Here are a few helpful tips to keep in mind when using a hand stamp or handheld steel type holder to mark parts:
- Make sure you mark on a solid, stable bench, located over a support or leg to eliminate any bounce or flexing of the bench surface. Use a large, flat piece of soft steel as a base to lay your parts on when marking with a steel hand stamp.
- Choose the proper marking hammer size based on the following criteria:
- If you're marking a single 1/4” tall character into tool steel you'll need approximately 2.1 tons of pressure. Choose a 3/4 to 1-1/4 lb. hammer. (Note - a more experienced operator can usually use a lighter marking hammer.) The speed and accuracy of the hammer blow when striking the stamp is very important.
- When marking multiple characters using a hand stamp the amount of striking force required is dramatically increased.
- If you're marking (4) 1/4" tall characters at once using a steel hand stamp, the pressure needed will be approximately 12.6 tons. This amount of force would require the use of a 3 to 3-1/2 lb. marking hammer.
- Place the hand stamp onto the part to be marked and rock it back and forth to make sure the stamp is laying perfectly flat on the part.
- When hitting the hand stamp with a hammer only strike the stamp once; hit the stamp and pull the hammer away. If the hammer bounces on the stamp more than one time, you will end up with a double or triple impression.
CAUTION: Wear safety goggles/eye protection whenever using a hammer and marking with hand stamps.
Contact us today to see how Durable Technologies can help you with your hand stamp and steel stamp requirements.