2008/5/27 Nichael Cramer <nichael@s...>:
> If you're interested in a real simple --and cheap-- option, here's
> what I did.

> Anyway, I got an inexpensive set of letter-punches. I then made a
> wooden sleeve which holds the right combination of letters in the
> correct arrangement. Then place the contraption on the wood, and a
> light tap with a hammer makes the impression.

I think you could use that to stamp some soft/thin metal disc or plate
as well. Then nail, glue or screw that to the work like OP asked.

Casting pewter should be easy enough if you have a stove or another heat
source and some good sense. Here in .fi, pouring pewter to cold water is
a new years pastime "magic" so simple kit and ingots are available at
least for some months. Some people snag those for making castings. I
think someone mentioned old pewter mugs as a source of metal elsewhere.
(RoHS) solder may also be something to look at.

Making moulds, though, and especially reusable ones might be tricky.
Simple option I think is to indeed form a model in wax, cast that in
clay or chalk and heat that once dry to get the wax out and then use
that as a mould. Only you destroy the wax in the process and probably
will have to crack the clay as well to get the metal out.

Then there's branding irons..

But here's some thoughts. Maybe you'll get better suggestions
from others.

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