Here’s the story of little me trying to create a metal jewelry tag with metal stamping for my upcoming jewelry line.
Let’s start from the very beginning!
Before deciding on making my jewelry tag with metal stamping, I threw myself into researching all that I can about how it’s done, watching countless Youtube tutorials, reading up on the tools and techniques required, researching different metal stamping retailers, etc.
With all that, it never occurred to me that getting a clear impression (leaving a clear mark on the metal after striking the stamp with a hammer) would be so difficult. From what I’ve seen and read, it didn’t seem to require much strength.
So as excited as I was day dreaming about the perfect jewelry tag for my jewelry line, I quickly ordered the tools and a custom metal stamp with my logo on it. It took a while for it to all arrive, but soon enough arrive it did.
I teared open my packages one by one, and with my 1lb brass hammer in hand and copper metal blanks on a bench block, I placed my first strike with the custom metal stamp. BA-BAM!!
And…nothing.
Well, not nothing. But hardly anything. It left nothing but a faint mark of a part of the logo behind. I spent a good afternoon banging the crap out of my metal stamp, but was unable to get the whole of the logo impressed.
Disappointed as I was, I went back to researching on the internet, which brought me to buy all sorts of other metal stamping tools such as a heavier brass hammer (2lb this time), leather cushions, stamp steady blocks, etc. And of course, as mentioned in the video, I decided to buy a regular letter stamp to see for myself why it looked so easy to hammer for other people on the Youtube tutorials.
And…the rest is as seen in the video. I bought the regular letter stamp set, compared it to my custom logo stamp, and wah-la. I was able to stamp perfectly fine with the regular letter stamp. Just not with my logo stamp.
Thus, the story of my struggles metal stamping.
To be continued again, next time. *Cue dramatic music*
For now, thank you so much for letting me share my story with you. I hope you have a lovely day, or night, wherever you are in the world.
Lots ❤︎
Shih-hua
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➸ https://www.bensound.com
Here are some metal stamping tools/shops I highly recommend!
Stamp Steady Stamping Block, great for shaky hands:
➸ https://www.beaducation.com/zen_products/5186-stamp-steady-stamping-block
Dead Blow Hammer, a must for stamping design stamps/large letter stamps:
➸ https://www.amazon.com/TEKTON-30709-Dead-Hammer-48-Ounce/dp/B00GMN4F3C/ref=lp_553198_1_2?s=power-hand-tools&ie=UTF8&qid=1466182668&sr=1-2
Jewelers Anvil, the heavier the better. Much better than stamping on a bench block, which leaves a mark behind with each strike, and we don’t want that impress on the back of our metal blanks.
A regular letter metal stamp set. GET ONE BEFORE ORDERING YOUR CUSTOM STAMP. If that’s what you’re doing, and you’re a newbie like me, trust me on this one. Don’t make the same mistake as I did, and test it out with a letter stamp first so you know what works for your custom stamp and what doesn’t. It’ll save you the money, energy, and heartache.
Well-known metal stamping tools supplier, Impress Art:
➸ https://www.impressart.com
My favourite metal stamping tools and metal blanks supplier:
➸ https://www.beaducation.com
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Infinity Cutting Tools – Jorgensen Light, Medium and Heavy Duty Bar Clamps
More Info: https://www.infinitytools.com/clamping
Jorgensen 6″ Light Duty Steel Bar Clamp:
This Light Duty Bar Clamp Is A Staple In Our Shop, With Top Quality Throughout!
Jorgensen light duty bar clamps are ideal for all types of clamping in the woodshop and are our go-to clamp on most projects. Why do we use them in the Infinity Tools Lab? We find their size to be perfect for most jobs, especially smaller build projects that don’t require a heavy duty clamp. They’re designed to be strong enough for most clamping jobs but their light weight won’t ruin your smaller and more delicate pieces. Used in hobby-craft, light-duty woodworking, home-shop and do-it-yourself projects, they’re a workhorse for their size. Protective pads made of thick, durable plastic. Clamps rest parallel on work surface for ease of work placement and adjustment.
Other benefits include;
2″ reach
6″ opening capacity
300 lbs. load limit
High Carbon Steel bar is 5/8″ X 3/16″ plated, round-edge
Sliding heads that have 1/2″ cold-drawn steel screws with smoothly cut U.S.S. threads
Castings are bearings are hardened steel with orange baked enamel finish
Multiple-clutch-discs
Swivel has 3/4″ diameter steel internal tooth washers for positive “stay-on” power
Larger handles that are solid hardwood
Fixed-heads that are press fitted and riveted for double “stay on” power
Medium Duty:
Our Most Popular Medium Duty Bar Clamp – With Smooth Multi-Clutch Adjustment
These medium duty bar clamps from Jorgensen should be in every woodworker’s shop. They feature a 2-1/2″ reach and are the most popular bar style clamps. Easy to open and close, unlike more bulky clamps, their 600lbs. normal load limit means they’ll be more than strong enough to tackle your most demanding clamping jobs. Designed for the serious cabinet-maker, woodworker and metalworker, they’re engineered to easily tackle all your home-shop and do-it-yourself projects. They rest parallel on work surface for easy workholding.
Other benefits include;
2-1/2″ reach
6″ opening capacity
600 lbs. load limit
High Carbon Steel bar is 1/4″ x 3/4″ plated, round-edge
Sliding heads that have 1/2″ cold-drawn steel screws with smoothly cut U.S.S. threads
Castings are bearings are hardened steel with orange baked enamel finish
Multiple-clutch-discs
Swivel has 1-1/4″ diameter steel internal tooth washers for positive “stay-on” power
Larger handles that are solid hardwood
Fixed-heads that are press fitted and riveted for double “stay on” power
Heavy Duty:
Gobs Of Holding Power w/ Rapid Multi-Clutch Adjustment
These heavy-duty style 3700-HD bar clamps have a 3″ reach and feature an impressive 1000 lbs. normal load limit. Designed for the serious cabinet-maker, woodworker, metalworker and engineered to easily tackle all your home-shop and do-it-yourself projects. Each clamp comes with protective pads made of thick durable plastic and will NOT mar your workpiece. They rest parallel on work surface for easy workholding
Other benefits include;
3″ reach
6″ opening capacity
Bars that are 1″ X 5/16″ plated, round-edge, high-carbon steel
Sliding heads that have 1/2″ cold-drawn steel screws with smoothly cut ACME threads
Castings are bearings are hardened steel with orange baked enamel finish
Multiple-clutch-discs
Swivel has 1-3/16″ diameter steel internal tooth washers for positive “stay-on” power
Larger handles that are solid maple
Fixed-heads that are riveted and press fitted, malleable iron with orange baked enamel finish
2 large soft, durable pads
Fixed-heads that are press fitted and riveted for double “stay on” power