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Stamp Making: Building a Stamped Box
This virtual workshop will introduce participants to the world of stamp making and stamping. The first part of the class, students will learn about the variety of available types of steel and their properties, and how to anneal and properly temper steel to make a lifelong, lasting tool. Carving and pattern-making techniques using files will be demonstrated with attention given to pattern design incorporating multiple stamps.
The second part of the class will focus on stamping a tessellation pattern with the stamps made in class, to create unique stamped stock for use in fabrication or forming. We will learn how to create a round box made from this stamped-pattern stock. The instructor will demonstrate several tricks for soldering and building a round box
Meet the instructor
Matthieu moved from Paris to New-Mexico when he was 19, where for seven years he studied Navajo, Hopi and Zuni jewelry techniques. He was immediately drawn to stamping, making concho belts and bracelets. He then moved to Mali, West-Africa and worked for a few years with the Fulani, Tuareg and Bambara jewelers.
In 1999, Matthieu settled in Montreal Canada and continued his studies by going to a jewelry school and learning a more classical part of the trade. Over the years, Matthieu has returned to Africa regularly.
In 2014, Tim McCreight and Mattheiu Cheminee created the Toolbox Initiative, a non-profit organization that helps jewelers in West Africa through the gifts of donated tools.
“I have been stamping and making stamps since the beginning and have developed a form of stamping design by creating patterns that fill the entire piece of metal. This is called “tessellation”.
Matthieu has written two books, “Legacy, jewelry techniques of West Africa“ and “The Art of Stamping”, both published at Brynmorgen Press.
Visit Matthieu's website or instagram page for more info on his work.
Materials & Tools
The following supplies will be used for course demonstrations and objectives. A suggested item and/or vendor has been provided below for reference. Click the vendor name (in red) to be redirected to a page where you can find the item. The quantities needed for each item are listed first. If ordering, please be aware that some items may come in larger quantities than needed for this class. We recommend not opening an item's packaging until the day of the workshop. Student participation during or in-between class sessions is strongly encouraged but not required - observers are welcome.
This workshop will be focusing on working with tool steel. 5/16" O1 tool steel is recommended, but you can also convert old W1 or O1 steel nail punches and other old steel tools (no thinner than 1/4").
- 1 x 4"X4" sheet metal 14g or 16g - sterling silver or copper (Rio Grande)
- 3 pieces of 3" tool steel - 1/4"-5/16" thick - W1 or O1 (McMaster Carr)
- fireproof work area - steel baking sheet will work (Amazon)
- fireproof work area - fire brick(s) (Rio Grande)
- 1 x torch - Smith® recommended - tank comes EMPTY (Rio Grande)
- 1 x Smith® #2 tip - if getting Smith® torch (Rio Grande)
- 1 x parallel pliers (Rio Grande)
- 1 x flat files - #0 cut and #2 cut (Rio Grande and Rio Grande)
- 1 x needle file set - #0 cut or #2 cut (Rio Grande)
- 1 x parallel round file (MSC)
- 1 x jewelers saw (Rio Grande)
- 1 x pack saw blades - 1/0 and 5/0 (Rio Grande and Rio Grande)
- 1 x hammer - 14oz-20oz - instructor uses ball peen (Rio Grande)
- 1 x small square (Rio Grande)
- 1 x calipers (Rio Grande)
- 1 x divider (Rio Grande)
- 1 x bench pin (Rio Grande)
- 1 x steel block or anvil (Rio Grande)
- 1 x piece of Plasticine (Blick)
- 1 x bottle of mineral oil (Amazon)
- 1 x bag of vermiculite (Amazon)
- 1 x optivisor (Rio Grande)
Other/miscellaneous items:
- hard/stable work surface
- escapement files - optional
- safety glasses
- ruler
- old files/nail setters/chisels
- fine point permanent marker
- glass jars/containers - for oil and vermiculite