According to historians, metal stamping was first used on coins in the 7th century BC. At that time, molds had to be made and heavy hammers were used to carve the metal. It wasn’t until 1550 that the process was improved. Twelve people had to work together to screw the mold into the metal coin.
Today, you can do metal stamping yourself at home. With this technique, you can easily and inexpensively create one-of-a-kind gifts for a variety of holidays and events. Something made from the heart is the best thing in the world.
Read our complete beginner’s guide to metal stamping to learn more about how to get started with stamping metal yourself. This guide covers the key tools. It also covers the basic and advanced steps. They will help you make beautiful, custom metal pieces. You can make jewelry, keychains, or decorative items with metal stamping. It offers endless chances for creativity and personalization.
Table of Contents
Metal Stamping Tools
To start metal stamping, just like any other hobby, you’ll need special tools. Some of the metal stamping tools can be a bit pricey, but they tend to last a long time and are good value for money, so it’s money well spent.
You can purchase the following tools from a shopping website or a tool store near you. There are tools for every skill level. The tools come in a handy beginner’s stamping kit that you can buy individually or all at once.
Hammer for stamping: The hammer is used to strike the metal stamps, transferring the design onto the metal surface. It is essential to apply consistent force to achieve clear, defined impressions.
Metal stamps: These include letter stamps and pattern stamps. Letter stamps are used to imprint letters and numbers, while pattern stamps create decorative designs. Both are crucial for personalizing and detailing your projects.
Polishing cloths: These are used to clean and polish the metal surface after stamping. Polishing cloths help remove any oxidation or residue, ensuring your stamped designs are visible and the metal shines.
Tape for stamping: Stamping tape is used to secure the metal blanks in place while you work. It stops the blanks from moving. This ensures accurate and consistent stamping without double impressions.
Paint pens or stamp ink: These are used to color the stamped impressions, making the designs stand out. Paint pens and stamp ink are perfect for adding a personal touch and enhancing the visual appeal of your projects.
Blank or metal labels: These are the raw materials on which you will be stamping your designs. Blanks come in various shapes and sizes, suitable for different projects like jewelry, keychains, and tags.
Stamped metal blocks: The stamping block provides a hard, stable surface for stamping. It ensures that the force from the hammer is evenly distributed, resulting in clear and consistent impressions.
All of these items can be purchased separately or as part of a metal stamping kit. Quality tools make metal stamping easier. They also make it more fun. They let you create beautiful, personalized items with ease.
How to Get Started with Metal Stamping
Making metal hand stamps is easy to get started. The following four steps will show you how.
Step 1:Preparing the work area
Before you start stamping, make sure you have a stable place to work. If you don’t want to damage the work area, place a sturdy piece of wood on top. If you’re going to be hammering on a table, make sure you’re hammering on the table’s sturdy legs. This will spread the force of the hammering evenly.
Operation suggestion: placing a layer of rubber mat under the board can further reduce vibration and noise and protect the worktop.
Step 2:Preparing tools and practice materials
Gather your tools and place the metal stamping block close to you. This is the part you will use for practice. Start practicing with the pieces of aluminum metal or aluminum foil that we provide!
Handling tip: Use these sheets of metal and aluminum foil to get an idea of the depth of the stamping. This will help you familiarise yourself with how much force you need to use to strike. We recommend that you practice a few times to avoid damaging the last metal piece.
Step 3:Selecting and using a mold
First, choose the stamp you want to use, and be careful. Make sure the stamp is not facing the wrong way! Then press down on the stamp with your thumb and index finger. Don’t forget to tap the top of the stamp with a hammer.
Operating advice: It may take a few attempts to find the optimum striking position. If the die is large or has a lot of detail, you may need to use the tilt and tap method in order to press all parts of the die.
Step 4:Fixing the metal blank
When you’re ready, choose a metal embossing blank for your piece. Use stamping tape to adhere the blank to the block so that the blank doesn’t move and cause secondary stamping. Do the same with aluminum foil, or try an aluminum metal plate.
Practice tip: Don’t worry about your artwork not being perfect. Metal stamping, like any other art form, takes practice, and those who do the work usually keep a few errant blank pieces to improve upon!
As you practice, you’ll learn where and how to stamp metal, and whether you need to do it once or twice.
Starting the Metal Stamping Journey
When you first start out, take it easy. Make sure you have all the metal stamping tools you need for lots of practice before you start making more difficult pieces. When purchasing blanks, it will help you to buy larger tabs or blanks for practicing.
When you first start out, practice only on flat areas. To make them your own, simply mark and stamp them.
The Technique is Very Important
You want your finished product to be perfect. But realize that it takes a lot of hard work to become proficient at this technique, so don’t give up if your first few pieces aren’t perfect. It won’t take long for you to get it right!
Impact Strength
Using the proper amount of force when stamping a blank is an important part of the stamping method. If you lift the stamp after the first attempt and realize that it barely made a mark, you most likely won’t be able to try again on the same piece. It’s not always easy to get the stamp aligned the same way the first time again.
Most metals used for stamping require hard tapping to make an impression. But it takes different forces to stamp different metals.
Some metals (like aluminum) don’t hold up to strikes as well as brass. As you play around more, you’ll learn how much force is needed for each different metal.
Precision Positioning
You wouldn’t believe how many novices make the mistake of choosing a pattern that doesn’t fit the blank. It’s often helpful to mark the exact location with a pencil and masking tape before stamping.
To get a better idea of where all the patterns will fit, you can mark the center point and plan as you go.
Finishing the Project
At this point, you’ve had enough practice to start the real work. Prepare how you want your work to look when it’s finished. You can also start making unique gifts such as jewelry charms, date labels, name charms, and pet tags.
Make a Style Statement
Basic stamping may be sufficient for a while, but most people eventually want to spice up their work. Fortunately, there are several different ways to do this.
Highlight Your Letters
You may have noticed that some metal stampings have darker, more powerful text. You can easily make this effect by carefully filling in the holes left by the press with a black Sharpie pen.
Sharpie pens are the best way to bring letters to life, but they will rub off over time. Stamping unfinished enamel is a way to make the effect last longer. Enamel looks more professional and is a better choice for jewelry or other items that are worn often.
Punching
Not all jewelry metal tools are already punched. You can use hole punch pliers or a specialized tool for punching holes.
Changing the texture
If you feel that the texture of the final product is not quite right, you can use a special hammer to change it. They can leave lines, zigzags, depressions, and other marks.
Striking
If you want to make a simple blank look more curved, then get yourself a hammering block. You can use curved hammers to add a dent or ding effect. They come with rounded heads of different sizes.
You shouldn’t be afraid to mess up your plans. The shape of the stamp won’t change just because you tap it.
Use your imagination
With some practice, you can become more proficient at metal stamping. Simply follow the steps in this guide and you’ll be good to go. In the process, use your imagination to the fullest to create intriguing metal stamping creations.
Metal stamping has many advantages that make it a satisfying hobby. First, it is cost-effective. The tools and materials are relatively inexpensive and stay that way. Metal stamping also lets you be very creative. You can make many unique gifts and decorations, from jewelry to home décor. Only your imagination limits what you can make. In addition, metalwork is usually more durable than other materials and stamped pieces can last for years. Finally, with metal stamping, you can easily personalise your creations to make them more meaningful and valuable!
FAQ
Choose the right metal for your project needs. For beginners, aluminium is a good choice as it is softer and easier to work with. Copper and brass are also commonly used as they are both durable and have an aesthetic appearance.
Use stamping tape to hold the metal piece in place to prevent it from moving during the stamping process. Pre-marking stamping locations with a pencil or marker can help improve accuracy. It is also important to ensure that the work area is stable and flat.
Use the proper stamping force and tooling and avoid excessive hammering. For thicker metals, consider using multiple light taps to gradually create an impression rather than one hard strike.
Placing a rubber mat under the metal block can significantly reduce noise when stamping. In addition, choosing a quieter and more enclosed working environment can also help to reduce the impact of noise.