My question is one that concerns how to get my stamps deep enough and straight. Often they jump and I get a ghost image. Does this just need tons of practice, or should I place my metal on something particular (a gripping plastic) to help keep it and my stamp in alignment? --
Both the thickness of your metal and the surface underneath it have
a lot to do with stamping. Generally, if you’re looking for a deep
impression, you need to be using something heavier than 20 guage,
annealed, and stamp it on a dead steel surface. I rest the heel of
my hand holding the stamp on the bench surface, and hold the stamp
itself with at least three fingers (and a thumb), and use a fairly
heavy hammer so I don’t have to swing too wildly. I recently did as
many advise - I got a hammer with a brass head for stamping and I
like it (Harbor Freight, less than $10). It really seems to hold
onto the stamp on impact. It’s pretty heavy too (maybe 2 lbs, I’m
not sure) so its weight does most of the work. I think your shadows
might come from swinging a light hammer too wildly.
Bill