Aaarrrrggghhhhh!!!!!

[jdm61]

I'm trying to get ready for my first show next weekend and I have had some difficulties. First, an old one. I messed up my prize bowie stamping it. I have one of the presses from Uncle Al, but a stamp that I already had that has a round top. It seems that no matter which way I turn it, the stamp is always "light" and sometimes not there at all on one end. In the case of my bowie, I only ended up with 4 letters of my name. I know some people are able to stamp over, but I have never been able to get the stamp back into the letters so I end up with "double vision". What is a bettter way to do this? I'm going to finish the bowie, but it sure ain't gonna sell like it would have....grrrrrr
Second. I used my Paragon for the first time and it decarbed the hell out of parts of the the surface of some blades. I used PCB, but I didn't put new stuff on between the final normalizing and the soak for the quench. Bits of it fell off in between apparently and that is where I had the pitting. I know the steel is subjected to heat for a lot longer in the Paragon than in the forge. Sounds like I should re coat the blades before the quench.
Thid problem was an unfixable warp.....not much I can do about that one.:grumpy:

 

[J.S. Carter]

On the bowie, if it's a carbon blade use, Selenium Dioxide (Birchwood Casey, Super Blue)
and a fine, fine paint brush, and sign your name in gun cold blue. Or could use some johnson paste wax as a dam, use a toothpick to write your name in the wax, and pour your etchant in it to etch your name in to it.,(attempt this on scrap first to get the feel for it) The warp all you need to do is heat to a dark cherry, and then put it in your vice and tighten to snug, let it cool then re heat treat. it'll be straight as an arrow

 

[Mace]

Your screwed!
Just kidding Joe.
Don't freak out about the bowie...do your best and put it out there.
I got tired of half name stampings and switched to an etching machine and I can etch as deep or deeper than a stamp.
Good luck at the show!
Mace

 

[jdm61]

Your screwed!
Just kidding Joe.
Don't freak out about the bowie...do your best and put it out there.
I got tired of half name stampings and switched to an etching machine and I can etch as deep or deeper than a stamp.
Good luck at the show!
Mace

NOW he tells me:grumpy: I'm going to finish it because I already drilled out the expensive piece of amber stag......yes, this was supposd to be my "halo" piece for the show. Now it will get put out, but without the $100+ Paul Long sheath it was going to be wearing:thumbdn: What kind of etching machine do you use?

 

[mdoyle]

I messed up my prize bowie stamping it. I have one of the presses from Uncle Al, but a stamp that I already had that has a round top. It seems that no matter which way I turn it, the stamp is always "light" and sometimes not there at all on one end. In the case of my bowie, I only ended up with 4 letters of my name. I know some people are able to stamp over, but I have never been able to get the stamp back into the letters so I end up with "double vision". What is a bettter way to do this?

Joe
I'm not familiar with the press you're talking about. Is it a hydraulic press? I've had good luck using the hyd press. More importantly what are you using as a base under your knife? I use a piece of brown paper towel on top of a machined bar of steel. The machined plate made a big difference in getting my mark clean.
I'd square the head of your stamp up with a disc sander and give er another shot! Then again it's not my knife
Lotsa Luck!
Matt