Maker's mark

daveinvegas

daveinvegas

Joined
Jan 2, 2009
Messages
309
Well, I kinda like this making my own blades. Although I have only completed two blades (and small ones at that) I am planning ahead. I am working on four blades.

That being the case, I would eventually like to mark my work.

I was wondering about marking blades with steel letter punches or perhaps having the mark cut with a waterjet?

Can one obtain a custom punch? (??)

I realize with waterjet the mark would go through the steel. It would be different but would it be weird?

What do ya'll think?
 
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I just recently started using the steel letter punches and they work actually pretty good. The thing I find though, is that just trying to hit the punch with a heavy hammer and held in a vise grip does not work too well. Even annealed, blade steel is pretty tough. It is real easy to botch it up. So to avoid that problem, I just made myself a little letter punch holder out of some steel bars and some long bolts. I tighten up the bolts and it just holds the punch in place tightly to the blade and I use one of my 25 pound weightlifting plates instead of a hammer to hit it. The water jet, if it goes all the way through the steel, I'm thinking might weaken the blade, but I'm not sure. Anyways, I have heard on here of a place called Everstamp or something like that that makes custom letter stamps. I like the stamps because they look more traditional, but then again, I like old knives.
 
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daveinvegas said:
Can one obtain a custom punch? (??)
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Yup! I don't have one but Evers stamps are spoken of very highly by the pros. I called them awhile back and got a quote in just a couple minutes.

daveinvegas said:
I realize with waterjet the mark would go through the steel. It would be different but would it be weird?
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Call or message Dave at GreatLakesWaterJet. As to weird, that would depend on the design. My concern would be putting stress risers in/weakening the steel. And, keeping the darn thing clean.

Most guys use either a stamp or etch their mark. I'm going the etching route because it's fairly inexpensive to have stencils made for various steels, special models, whatever. There are plans around here somewhere for making your own etcher... I'm lazy and had Rusty McDonald here on the forums make me one. It was very affordable.
 
In the past I have used Harpers manufacturing with good results. My new stamp will be made by Everstamp and I should get it around the 13th. My first stamp by Harpers cost a little over a hundred dollars about 10 years ago. It was a symbol that I am shying away from now, because unless you have big bucks for marketing no one will know who made your knife using a symbol. As far as stamp holders go, I have never liked the arbor press stamp holders. I will order the Ever's stamp holder when my stamp is done and see if that works any better. I like the setup I have seen on here with using a press with a stamp holder. Maybe I will have better results doing that.
 
I have saw this come up a lot over the years. I been using Ever's Stamps for years and still going strong. You will be completely satisfied with their quality. But you will need to create your own stamp holder for the stamp. The one you get from them is for folders and not straight knives. To give you a better understanding I have the setup on my site in my Shop Tour. If you need anymore help just ask and I will see if I can help you.

This is how it would come out on the knife. And it will last a life time. And you will not rub it off.

NameStamp1.jpg


This is the press that holds the holder for the stamp to set in. This will support the stamp to give you a even impression all the way around.

stamppress.jpg


Here is the holder that supports the stamp in a close up view. The press is a 12 ton hand jack press.

FIELDKNIFE9.jpg


Its very important to practice your impressions on a scrap piece of steel, before attempting your masterpiece. In doing so you will learn how much pressure to apply. You can determined that by how many times you pump the cylinder. " Tip" For a piece of 1/8 inch or to say 125 thousands it woud be in the neighborhood of 4 1/2 pumps on the bar. But you will need to make some test runs to get it down to science. Hope this was of help David. God bless and have a nice day. Also, here is Ever's site http://www.henryaevers.com/

Terry
 
I made my own maker's mark years ago for my silver work. It's just my name - Doc - about 3mm high and maybe 5-6mm long. It wasn't nearly as difficult as I expected. I'm certain that one won't be suitable for blades. It's too finely cut, even if the steel were hard enough for the task, but I do plan to make my own if I get far enough into blades to warrant that.

A thing I did learn with the first one, along with making a few decorative stamps. I'll take a piece of scrap metal, copper or something relatively soft, and demo the punch OFTEN. I can see much, much earlier where I've made a mistake or it's not working out like I thought than just eyeballing the punch.

Also, a cheap set of diamond flex-shaft tools off eBay are a very good investment.
 
I have a stamp from Evers, and although it's a great stamp, I wish I had gone to an etcher years ago. I just started etching instead of stamping, and unless requested by a customer I WON'T BE GOIN BACK to stamping:grumpy:! They are really a PITA to get lined up exactly right, I used a hyd press to stamp my name and yes it still sucked! The imprint wouldn't be straight or would be uneven in depth, or the blade would bend when stamped, or the stamp would create orange peal on the opposite side...yada yada yada
Look at Barkes stamp in his picture! It's not straight! I'm not picking on him, he makes really nice knives, just an example of the problems I'm speaking of. Buy or make an etcher and call Ernie Gossip and he will make you a lifetime of stencils for next to nothing in the design of your choice.
On a side note, I still use my stamp. I just use it only on my sheaths now!:D
Just my .02, but I wish someone had kicked me in the head when I set out to spend close to $150 on a stamp i now use only for leather:o
Matt Doyle
 
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mdoyle said:
Look at Barkes stamp in his picture! It's not straight! I'm not picking on him, he makes really nice knives, just an example of the problems
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I line my makers mark with my handles. It is the way I wanted it to be. And I was happy to see it illustrated in the knifemakers Show Case last months in Blade magazine. And the new owner was well pleased also, I just hope one day I maybe as good as you are in producing a perfect flawless knife. :D

Terry
 
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