Daily Wire Tip Feb. 6: Stamping Initials in Your Work
Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip
February 06, 2010
Question:
I like to stamp my initials or the metal content on my pieces whenever possible. How can I stamp on the back of a piece of sterling silver patterned wire without affecting the design on the front? The wire I am using is about 10mm wide and 1mm thick with a raised design on the front. I have tried putting a piece of leather under the patterned strip but I still end up with a dent on the front. Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Answer:
Personally I would use either wax or a cushion mousepad; something that has a semi-firm surface with some give.
Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong
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cushioned mousepad, initials, jewelry design, silver patterned wire, wax
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The metal is 1mm thick. You want to strike the metal hard enough on one side to leave an impression, that is you want to reduce the thickness of the metal. At the same time, you want the metal to absorb this blow without any physical change to the other side. The metal that you are actually “moving” to create the impression has to go somewhere. The metal is not thick enough to absorb the amount of displacement you are creating with the stamp. That is why the design on the other side flattens out. I think your expecting the impossible.
Have you considered using jewellery tags and attaching them with jump rings? You often find these tags attached to good quality pieces of jewellery. Hope this helps.
I would use an engraver rather than a stamp.
I like that idea. Of course, Dale’s always got the best sugestions, having gained so much knowledge over the years creating so many beautiful designs and teaching and writing. (By the way, I just love your new book!).
Anyway, I wonder if, other than the mouse pad or wax, maybe you could also use an engraving pen/scriber, and just make very shallow markings, which would still be visible, I’msure, if strategically placed.
Just a thought.
Have a wonderful weekend!
ninib
I use a piece of wood or something similar that is not going to give below the patterned side of the wire. Using paper as an example: If you write with a ball point pen on a piece of paper that is on a paper or cardboard surface, what you write will show on the back of the paper. If you put the paper directly on a wooden desk or other hard surface, what you write will not show on the bottom of the paper.
Also, it is possible that you are hitting the stamp too hard or with too heavy a hammer. It doesn’t take a lot of pressure to impress sterling pattern wire.