Loosing my maker's mark in my damascus.

J. Neilson

J. Neilson

Joined
Feb 6, 2001
Messages
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I started making damascus this past summer and love it. The biggest problem I having right now is that I'm loosing my maker's mark in the patterns. I'm etching into the blade the same as I do all my others but the damacus seems to camo the etch pretty well. You can still see it but, you really have to look. That rots. I've seen where some folks avoid etching the spot where their logo goes when etching the blade. I'm not sure how that works (tape, wax, ?) or if I want to disrupt the patterns on the blade in this way. Especially on smaller knives. I also wonder if a stamp be better for the damascus blades. I read someplace that a stamp could put stress risers in the blade, especially again, smaller blades. As Kelly Bundy would say, "I'm on the horns of an enema". Anybody got any suggestion?
 
Are you etching your logo before or after etching your blade?

I etch my logo after etching the blade. That way the ferric does not deminish the sharpness of the logo and helps it stand out. Granted, the logo still does not jump off the blade, but it is noticable. And I like it that way. I want my mark to be seen but not draw any attention away from the blade.

After I etch my logo (in DC only), I put a little ferric on a q-tip and go over the etch area to darken it cause right off the etcher it is silver from DC mode (maybe that is what you want). It works pretty good for me.
 
I etch my log after etching the blade. I've never had the problem with the "silvering" on the blade before, though. That's part of my quandry L. Having the mark easily seen without taking away from the damascus itself. It's always something, otherwise, life would get boring, I guess.
 
Bruce Evans does his logo first, then puts finger nail polish over it to stop the etch. It does work pretty slick. You do need to use a little finess so it looks right. I'd do a couple test on the tang or scrap first.......Ray
 
I etch my logo, then mask with nail polish and then etch the blade. Tape around the logo so it looks neat before you use the nail polish. You can also follow these steps, then remove the nail polish and then give the blade another quick dip in etchant and the logo will only be visible when you hold the blade at a certain angle in the right light. You may also consider a smaller logo for your smaller knives, like just your last name.
 
I recently started using a stamp on damascus because I didn't like the results I was getting. I don't know if you want to go this route, but it's an option.
*Edited to add that I sent the stamp company my stencil and had them use it for the stamp design.
 
I etch mine in pretty deep, when doing damascus, I just burn it in a little deeper then clean up blade and etch. It looks like a stamp.
 
J.,

If you have a HT oven, or a means of monitoring, you can equalize the steel before austinitization for a few minutes (no greater than 15 min. max.) before going to critical. That should take care of any concerns about stress from stampings. I have been equalizing for about 6 to 8 minutes at temperatures from about 250 to 400 F. less than austinitization, dependinding on the steel being HT'ed. I go straight from equalization to austinitization, without pulling the steel first.

Roger
 
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