Quick answer: Choose a 4 mm or 5 mm letter and number set for tags and keyrings, stamp onto soft blanks such as aluminium, brass or copper, and work on a steel bench block with a heavy, flat-faced hammer. Hit each letter once, firmly, with the stamp held upright. A stamp holder keeps fingers clear and helps hold the angle. A UK dog tag should carry the owner's name and address.
Hand-stamped tags are one of the most satisfying beginner metalwork projects. They are quick and useful, and every one is personal: a dog tag with your phone number, a keyring for a new driver, or numbered tags for tools, keys or plant labels. All you need is a set of letter punches, a hammer, something solid to work on and a few blanks. The skill is in getting the letters straight and evenly deep, and that is mostly technique.
What you need
- A letter and number punch set: hardened steel punches, each with one character on the end.
- A heavy hammer with a flat face.
- A steel bench block to stamp on.
- Blanks: tags, discs or strips in soft metal.
- Optional but recommended: a stamp holder, masking tape, a fine marker and some scrap for practice.
Choosing a character size
Our 37-piece sets include A–Z, 0–9 and an ampersand in a range of sizes. For practical tags:
- 4 mm: the versatile middle size, readable on a standard dog tag or keyring and still allowing a name plus a phone number. The 4 mm alphanumeric punch set comes in two storage cases, with square shanks that help you see which way the character faces.
- 5 mm: bold and easy to read at a glance, which suits tool tags, key tags and larger keyrings. The 5 mm alphanumeric punch set is the one to pick for short words and big numbers.
- Smaller sizes (1.5–3 mm) are for fine work, where space is tight and every strike has to be precise. They are not the easiest place to start.
Count your longest line before you buy. A name, a house number and a phone number on a small round tag can push you to the smaller size.
Choosing blanks
Steel letter punches are made for soft metals: aluminium, brass and copper. Aluminium is light and takes a deep impression easily, which makes it ideal for pet tags and keyrings. Brass and copper look warmer and need a firmer strike. Avoid stainless steel and other hard metals as a beginner, because they need far more force and can damage the punch faces.
The right hammer and block
The two commonest beginner problems, faint letters and double images, usually come from a hammer that is too light and a surface that gives.
- Hammer: a heavier, flat-faced hammer delivers a full impression in one strike. The square-head stamping hammer has a 1.75 lb (about 790 g) steel head with two flat, square faces, which give a large contact area on the punch and reduce glancing blows.
- Block: stamp on hardened steel, not the workbench or a chopping board. A soft surface absorbs the blow and lets the tag move. The 4 × 4 inch steel bench block on a wooden base gives a solid striking surface, while the base reduces noise and protects your bench.
Step by step: straight, even letters
- Practise on scrap first. Five minutes on an offcut tells you how hard to hit.
- Fix the blank. Tape it to the block with masking tape so it cannot shift between letters.
- Mark a guideline. Lay a strip of tape along the line you want the bottom of the letters to sit on, and butt each stamp against it.
- Plan the spacing. Find the centre of the tag and work outwards from the middle letter, or stamp the word on scrap first to measure it.
- Check the character. Look at the punch face before every strike, because an upside-down letter is the classic mistake. Many people put a dot of nail varnish on the side that faces them.
- Hold the punch upright and touch it lightly to the blank so it seats. A wooden stamp holder block holds square and round stamps at 90 degrees and keeps your fingers out of the striking zone.
- Strike once, firmly. A second blow almost always shifts the punch slightly and doubles the letter. If the impression is faint, use a heavier strike on the next letter rather than hitting this one again.
- Darken the letters. Run a fine permanent marker over the stamped area, then wipe or lightly polish the surface so the ink stays only in the letters.
What should a dog tag say?
In Great Britain, the Control of Dogs Order 1992 requires a dog in a public place to wear a collar with the owner's name and address on it, or on a plate or badge attached to it. Some working dogs are exempt. A phone number is not required by the Order, but many owners add one so they can be reached quickly. Microchipping is a separate legal requirement for dogs in England, and since June 2024 for pet cats too. A chip does not replace the tag. Check the current rules for your part of the UK.
Common mistakes
- Double images: caused by hitting twice, or by the blank moving. Tape it down and strike once.
- Half-deep letters: the punch was tilted. Hold it upright and use a holder.
- Wandering lines: no guideline. Use tape every time.
- Mushroomed punch heads: using a steel hammer is normal for letter punches, but dress any burr off the striking end before it chips.
- Hammered thumbs: use a holder, and stamp at a comfortable height with good light.
Frequently asked questions
What size letter stamps are best for dog tags?
A 4 mm set is the most versatile for standard dog tags: readable, and small enough to fit a name and a phone number. A 5 mm set suits short text and bold numbers on larger tags or keyrings. Count your longest line before choosing, as a small round tag may need the smaller size.
What metal is best for hand-stamped tags?
Soft metals stamp best: aluminium, brass and copper. Aluminium is light and takes a deep impression easily, which makes it popular for pet tags and keyrings. Brass and copper need a firmer strike. Avoid stainless steel and other hard metals as a beginner, as they need far more force and can damage the punch faces.
Why are my stamped letters crooked or doubled?
Crooked letters usually come from having no guideline or holding the punch at an angle. Doubled letters come from hitting twice or the blank moving. Tape the blank to a steel block, use a tape guideline, hold the punch upright, ideally in a stamp holder, and strike each letter once, firmly.
What does the law say should be on a UK dog tag?
In Great Britain, the Control of Dogs Order 1992 requires a dog in a public place to wear a collar showing the owner's name and address, on the collar or a plate or badge attached to it. Some working dogs are exempt. A phone number is not legally required but is widely recommended. Microchipping is a separate requirement.
Everything above ships from the UK with free UK delivery on every order, and we aim to dispatch orders placed before 2pm UK time, Monday to Friday, the same working day. Unused items can be returned within 30 days. Browse the full punches and stamps range below.
