Background punches

[Allcutup]

Does anyone know where I can find punch sets for reif backgrounds and what brands are affordable/quality.

[carver6]

Those can be made yourself pretty easily. File a cross hatch pattern on the end of a nail, bolt or steel rod. You could also probably check with a leather tooling supplier (Tandy Leather Co.) and choose one of their background stamps. Don't know how well they would work on wood but they definetly work on leather. I've never seen one for wood but that doesn't mean someone doesn't make them.

[Dicky]

Lee Valley carries them.

[Inadv]

Allcutup

Just ran across this after reading your post...
5PC BACKGROUND PUNCH SET-Wood Carvers Supply

Hope that helps.

L.P

[Donna_T]

If you're into the do-it-yourself scene, you can take a large nail, put it in a vice, and using a diamond or carbide blade, or a hack saw, cut various lines into it. A very dear old carving friend who has since passed away, made 3-4 nails for me with different angles, patterns, etc. By leaving the nail head in tact, you just tap them onto your carving background until you get the "look" you want. He advised me and it seems to work, to just turn them a 1/4 turn, then a half turn, and rotate them in an inconsistent pattern, overlapping the punch lines, until you have filled in the background.

I tried it and it was amazingly easy. Give it a try.

Donna_T

[Allcutup]

I bought a 4 pc set from Lee Valley and did not find them to be of use. The teeth are not deep enough to make a noticable imprint without leaving the outline off you punch. I do not recommend these punches.

[Rob Wilson]

I found the Lee Valley punches very good.