Blade Base for Pressing Makers Mark

colu41

colu41

Joined
Dec 24, 2014
Messages
1,598
So I've been using a "hardened" jewelers block. And within the first few stamps, the thing is already caved in on top. I found another one online, and specifically asked the seller if they knew for sure that the steel block is hardened. And its the same dang thing. Are these just not "hard" enough for a press? I have a 12 ton jack for the press and I dont even press it as hard as it will go as the stamp is very deep already. Any other suggestions on what I can use?

Getting around the concaved base when stamping another blade is a pain. And then I have to straighten the blade and refinish again.
 
are you stamping them red hot ? its hard to believe the hardened block is concaving !
 
woodster said:
are you stamping them red hot ? its hard to believe the hardened block is concaving !
Click to expand...

When I get a minute I'll take a pic. Its ridiculous. I guess I didn't mention that I truly believe they are not hardened steel. They came full of grease so I'm guessing they are not stainless. And my first one has a bit of surface rust. I'm not sure.
And no I'm not stamping them hot. Thats why I built the press. Otherwise I would just hammer them if red hot, but I didn't want to handle hot blades any more than I needed.
 
How thick is the steel that you are putting your blade on in the bottom of your press?
 
I have no idea why a 1" thick block jewelers block would deform. I hammer HARD on them and they stay smooth and shiny. Even unhardened metal as the anvil shouldn't deform in one pressing.

What is supporting the jewelers block below it? I suspect that is your problem. If it is just supported on the ends over a open space, it will bend...that is what a press is supposed to do. If that is the case, you will need a lot thicker anvil piece. Hardening shouldn't be the issue.
 
I ground the top of the bottle jack flat, and the 1" block sits directly on that. I just got home from work. I will get a pic of it and show you guys.
 
Here it is. Hard to see but, its there. There are other spots too but, was hard enough capturing this on my phone.
2u63deh.jpg
 
First, that certainly isn't a jewelers block. It just looks like a slab of steel. Can't say if it is hardened or not, but a jewelers block has a polished smooth face.

Second, that is a lot of deformation for a solid block of steel. I would guess it is dead soft annealed.

Third - does it cause any problem? If it is just a cosmetic dent in the anvil, that is probably better than a cosmetic dent/scratch in the blade.
 
I use a piece of cold-rolled mild steel, no problems so far. A 123 block may be an economical choice for a hardened and ground underlay. Enco PN 240-0369 is a case-hardened pair of blocks with no holes for $28.
 
This came looking smooth and polished. That is the rust it has accumulated in the past month. Im guessing its just mild steel that has not been hardened at all. Id figure for the price that it was hardened stainless but.
 
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