IMPORTANT NOTE:
NancyLTHamilton.com and Nancy LT Hamilton does not guarantee your satisfaction or safety while using or purchasing any of the tools, materials or techniques discussed. All tools, materials and equipment must be respected as potentially dangerous and safety should be your primary concern. YOU are responsible for your own safety!
The items discussed on this website and in my videos are materials, tools and equipment that I am familiar with. My suggestions of where to purchase and from whom are just suggestions. Your experience with these items and vendors may be different than mine.
Dapping punches and Dies
What are they used for? Dapping punches or, alternately, doming punches are used to shape metal or waxes. They are usually used in conjunction with a dapping block or die.
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They can be made from steel, brass or wood.
How it works: (you should be wearing protective goggles here!)
A piece of metal, usually disk shaped, is placed in the half-hemisphere of the block. Make the disk larger by about 1/3rd then you want the finished dome. Place the annealed disk into the depression that it fits into levelly, and below the edge of the block.
The disk should be placed at a steep angle, the punch placed on top of it and hammered. As you hammer, rotate the disk around the concave space. The dapping punch is also angled to facilitate this.
To make a deeper dome, place the disk into the next smallest spot on the block and repeat. I find that I can go two to three sizes before annealing. If the metal becomes difficult to move – anneal it! When completed, if you wish, turn the half dome, edge side down and sand flat and even.
To make matching domes, use the same depression and count the number of hammer blows and hit the second dome the same number of times as the first. Finish hammering both domes before moving on to the next smaller depression.
If you are making a bead, you can center drill the disk before doming. Drill with a small sized drill bit as the hole will distort some and you will need to re-drill with the correct size drill bit after doming.
If you are using patterned metal, steel punches will probably mar your pattern. To avoid smashing your pattern it is best to use a wood punch and block (To extend the life of the wood block you should use wood punches). or a brass block. You will have to hammer a bit more but it’s worth a little extra work. A Big Plus: all that hammering slims the arms!
Don’t ever use a dapping punch that is smaller than the depression on the block. Steel on steel causes dents!
Steel dapping punches can also be used in other metalsmithing techniques like repoussé.
Dapping Sets
This dapping set from Harbor Freight, costs under $40.00! I own it and a more pricey set and there is a small amount of difference. The pricier set has rounder, smoother ends on the dapping punch and the dapping block is cleaner and the finish is better. BUT, I can’t see a big difference in the finished product. If you are just starting out or are on a budget, the Harbor Freight set might be a good choice.
In comparison Rio Grande Jewelry sells this set for (on sale) $85.00. 
Although, it looks suspiciously like the one that Harbor Freight sells for under $40.00. Hmmm……
A partial list of other vendors who carry dapping sets are:
Otto Frei, Contenti, Gesswein, Metalliferous, Amazon, Shor International Corp.
