Post by opalpyrexia on Aug 28, 2020 18:41:25 GMT -5
Do you stamp your pieces with metal quality (925), a logo or your initials? With bezeled pieces I do it after the bezel has been soldered onto a backplate and I am fairly certain of the proper orientation of the piece if it's a pendant. Sometimes I wait until the piece is nearly finished. Stamping presents risks of bad orientation, incomplete stamping, double strikes, or even distorting the piece. So how to support a piece when stamping? Here's what I do...
I use a variety of modified or odd "stakes" that I clamp in a vise. Then I place the piece on top of the stake where I want to stamp. Sometimes it's difficult to balance the piece while holding a stamp and preparing to hammer. It's also difficult to find a stake that's the right size.
Here's what I've been using for a long time: various nuts, bolt or screw heads that I might have shaped, or the ends of drill bits or punches. They're OK but not optimal.
If none of them are the right size, the last thing I want to do is search for something new to use, or having to modify one of my makeshift stakes to fit.
I have a few extra sets if anyone is interested having one. If so, let me know and I'll create a listing in RTH Marketplace for the price of a SFRB. (Not looking to make a buck; just offering to share.)
I use a variety of modified or odd "stakes" that I clamp in a vise. Then I place the piece on top of the stake where I want to stamp. Sometimes it's difficult to balance the piece while holding a stamp and preparing to hammer. It's also difficult to find a stake that's the right size.
Here's what I've been using for a long time: various nuts, bolt or screw heads that I might have shaped, or the ends of drill bits or punches. They're OK but not optimal.
If none of them are the right size, the last thing I want to do is search for something new to use, or having to modify one of my makeshift stakes to fit.
So I've been searching for something better. I went looking for steel on eBay and finally found a guy selling a bunch of old gage block sets. Gage blocks are hardened steel that has been machined to precise dimensions. They're used to calibrate physical instruments like calipers, for example. These look pretty bad but their surfaces are smooth. These are 3 inches long and the largest is 1 inch wide:
What I'm really interested in are the ends of the gage blocks for stamping, although the blocks could also be used to form 90 degree angles. The larger ones can even be used as mini bench blocks for light work, too.
I have a few extra sets if anyone is interested having one. If so, let me know and I'll create a listing in RTH Marketplace for the price of a SFRB. (Not looking to make a buck; just offering to share.)