homemade stamp

[joe9knives]

I am making my own stamp with some o1 drill rod. my question is should I temper it after HT or should I leave it fully hardened. I know there was a post on this somewhere but I can't find it by searching. thanks in advance

 

[bjalongi]

Why don't you call up a stamp maker and ask them what they do.

 

[Arthur Washburn]

You should temper it otherwise it will be brittle and shatter when you strike it. I'm not sure what you should draw it back to though.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Jewelers make custom pattern stamps all the time. Using a small torch,slowly draw the temper down the stamp from the striking end. When the color gets to a straw color at the logo end, stick it in water to stop the temper. On a logo stamp, it probably wouldn't hurt to re-polish the sides and repeat this again. (the striking end will end up with a very soft temper.This is good.)
Stacy

 

[Tanguay Custom Knives]

When I was a machinist we used to temper punches made from drill rod with a small torch to a straw/just starting to turn blue color.

 

[joe9knives]

very good info guys. i will try this today.