Jewelry Making Tools: Punch Tools for Stamping Metal

In the last year, metal stamping, embossing, and embellishing has become a new technique that is catching on with jewelry hobbyists.

The saying that "everything old is new again" is entirely true in the fashion industry. This includes making jewelry. In the last year, metal stamping, embossing, and embellishing has become a new technique that is catching on with jewelry hobbyists, yet is it really one of the oldest ways to decorate metal.

Metal Stamping is One of the Oldest Metal Techniques

punch tool for stamping metal

Metal stamping is the act of taking a steel or harder metal tool, called a punch tool, that has a shape that sticks out from the surface, then hammering that into metal so that the design indents the metal. The most common stamps are letters and numbers which you can see on soldiers' dog tags, and many other common metal tags.

With the trend in fashion design looking to vintage and history for ideas, metal stamping has become the hot new jewelry look, and it is very easy to do in your own home or studio.

Outline Punch for Stamping Metal

Contemporary Star Outline Punch For Stamping Metal 1/4 Inch 6mm (1)

Metal Stamping Punch. Contemporary Series Star Outline Design. Customize Any Metal Blank. 1 Tool. Stamp any flat, soft metal. Use this punch to personalize metal blanks (made ...

Only $16.99

Simple Metalsmithing Set Up

In order to create metal stamping designs in metal, you really only need a few tools. The tools you need are:

a metal block to hammer on
a rawhide hammer
the metal you are stamping
the punch tools for metal stamping
a surface to hammer on (table or counter)

Rawhide Mallet

RAWHIDE MALLET #0 2 OZ

For metalworking, where work cannot be marked or injured. Heads are made of the finest quality rawhide, embedded in shellac. 1" face diameter x 2-1/8" length. For our complete ...

GROBET FILE CO. OF AMERICA, INC.

Only $25.0

View on Amazon

Metal Stamping Tools: Letters

TEKTON 6610 5/32-Inch Letter and Number Stamp Set, 36-Piece

MIT LETTER & NUMBER PUNCH features: * Heat Treated, Chrome Vanadium Steel Punches * Black-Oxide Finished for Durability * 36 Punches Marked A-Z and 0-9 * Stamp Metal, Wood, ...

Only $79.99

Reasonably Priced

Metal stamping tools and supplies are quite reasonably priced. It is worth your while to buy a good rawhide hammer, because once you buy one, you will never need to replace it unless you give it to someone else.

Your metal block will last almost forever. You would have to be quite strong to damage it. Punch tools also last quite a while and usually only need to be replaced if they get lost. The main cost of metal stamping is when you stamp a precious metal like silver or gold. That can get expensive.

Script Alphabet Punch Tools

Wokesi 1/8"(3mm) High Hardness Carbon Steel Lowercase Letters Alphabet Script Metal Hand Stamp Pu...

Only $27.0

Bench Block for Stamping Metal

	HimaPro Steel Bench Block 4"x4" Flat Anvil Jewelers Tool Metal Bench Block for Jewelry and Stampi... Only $15.99
	Steel Bench Block and Metal Stamping Hammer Kit, No-Rebound Metal Bench Block, Jewelry Stamping H... Only $14.99
	Steel Bench Block with 4”Tough Rubber Block – Metal Stamping Hammer, Metal Bench Block - Jewelry ... Only $20.99

Single Southwest Design Metal Punch Tools

	Southwest Lightning Bolt Punch For Stamping Metal 5/16 Inch 7mm (1) Metal Stamping Punch. Southwest Series Lightning Bolt Design. Customize Any Metal Blank. 1 Tool. Stamp any flat, soft metal. Use this punch to personalize metal blanks (made ... Only $6.08
	Southwest Coyote Wolf Punch For Stamping Metal 1/4 Inch 6mm (1) Metal Stamping Punch. Southwest Series Wolf/Coyote Design. Customize Any Metal Blank. 1 Tool. Stamp any flat, soft metal. Use this punch to personalize metal blanks (made from ...

Deciding Which Punch Tools to Buy

Most people like to stamp letters, and numbers, for names and dates into their metal items. It makes sense then to buy a set of letters and numbers. There are basic sets, and also more extensive stylized sets.

After that you can find design sets, or single designs on most jewelry websites. Amazon has a good selection, but if you want to see even more then Delphi Glass has a specialized collection of punch tools, punch tool kits, and instructional DVD's.

Delphi can also give you over the phone or email help and answer questions if you are new to metal stamping, about how the tools work, and which is better for a specific need.

Heart Punch Tools

	Scroll Heart Punch For Stamping Metal 1/4 Inch 6mm (1) Metal Stamping Punch. Whimsical Series Scrolled Heart Design. Customize Any Metal Blank. 1 Tool. Stamp any flat, soft metal. Use this punch to personalize metal blanks (made ... Only $7.27
	Contemporary Heart Outline Punch For Stamping Metal 1/4 Inch 6mm (1) Metal Stamping Punch. Contemporary Series Heart Outline Design. Customize Any Metal Blank. 1 Tool. Stamp any flat, soft metal. Use this punch to personalize metal blanks (made ...

Building Your Collection of Punch Tools | Designs

Once you get started, and you fall in love with the design look of metal stamping, then you can amass an extensive collection of punch tools with varying designs. If you do your research, you can find a wide range of punch tool shapes good for any project.

Or you might find that only a few will fit the designs you are making, and you will experiment with other design techniques. One great thing about using metal stamping tools is that they will work with just about any kind of metal. You do need to remember that some metals are much softer than others, and gently tap your punch tool with your rawhide hammer until you are sure how hard you need to tap.

Most precious metals are soft, including silver and gold which makes them easier to work with, but metals also come in different hardnesses for jewelry making. So you can buy half hard copper, and brass that make it easier to hammer and stamp.

Metal Clay: Information and Tutorials

Are you new to metal clay? Metal clay is a clay form of precious metal that you can use to create jewelry. Metal clay is available in gold, silver, copper, and brass.