Featured Tool Mar. 18: Deluxe Dapping Set, #DAP-705.00

There are 2 types of dapping sets: wooden dapping blocks and steel dapping blocks, with the corresponding punches. These dapping sets will both help you dome metal, but in different ways.

Wooden dapping sets give a more gradual dome on metal, and they help to preserve any texture or patterns you’ve added to the metal.

Steel dapping sets have more sizes to choose from, and create a bolder dome, and if you have a design on your metal, you may want to lay a thin piece of leather or cloth in the well to preserve the embellishment. Steel sets will also last longer!

In both types of dapping sets, you’ll find the same tools: a dapping block, and dapping punches.

Simply slip a piece of metal, such as copper blanks, into the well, and then rest the punch on the blank. Then strike the punch with a hammer (nylon or a chasing hammer, if it’s a wood punch. use a brass hammer if it’s a metal set, like this steel set.). Tap all the way around, at an angle, to get your nice dome.

Remember to use the right size well for your project. The well should be quite a lot larger than your metal to get a nice curve, especially if the metal is thick.

Click here to see the Deluxe Dapping Set, 25 Pieces
on JewelryTools.com:

Click here to see a Wooden Dapping Block on Wire-Sculpture.com:

Helpful Dapping Terms:

Punch:

Also called a dap or a swage, this is the piece of the dapping set that is hammered against the metal shape.

Block:

This is the cube or other shape with several wells in it. Also called a die.

Well:

This is the depression in the block that the metal rests in as it is being punched. May also be called a dimple.

Skirting:

A well that is only a little larger than the disc may cause skirting – and you only want your edges to ruffle on purpose!