Best places to get a touchmark or go another route?

Triought

Triought

Joined
Jul 18, 2014
Messages
129
I'm soaking in all kinds of information on this site, but another question I have is where do you recommend for a touchmark or do you recommend another route to mark your blades? Last few blades I've done I've just engraved my name on them small by the handle but a touchmark would look much more professional. I'm no where close to selling the knives, I'm in the learning process currently. I'd still like to do something a bit more professional looking on the blade to mark it as one I've made. For a family heirloom reason if nothing else.

Reason I'm asking where you recommend is I'd like to help out forum members first and foremost if possible, to help pay back from all the knowledge that gets transferred on this site.
 
I have a feeling most people here will recommend Ernie Crospitch. http://www.erniesknives.com/. I was in that same boat as your self a few weeks ago, and contacted Ernie. A few days later, my pro made stencils were in the my hands. They look awesome...he was able to get a lot of detail in that small image. You can just email him your design and he will make a stencil out of it! I am sure there are others, but Ernie has a great product, and a great rep.
 
The etching isn't hard, especially using professionally made stencils. Check out the last post in this thread to see my less-than-a-shoe-string-budget setup.
 
Stacy and some of the senior guys put a thought in my head last year concerning touchmarks... I have a hot stamp I made plus I use photoresistive film for etching stencils and had been using a touchmark solely. I would mark tools I repaired extensively or stuff I banged out as well as knives. The thought though was this...

A touchkark is great if you are a known maker. But if not, it will be impossible for someone to search for you. It is also hard to have a unique enough touchmark that it isn't confused with someone else. And typically true touchmarks were hot stamped into a forged item to identify it as being that smith's work. If you are going to etch, might as well use your name or something that will come up on top of a google search.

Otherwise, Ernie's stencils are nice. TUS tech are great too. I've been using the photoresist film so I can etch anything I can print, thus changing the font and size to fit the piece...

Happy hunting.

-Eric
 
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