Metal stamping is an acquired skill to say the least. The experts at Weiss-Aug didn’t learn this process by accident overnight. It took years to hone their skills, and as technology advances, this practice becomes easier to initiate and complete on a larger scale.
Today, we’re going to talk more about metal stamping the old-fashioned way. With these tips, you can begin your journey and start taking the necessary steps to master this craft. When all is said and done, you can use this skill for your current business or possibly think about starting a new business now that you understand the intricacies of this useful practice.
With that in mind, we’ll now take a look at four effective and successful tips to use to become a true professional at metal stamping. Once you’ve mastered these aspects, you should have no trouble becoming better in this field as you continue to improve.
Tip #1: Securing the Tag
In this example, let’s say you are stamping a metal tag. This could be very difficult to accomplish if the tag is slipping and sliding all over the place before you actually have the opportunity to stamp the metal. It’s going to create a major problem for you to stamp the metal in the right place.
So, instead of keeping your metal tag unsecured, it’s best to fasten it to a flat surface first so that it doesn’t move around during the stamping process. You can fasten it a number of different ways, but one simple way is to take a piece of tape and actually tape it to the table.
Or even better, if you have a steel block specifically designed for metal stamping, it’s best to use this as the ideal option of choice. Because when you do, your metal tag is going to stay firmly in place, it will not slide around, and you’ll be able to stamp it with precision so that you have a truly professional stamped tag after you complete this delicate work.
Tip #2: Mark the Tag Prior to Stamping
Even though you may believe you’ll be able to stamp your metal tag in the precise spot without any type of marking, this is actually the foolish way to approach this process. Nobody is perfect 100% of the time, and it’s easy to make a mistake while stamping this tag.
So, we actually suggest you mark the tag first before you even consider performing any type of stamping. With a guide in place in the form of a mark, you’ll know exactly where to place the stamp and you will not potentially slip up and put it in the wrong spot. This mark is going to act as your guide and make it easier than ever to stamp this tag correctly without making any mistakes whatsoever.
Now that you’re ready to mark the tag, please realize that you should avoid using magic markers like Sharpies or other permanent markers for this task. It’s recommended that you do not use these types of markers on metal stamps for various reasons. Instead, to act as a guide during the stamping process, we highly recommend using a lead pencil to make your mark instead of any other options. You never know, you may need to erase part of the mark after stamping is complete and it’s going to be a lot easier to do this with pencil then permanent marker.
Tip #3: How to Hold the Hammer Correctly
Another potential issue when metal stamping for the first time is holding the hammer incorrectly. If you do not hold the hammer the right way, you could accidentally end up stamping the tag imprecisely and making mistakes.
The best way to hold the hammer is to grab it very close to the head and use a close but firm grip. When you strike the actual stamp into the metal tag, it will hit with less impact and more precision. By approaching stamping this way, you will have the best success because you’re holding the hammer in a way that creates the least amount of errors.
Speaking of hammers, the best hammer for the job is an 8-ounce ball pein jeweler’s hammer. This hammer is the ideal weight and perfect size to fulfill all of your metal stamping needs. Anything heavier could actually damage the stamp and the tag, and a lighter hammer might not be heavy enough to get the job done and you’ll have to strike to stamp harder which could create problems over the long run.
Tip #4: The Best Way to Hold the Stamping Tool
Finally, it’s important to hold the stamping tool in place correctly in order to create the stamp with a level of precision. By doing so, you will have the best results possible and you’ll be completely satisfied with your work.
As you take hold of the metal stamping tool, make sure you hold it with a firm grip, but you do not want to hold it too tightly. And you want to hold it with your thumb and fingers and keep it steady in an upright position. We also recommend keeping your fingers resting on the stamping base for greater precision.
During the binging process, you will be able to keep the stamp steady and in place and it will not slip as you use the hammer for binging.
Conclusion
If you are new to metal stamping, please follow these guidelines to achieve the best results possible as you learn this craft. It’s fun, easy enough to do with practice, and a skill you could master if you’re willing to put in the work.
Both images from Pixabay