How to Hand Stamp Sterling Silver Jewelry
Hand stamping sterling silver jewelry allows a silversmith to create designs without engraving or soldering. The most common hand-stamped designs are words like "friend," "mother," "grandmother" or "love." However, hand stamps also come in graphic designs and symbols, allowing the artist to add embellishments. The process of hand stamping is not difficult, but it does require practice to learn the exact pressure necessary to create a complete impression without denting the metal.
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Things You'll Need
- 8 to 10 sheets card stock
- Flat-headed, metal hammer
- Permanent marker
- Foam shelf liner
- Jeweler's steel anvil
- Painter's tape
Instructions
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Preparing the Stamps
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1
Purchase a set of hand stamps in numbers, letters or designs.
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2
Create a test pad with 8 to 10 sheets of card stock.
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3
Hold the stamp so that when it faces you, the letter is upside down and pointing to the left. Place the stamp on the test pad and strike it once with a flat-headed, metal hammer.
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4
Check the orientation of the stamp. Write the letter on the side of the stamp facing you with a permanent marker if the orientation of the letter is correct. If it is not correct, rotate the stamp and strike it again.
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5
Repeat for all of the letters and numbers. Not only will this help prevent uncorrectable mistakes later, but it will also allow you to practice striking the stamps to create a solid, clear image.
Stamping Jewelry
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6
Lay out the stamps you want to use in the order you will use them. For example, if you will be adding the word "sister" to a sterling silver medallion, lay out the S, I, T, E and R stamps.
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7
Place a piece of foam shelf liner on your work surface and set a jeweler's steel anvil block on top of it. Set the sterling silver piece on top of the block.
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8
Decide how you want the stamp to appear. You can free stamp to create a less than perfectly straight image. Or you can lay down a piece of painter's tape to create a straight line to stamp above.
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9
Place the first stamp in position and hold it firmly to the silver. Strike the top of the stamp with the hammer in one fluid motion. Lift the stamp and check your work.
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10
Repeat Step 4 until you have stamped all the letters or designs.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Oxidize the silver to give the stamped design greater contrast.
Do not double-strike a stamp. This will create blurred or doubled letters.
