Damascus and logo

[flatgrinder]

How do you mark your name on Damascus steel?

Etch? Stamp? Engrave?

Which method produces the best, clearest results?

Thanks!

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

All three work.None will produce a mark the same as on a piece of regular steel.
Etching will only work if you mask off the area before the FeCl etch to leave a smooth oval or rectangle.Then you can etch that area when the blade is done.This is the least desirable.
Stamping works fine.You can use the same masking technique as above to leave an unetched area around the stamp.This method makes the boldest imprint.
Engrave - This is what I do to mine.I make the entire knife,finish the blade and all.Then I engrave it in a bold font (2LB or 3LB) and the engraving shows up pretty good.This doesn't work as good on deeply etched blades.
Stacy

 

[J. Neilson]

I polish my damascus blades, then etch my logo with a "Personalizer" etching machine, then etch my blade in a ferric/distilled water mix. My logos come out very clean and nicely blended into the steel.

If you have an etcher, let me know and I'll be glad to walk you through the way I do it.

 

[Will52100]

I do as J. does, I have the personalizer and it takes a little time, but it's worth it to me. 4 minits Two minits of etch, two minits of mark, clean the blade and etch in ferric/water. Looks just like a stamp and is deep, it would have to be ground off. That's the way I do carbon steel knives, stainless gets a little shallower etch, but not much.