beads by breul

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Metal Stamping help, please

I am trying to make a necklace for a friend with the first initial of each child on a disc. I got the W to show up but in trying to get the E, it looks like a O or C.  I have tried several times. Hitting hard, hitting light. 

You can see the W but not the  E.  (they are lower case.)

How can I make the E (e) more e like?
thanks!

6 comments:

TesoriTrovati said...

It might just be your stamps, Courtney. I have several sets of stamps, but each one has different level that they stamp at. I don't know how big that is, but if you had some sort of a straight edge, like a screwdriver maybe you could add the straight part of the e. Be sure to practice that a few times on a scrap piece.
Also, a good dead blow hammer really helps me get a good impression.
Enjoy the day!
Erin

Pretty Things said...

Are you using a 2lb hammer? And make sure you have NO padding under your steel block. Ditto what Erin said, too, about the stamp itself -- sometimes there's not enough raised up.

jeanette said...

Yes, I was going to say the same thing. I think it might be your stamps. Are they a fairly a new set? Perhaps you can ask to have a new "e" sent to you because your stamp isn't making an impression. It's not you, it's the stamp..
Jeanette

Michelle said...

Once you hit the stamp, you can tilt it slightly in the direction where the stamp is not making a good impression and give it another tap. Just don't move the stamp off the spot before you do the tilt, tap....beaducation had this little tip.....
Hope this helps.
Michelle

Cindy said...

Courtney - best of luck. I know it can be so frustrating...just when all of the letters look good and you get that one that is too light. I try and be sure that the entire letter is making full contact on the metal before I stamp - and I do whack it a few times. The heavy hammer is good advice.

GraceC said...

One more thought. I know that with silver, I get a deeper impression if I anneal the piece first. If the metal's softer, it takes the imprint better. May not work w other metals though. (btw, I don't much care for stamping letters either. Why do I even make jewelry???)