Metal stamping - make your own metal stamps
- Alys Power
- Sep 3
- 4 min read
Text, numbers and defined patterns can be applied with metal stamps or punches. You can even make your own from tool steel or repurposed nails. You can anneal the metal before you stamp it. Test first on some scrap to get a feel for it.
1. Position
Place your metal onto an anvil or steel block to support it. Stamping is much easier on a flat surface so stamp your design before you shape your metal. If you want your design in a particular place, stamp first and trim the metal shape after.
2. Place your stamp
Position your stamp onto your metal. You can mark your stamping position with pencil or use a line of masking tape to give a physical edge to work against. Make sure the stamp is facing the right way - you can’t unstamp it if it is wrong. Place your thumb at the bottom of the letter and have it closest to you as you stamp. Steady your stamp with your little finger against the block.
3. Strike.
Traditionally, metal stamping is done with a short and heavy hammer and a dead blow technique. But at NJS we do it differently. If you haven't tried metal stamping before then try both ways and see which works best for you.
This is how we do it. Use a jobbing or repousse hammer to tap the top of the stamp. You don’t need to wallop it. Keep control. As you hit the stamp, rock it back and forth and left to right or rotate it gently. Make sure the whole surface of the stamp comes into contact with the metal to ensure a full print and that it doesn't slide over the surface as this will give you a shadow or double print..
4. Finish
Polish or oxidise to bring out the detail.
Whilst there are lots of amazing ready made stamps available you may want something unusual, irregular or more unique. It’s fairly simple to make your own. A stamp can be made from a piece of tool steel, a reclaimed old tool or a nail.
1. Design
Think about your design. When you carve the stamp, the areas you leave raised on the end of the stamp will leave a depression in the metal. It will really help to plan out the design at a larger scale and then reduce it to actual size before you start carving.
Simple shapes are easier to cut.
2. Cut your stamp to length
Your stamp should ideally be between about 3cm – 8cm. Make sure both ends are flat and level. If the ends aren't level the stamp won't make an even impression. You can cut your steel with a hack saw or your piercing saw. It will be a slow process. If you use a piercing saw, discard the blade when you are finished and use a magnet to gather all the fillings from your bench so you don’t contaminate future projects.
File the ends flat and smooth.
When you are cutting and drilling into the steel use some oil or wax as a lubricant. The burs and chips can be sharp so use a rag or brush to clear your work area if they build up. Always wear eye protection.
3. Mark out your design
You can mark out your stamp with marker pen or a scribe before you start carving it – sometimes it helps, sometimes it doesn't.
4. Carve your stamping end
Secure your stamp steel in a vice. It need to be held vertical and securely with the stamping area facing up.
You can use a saw to cut into the end of the stamp, refining your shapes with files or use a file to shape the whole design.
Cutting interior shapes is tricky – you can use a rotary flexishaft drill to cut into the end. Use a centre punch to mark your drill point and go slow.
The most important thing is to take your time and work carefully. Keep a pieces of scrap aluminium to hand so you can test your design as you go along.
5. Smooth
Smooth the end of your stamp with emery papers, concentrating on refining and sharpening the design. Work through various grades of emery paper to get your desired result.
6. Polish
You can polish the end of the stamping of a buffing wheel -0 but use a separate mop. Alternatively, some silvo and a polishing cloth or a nail buffer will work well.
Hand made stamps are fantastic for texturing. They will give you a more imperfect and organic feel than a commercially made stamp. Explore different ways to apply pattern and texture to the metal before you have fun using them in your finished pieces.
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