Striking and marking

Striking and marking: hammers and stamps

This category covers two jobs: striking without recoil and marking metal for the long term. You will find dead-blow hammers with interchangeable striking inserts and the complete marking programme. Everything you need to mark or secure parts sits in the subcategories.

Letters, numbers and stamps

Marking metal starts with letter punches and stamps. That range holds letter punches and number punches from 1 to 20 mm in standard and heavy-duty quality. Hand stamps with loose characters, stencil sets and wheel markings complete the programme. Hardened tool steel keeps the characters sharp, even after many strikes. Pick your size by the height of the character you strike. For small workpieces use 2 or 3 mm. For chassis or beams choose 6 mm or more. Check the version too: standard or heavy-duty for intensive use.

Where ordering goes wrong

Loose letters and numbers look handy, until you need a set. A set holds all letters or numbers in one case. That way you lose nothing and always have the right character at hand. Check that the set is complete, incl. a dot or a dash. Also check that the stamps have good grip. That stops them slipping during striking. For sealing, use sealing wire in bundles with the right stamp. For dead-blow work, take a hammer with interchangeable striking inserts. You replace those inserts on their own, without replacing the whole hammer.

Which standard matters

For marking tools, the hardness of the material matters. Letter punches must be hard enough to bite into metal, but not so hard that they break. Standard DIN 7353 sets out the requirements for stamps and letter punches. Choose a tool that meets this standard. That way you know the letters stay sharp and last a long time. Bright nickel-plated or polished says something about the finish, not about the hardness. Do not be guided by that.

Choosing by job

For marking small parts, take a number punch set or letter punches in 2 or 3 mm. For chassis, beams and heavy parts, choose 6 mm or more in heavy-duty quality. For sealing, use a hand stamp with sealing wire. For dead-blow striking on sensitive parts, take a dead-blow hammer with interchangeable striking inserts. To look wider, this category sits under tools.