that no professional crafter would like. However, given its price point, it’s a decent toolset.
What we love most about this set is the careful consideration that the company put into assembling this kit. Every tool is well-curated, starting from the needles to the awls, setting tools, cutting tools, and cutting mats.
Who Should Buy It
We recommend this set to crafters who love to capitalize on their embossing and cutting tools. This kit included an excellent pair of scissors and an adjustable side liner tool aside from the usual tools, unlike other kits.
11. Snewvie Leather Crafting Tools
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What Customers Have To Say
Many customers admit that this set impressed them because aside from the well-curated contents of the canvas storage bag, it is also very cheap without compromising quality.
Why We Think It’s Great
Gift yourself or your leathercrafting family member or friends with a leather embossing kit in a black canvas bag for convenience and portability, especially if you love to travel or don’t have much space in your workshop. The zippered bag is a huge improvement from plastic cases that are too flimsy for most crafter’s taste.
The kit includes 20 stamping tools, each 0.8 cm in diameter and 10.5 cm long. The crisp and clean images it makes during the embossing process are essential, especially if you are making projects to sell.
You can assemble the project you worked on, whether it’s a small coin purse or a ubiquitous journal, with the sewing set included in the kit. It even has rivets and setting tools you can use to accessorize your work. Not only that, you can use this kit on other surfaces, including fabric, canvas, denim, tarpaulin, and faux leather.
Who Should Buy It
The Snewvie Leather Crafting Tools is an excellent starter set for novice crafters, especially if you plan to perfect your crafts first before committing to more expensive tools.
12. Banyour Leather Stamping & Embossing Set
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What Customers Have To Say
The mallet has a lovely feel to the hand and does not cause unnecessary fatigue when working with it. It has a good weight, and the artistry is good, according to most users.
Why We Think It’s Great
Compared with other sets in this list, you may consider it expensive at first, but it provides more value by combining the leather stamping set and the wooden embossing styli set. The leather embossing set lays the design on your project and later highlighted by the embossing stylus and swivel knife included in this set.
The 20-piece leather embossing tools have clean and intricate cuts, making embossing on leather with the nylon I-mallet an easy task. The wooden-handle embossing stylus set makes pattern transfer easier or adding depth to your embossed leather later.
Who Should Buy It
Leather-working crafters who love to do the manual side of things will appreciate adding the embossing stylus set into this kit. Aside from leather embossing, you can also use the embossing styli for embossing on paper and other surfaces.
13. QMNNMA Leather Stamping & Embossing Set
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What Customers Have To Say
Many users love the assortment of designs that’s unique from other kits. It works like a charm even on faux leather, as experienced by one crafter who used these stamps to make accessories for the beanies she makes. Another crafter used it to decorate his leather key fobs. The nature-inspired and geometric shapes are a must-have addition for every leather stamping tool kit.
Why We Think It’s Great
You can use these stamps on an arbor press with the aid of press plates because the rod is removable. A good tip is to use an EVA mat so you can arrange a pattern on your leather items without worrying about alignment when using a manual embossing machine.
The leather stamp measures 1 cm and has a depth of more than 1mm, so the manufacturers recommend using leather not less than 1.5mm thick. The stamp itself measures 1.3mm tall, while the removable rod is 9.5 cm long. Give the rod a little twist until the ball mechanism locks in place when attaching or removing it from the stamp.
The stamping kit sits in a foam bed and is packed in a box for easy storage.
Who Should Buy It
If you want to break free from the usual pebble, clamshell, basketweave designs, and geometric shapes, these are an excellent stamping kit for every leather-working crafter.
14. Bagerla Leather Embossing & Crafting 50-pc Kit
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What Customers Have To Say
Many of the crafters agree that these leather tooling stamps are an excellent choice for any leather craft. Though they have to buy the leather and a leather mallet to start crafting, those who purchased this set still appreciate its value and assortment of tools. One bladesmith bought this set to make sheaths for the knives and almost every leather craft he makes.
Why We Think It’s Great
We love this kit because it has the necessary tools without going overboard on it. The kit includes 20 leather embossing stamps, a swivel knife, stitching wheel tools, adjustable groovers, a copper awl, a wooden awl, 4 kinds of prongs, and needles of different sizes and styles. Along with this, you also get waxed thread, burnishers, nail files, craft scissors, and a tool case.
The leather embossing stamps make excellent designs on your leather goods, with just a little pressure on them because each leather stamp has a very crisp and clear design. Each rod measures 11 cm long and 1 cm in diameter.
You can make purses, handbags, wallets, knife sheaths, journals, jewelry, scrapbook covers, and almost every leather product with this set. You can also use it for surfaces other than leather. This set also makes a good leather carving set, and you can complement it with figure carving stamps for best results.
Who Should Buy It
Any starter leather crafter must have this set of leather-working tools in his workshop. It is very affordable and includes most of the tools you need.
15. Realeather Crafts Leather Embossing Stamp Set
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What Customers Have To Say
Many customers said they got this set for the younger members of their family. Another camp adviser bought this for their art camp and was a big hit for the kids. Even 7-year old kids can handle these stamps.
Why We Think It’s Great
Take the edge off the rustic look of leather jewelry by adding quirky designs to your leather projects. These sturdy tools work for both newbie and advanced crafters. You may want to add this fun stamping tool kit to your collection.
These stamps are small, but they make deep impressions and are cute enough for kids’ crafts, though. The rod is also small at 0.5 cm diameter and 8 cm long.
Who Should Buy It
This set is an excellent set for leather-working crafters, especially those younger ones, who want to add a fun element to their projects. Each leather stamp makes a great impression on your leather wristbands, pendants, and other similar projects.
Best Leather Embossing Kit Buying Guide
Buying something you don’t have any idea of is challenging. Even if you are knowledgeable, however, sometimes freebies and more tools can mislead you into buying something you don’t need. Most manufacturers, though, strive to offer quality leather tools.
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Personal need
Know what you need before buying a leather embossing kit. The best leather embossing tool, after all, is the one that serves your purposes. A newbie crafter may want a whole set of tools since he does not know what he needs. To guide you on the tools you need for leather tooling, check out our starter’s guide for leather embossing.
On the other hand, a seasoned leather-working crafter may have other tools in his craft shop but needs something to replace his damaged tools.
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Quality
Price and quality don’t usually mix, so don’t make the mistake of thinking that expensive kits mean top-quality tools. Many tools in the market don’t leave a dent in your wallet yet still give you the best service. Read through customer reviews and third-party reviews to get an insight into your leather stamp tools.
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Value
Price may sound to be an essential thing to consider, but we recommend spending a few more dollars on a top-quality leather tooling kit for everyday use than having something with freebies that don’t work for you. More than price, it is best to choose for value.
Leather Embossing Kit FAQ
1. What is embossed leather used for?
You can use embossed leather on almost any leather-working project - from furniture, vehicles, apparel, and even shields. Aside from improving the look of leather, embossing also can mimic the hide of other animals like croc, ostrich, reptile, and other similar hides.
You can emboss by pressing with a hydraulic press, rolling, or stamping. You can also choose from blind embossing, gold embossing, and color imprint embossing. Each has its use, but blind embossed leather is the most useful in many industries.
2. What is blind leather embossing?
Blind embossing in leather follows the same principle as embossing on other surfaces. It is simply embossed without adding any color. However, the stamped image tends to darken, giving it a bit of a highlight.
3. What is embossing in leather?
Embossing in leather is adding raised patterns to improve the aesthetics of the leather or cover up imperfections. For leather-working crafters, find a good leather stamp set to aid you. When embossing on leather, remember these 4 pointers:
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Pressure
Pressure is one of the most important things to remember when embossing. The more pressure you put on the leather, the better the embossing. This principle is valid for manual, machine, and pneumatic embossing. However, be sure to put just enough pressure, or it can damage your leather too. It also helps if the leather stamp you’re using has good impressions.
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Length of stamping
In the same manner as pressure, the longer you press on your leather at a consistent pressure, the deeper and more durable the embossing is.
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The temperature during stamping
When doing hot embossing, determine the upper limits of your stamping machine. If it’s not hot enough, the impression is shallow, but if it gets too hot, it may scorch or burn the leather unless you are branding the leather. Though, as a general rule, use the hottest temperature setting that your leather can endure for the best results.
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Moisture content
Moisture content is the primary reason why leather crafters case their leather before embossing. Casing means adding moisture to your leather by wiping a wet sponge over it. Cashed leather allows your leather stamp to leave a good impression on your leather items.
4. What kind of leather can you stamp?
Leather-working crafters can emboss two types of leather: chrome-tanned leather and vegetable-tanned leather. Each has its characteristics that make them perfect for embossing.
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Chrome-tanned leather
Chrome tanning is the most common method of tanning leather, accounting for about 75% of tanned leather. Contrary to common knowledge, the trivalent chromium used in chrome tanning is safe to use. It also results in leather that is soft and pliable and stays strong after years of use.
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Vegetable-tanned leather
On the other hand, vegetable-tanned leather is the most traditional tanning method, involving the use of tannins derived from tree bark and nuts. The resulting leather is stiffer but holds more shape and is a very durable material to use, even for newbies.
5. What are the techniques for stamping leather?
Stamping and embossing on leather involve several techniques. Understanding which of these techniques is best for your leather, considering the equipment and tools you have, is one way to ensure successful stamping.
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Cold stamping on dry leather
Cold stamping on dry leather works best for small-sized stamps on vegetable-tanned leather. You work directly on the grain of the leather. On the same note, you can do embossing on dry leather with embossing tools and embossing machines.
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Cold stamping on wet leather
Casing the leather before stamping is the most common practice of leather crafters. It is cold stamping on wet leather. You can case leather with a damp sponge or soak your leather in water. This step results in better impressions because your leather is more pliable. Wait for the leather to return to its dry color before stamping or embossing so that the grain is more stable but still pliable.
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Hot stamping
Hot stamping involves heating elements in your stamp or embossing machine. You can heat the stamp directly with a blowtorch or use an electric leather embossing machine. You can do hot foiling, blind embossing, or branding to your leather. Before you stamp, emboss, or brand your leather projects, though, be sure to try on a small piece of leather to test what temperature and how long you should press on your project.
Conclusion
For this review, we chose our winners based on the value, design, and quality of the items in the kit. The best leather embossing kit for starters is the Big Teddy Leather Embossing & Stamp Set. You can use it on various leather projects. With its stainless steel construction, it makes clean and crisp designs.
We also vote for the Bagerla Leather Embossing & Crafting Kit as the best complete leather embossing kit because it includes other tools for leather embossing, sewing, and finishing tools. It is made from high-quality materials, very affordable, and includes most tools you need for leather crafting.
Another runner-up is the Owden Number & Letter Embossing & Stamping Set as the best letter embossing kit for leather crafts. This set has well-defined letter and number stamps and a ball-locking device for stable stamping. You can also use it for stamping using manual leather embossing machines.
For a convenient step-by-step guide for beginners in leather-working, this book by Tony & Kay Laeir is an excellent help. To discover more media to emboss, check out our Complete Guide to Embossing.