# Hashtag Metal Design Stamp
- Design measures 4mm x 2.5mm.
- Made from 1/4" square heat-treated tool steel.
- Made in the USA.
- Rated to use on all soft metals and stainless steel. Knives are hardened steel and none of our stamps should be used on knife blades.

Watch our 5 Minute Metal Stamping Tutorial here: https://beaducation.com/online_classes/183-5-minute-metal-stamping-tutorial

For more metal stamping video tutorials, tips and more, please visit us here: https://beaducation.com/stamping

Tips on How to Stamp on Metal
Make sure you practice every new stamp on copper (or another cheap metal). They are all a bit different and you don’t want the learning curve to happen on an expensive metal.

Make sure you are using the proper tools:
• Use a heavy hammer weighing between 1 and 2 lbs. A brass head hammer work best but any heavy household hammer will work as well.
• Use a Steel Bench Block under your metal. You need the resistance of the hard block in order to successfully impress into your metal.

If you have both of those tools and you are still struggling, let’s problem solve a little further.

Problem Solving
Some design stamps are more difficult to stamp than others. Remember, you are not removing the metal, you are moving it so the more design to the stamp, the more metal needs to be moved evenly.

For example, the Loopy stamp is one curved line and is pretty easy to stamp. The Bird House stamp has a lot of detail so it will be tougher to stamp.

Are you comfortable with your hammer?
The more comfortable you are with your hammer, the more success you will have stamping. Don’t be scared…hit it hard! ☺ Make sure your work surface isn’t too soft.

Do you ever get a “shadowed” look when stamping a design stamp?
This may be because you are working on a surface that has a slight bounce. If you have anything between the bench block and your table (besides something hard like sandbag), it may be causing your stamp to bounce slightly and end up with a double stamp. Make sure you have nothing soft under your Bench Block, not even a thin piece of fabric. ALSO, make sure you are working on a very strong stable table. If you are working on something flimsy like a card table, the table will be absorbing some of the blow and will add to the problem.

Use a heavy hammer.
Ok, so your work surface is better now but you are still getting a light stamp……move to a heavier hammer. Are you using one of those “girlie” hammers? Head on down to the hardware store and get yourself a MANLY hammer, at least 16 ounces. I even have a 3 pound sledge hammer. It really gets the job done, and it impresses my friends!

“Tilt ‘n Tap” Method for Stamping with Design Stamps
Hold the stamp steady in your stabilizing hand, pressing it lightly into the metal.
Hit it once with your hammer.
Now without moving or shifting the stamp, tilt it slightly to the right and strike it again.
Now tilt it slightly to the right and towards yourself a bit, strike it again.

Continue in this manner, changing the angle of the tilt each time and moving in a circular motion until your last tilt is slightly away from you. You will be most successful with a total of 6-8 tilts and taps (strikes).

Print the PDF for Step-by-Step How to Metal Stamp + Tips here: https://www.beaducation.com/product_guides/6-tilt-n-tap-method-working-with-design-stamps