uncommon jewelry designs, fine art photography &  adult and youth jewelry classes

San Diego, CA  Visual Artist  & Educator Denise J. Bonaimo

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ABC's of Tool Stamped Jewelry Instructions

Denise J. Bonaimo, San Diego visual artist & educator www.bonaimo.com artdiva@bonaimo.com

ABC's of Tool Stamped Jewelry

Description:

Poems, lyrics, prose, affirmations, names: what do you want to say? Using various tool stamps with impressions of letters, numbers and designs, we will explore stamping on copper “blanks” (precut shapes of sheet metal). These stamped shapes can be used for various jewelry components (ie: earrings or pendants or bracelet charms).  Learn tips and tricks on how to evenly space and line up your stamps. We will also touch upon light metalsmithing techniques, such as filing, sanding and oxidizing. Think of what you want to say and let’s create it!

Objective: To familiarize students with the use of tool stamps and light metalsmithing techniques. We will focus on achieving balanced stamp spacing, using even pressure. To learn to properly and safely use the jewelry tools.

Materials:

Step 1- Considering Design Elements

• Choosing your word or phrase.
• Balanced, even spacing.
• Directional placement (horizontal or vertical). 
• Using a variety of different size stamps within one design.
• Hanging your component- center punch hole or two corner holes?
• Do you want a hole at the bottom to hang a bead?

Step 2- Preparing to Stamp

• Using a ruler, find the center of your copper blank and place a small dot with a permanent felt tipped marker.
• Draw a straight line by measuring an equal distance below and above your center point. This is the line the bottom of your letters will sit.
• Using the felt tipped marker, mark a dot where you would like to punch a hole (or holes) for hanging your pendant.
• Position your blank on the steel block.
• Place a three inch piece of masking tape on the line to use as a guide. Let the tape overlap the edges of the blank so you are securing your blank to the block with the tape.

Step 3- Stamping

• Choose your first letter and hold it so the letter is correctly oriented.
• Carefully line up your tool stamp on the blank using the masking tape guide. Place it on the blank and gently drag it down untul it touches the tape guide. Make certain your stamp is positioned evenly and flat on the surface of the metal.
• With one quick blow of the hammer , strike directly down onto the flat end of your stamp, taking care not to shift your stamp or hit your fingers.
•  Repeat with all the letters until you finish your word or phrase.
• Untape your blank and check your work.

Step 4- Oxidizing

• Use the black permanent felt tipped marker to  color in your stampings, concentrating the ink to flood the recessed areas.
• Wait about two minutes and then rub the green 3M pad across the surface of the metal to remove all the black from the surface and leaving the darkening in the recessed stamped areas.

Step 6- Finishing

• Use your screw down hole punch to make a hole where you drew your dot.

• Using a the flat edge of a half round metal file, smooth the edges of your blank if they are sharp and to smooth out the bur the hole punch created.
• Use the sandpaper on the backside of the blank to smooth the filed edges and to remove any bulging that occurs.
• Rub the 3M pad over the top surface to create an even brushed finish.
• Insert a jump ring, or a wire wrapped bead through the hole so you can hang your blank.

Tips and Tricks:

1. Use the pad of your hand (the one holding the tool stamp) to anchor yourself when striking.
2. Be sure to strike your stamp with the hammer head at a 90 degree angle to your stamp.
3. Replace your masking tape guide if it gets warped.
4. Don't strike the stamp twice, for if it shifts you may create a double impression  ("shadow image")
5. If the blank becomes malformed from stamping, flip it over on the steel block and hammer it a few times with a rawhide or wooden mallet to reshape it.
6. If you have made a mistake, it is easier to start over than to try to fix it. If you must try to correct, use the round side of a half round metal file or a sanding wheel on a Dremmel tool or flexible shaft to file off the letter mistake. Then you can restamp over it. (It's a little tricky without the flexible shaft or Dremmel.)