Makers mark... finally!

[Daniel Fairly Knives]

I'm happy to say I have a stamp design finalized! I've spent a few weeks on the basic design and a few months before that deciding between a stamp and an etcher.

It will be FAIRLY in all caps with a bigger F. Buckeye engraving will be making it for me. It's going to be small, the F will be 3/32" tall.

I do a lot of different patinas and etches, parkerizing soon... I think the stamp will be versatile and work with all my finishes. I may get a symbol stamp to compliment it but I'm already way over budget for knifemaking, lol.

Now I'm debating getting the press from usaknifemaker because it is compatible withh their flaring tools or a cheaper arbor press from somewhere else. I plan on using the press for the stamp also.

I finished my 20th knife the other day, just finished the first one in January! Time flies when you're having fun! Stamp time!

 

[Patrice Lemée]

I finished my 20th knife the other day, just finished the first one in January!

Wow! I am not there yet and I started about 3 years ago.
I am happy that you are getting that much shop time.:thumbup:

 

[Makermook]

Since you've looked into this (and I have not), I'll ask you: Is there a difference in maker's marks that are going to be *pressed* into your work and those that are going to be *struck* to make their mark in your work?

 

[jawilder]

When you "strike" or hammer the mark into your work it might bounce around and leave an uneven mark. Also, you'll have to hit it more than once to get it deep enough and you might not get it in the same spot the second time, leaving a ghost mark.

When you press the mark in, it should be perfect the first time

 

[Daniel Fairly Knives]

Wow! I am not there yet and I started about 3 years ago.
I am happy that you are getting that much shop time.:thumbup:

I am lucky to get in a lot of shop time, I have been pushing hard with lots of long days at the grinder. Hopefully I'll get one half as nice as your recent work in three years!

Since you've looked into this (and I have not), I'll ask you: Is there a difference in maker's marks that are going to be *pressed* into your work and those that are going to be *struck* to make their mark in your work?

When you "strike" or hammer the mark into your work it might bounce around and leave an uneven mark. Also, you'll have to hit it more than once to get it deep enough and you might not get it in the same spot the second time, leaving a ghost mark.

When you press the mark in, it should be perfect the first time

I hope my arbor press idea works good, what do you guys think? I haven't ordered one yet.

.

 

[melsdad]

I made a fixture that holds my stamp in position while I smack it with a hammer. If you use the right hammer one hit is all you need to get the impression deep enough. I'll have to take a few pictures of the fixture, and post them here.

 

[lonepine]

I may get a symbol stamp to compliment it but I'm already way over budget for knifemaking, lol.

There's a budget? I wish someone would have told me about this!

- Paul Meske

 

[Daniel Fairly Knives]

I made a fixture that holds my stamp in position while I smack it with a hammer. If you use the right hammer one hit is all you need to get the impression deep enough. I'll have to take a few pictures of the fixture, and post them here.

I'd like to see that when you get a chance. I have considered making a fixture myself, seems like a great way to do it. I need to make one or order a press soon. I'll probably order a press because it will serve for other duties, but then again the stamp must look as good as possible.

There's a budget? I wish someone would have told me about this!

- Paul Meske

I try to stay under $1000 per knife but it is tough, the first one cost me about $4000.

 

[RyanW]

I try to stay under $1000 per knife but it is tough, the first one cost me about $4000.

Haha. Hopefully the price of your first knife goes down the more knives you make! I am assuming the $4000 was on equipment you are still using? If not that is a lot of Steel and Scales!

Congrats on the Mark!

 

[Rick Marchand]

When you "strike" or hammer the mark into your work it might bounce around and leave an uneven mark. Also, you'll have to hit it more than once to get it deep enough and you might not get it in the same spot the second time, leaving a ghost mark.

When you press the mark in, it should be perfect the first time

I strike with a hammer and have only botched a couple with an uneven hit. I can honestly say that I haven't messed up in over a year. (I may have just jinxed myself)

I forge and use the punch on hot steel.

Rick

 

[Daniel Fairly Knives]

Haha. Hopefully the price of your first knife goes down the more knives you make! I am assuming the $4000 was on equipment you are still using? If not that is a lot of Steel and Scales!

Congrats on the Mark!

I'm kidding and exaggerating, it is almost all equipment cost which gets amortized anyways. I consider my KMG and kiln a long term expense. I don't really spend that much but I do get a little crazy sometimes on orders, lol.

Thanks! I'm glad to have the mark soon.


Rick, I need to try the hammer option, it has always been fine on silver for me. I tried some cheap stamps on steel with a hammer and they were so-so but that's what I expected with cheapie stamps.

 

[ERIK KNIVES]

I'm happy to say I have a stamp design finalized! I've spent a few weeks on the basic design and a few months before that deciding between a stamp and an etcher.

It will be FAIRLY in all caps with a bigger F. Buckeye engraving will be making it for me. It's going to be small, the F will be 3/32" tall.

I do a lot of different patinas and etches, parkerizing soon... I think the stamp will be versatile and work with all my finishes. I may get a symbol stamp to compliment it but I'm already way over budget for knifemaking, lol.

Now I'm debating getting the press from usaknifemaker because it is compatible withh their flaring tools or a cheaper arbor press from somewhere else. I plan on using the press for the stamp also.

I finished my 20th knife the other day, just finished the first one in January! Time flies when you're having fun! Stamp time!

The arbor press will work for your stamp and flaring dies. The trick is getting everything the right size so your attachments fit your press. I bought a 1 ton arbor press, and had my stamp made to fit the bore on the ram (1/2"). My flaring dies were sized differently, so I needed a custom adapter. Everything works great, but I could have achieved the same thing with one less step by getting a press that fit my flaring dies, and ordering my stamp to fit the press (I was customizing the stamp either way - make sense?)

Maybe pictures will help.