methods for holding knife while stamping?

D

Dana Hackney

Joined
Nov 1, 2005
Messages
174
Hi folks,

I finally got a tang stamp (Everstamp) and tried my hand at actually stamping a few blade.
Well...I batted .500 :grumpy: I ruined two nice little drop points!

I tried a few ways (even using a magnet on my anvil) and none seemed to work all that well.
I thought about buying the stamp holding (looks like an arbor press) unit that Everstamp sells but I was hoping I could avoid spending the $190 ( I believe that was what was quoted).

Does anyone have a good cheep way of holding their knives for the stamping process?

Many thanks,
Dana Hackney
Monument, CO
 
A gooseneck hold down may work well, or a variety of jigs that smiths use for holding stock while chiseling. there are a couple of designs out there, check www.anvilfire.com or www.abana.org , or try searching for the Blacksmiths Journal for different plans. You may want to keep a piece of felt or other material to lay under the blade, and between the blade and hold down to keep from accidentially scratching it.
 
Dana Hackney said:
Hi folks,

I finally got a tang stamp (Everstamp) and tried my hand at actually stamping a few blade.
Well...I batted .500 :grumpy: I ruined two nice little drop points!

I tried a few ways (even using a magnet on my anvil) and none seemed to work all that well.
I thought about buying the stamp holding (looks like an arbor press) unit that Everstamp sells but I was hoping I could avoid spending the $190 ( I believe that was what was quoted).

Does anyone have a good cheep way of holding their knives for the stamping process?

Many thanks,
Dana Hackney
Monument, CO
Click to expand...


I read a post around here somehere, A maker said he built a fixture to hold the blade and stamp it hydraulicaly using a bottle jack. Seems more precise than holding a your stamp with your hand and wacking it with a hammer.


I have seen the arbor press set up you mention. Why not get yourself a small arbor press and build something along those lines? harbor freight has them priced between $25 and $35 If you ruined two blades already you have already spent more than that.

Or start from scratch and build your own. (If you can build a knife you can build a stamp holder) Essentially all the stamp holder does is hold the stamp perpendicular to the blade. It doesn't do anything to secure the blade.




Ray
 
If I had a mill I'd mill out a channel in one of those arbor presses
to accomodate my stamp. I guess I'll go take a look at the HF near me
to see what I can see.

Best regards,
Dana
 
attackofthe50footman said:
I read a post around here somehere, A maker said he built a fixture to hold the blade and stamp it hydraulicaly using a bottle jack. Seems more precise than holding a your stamp with your hand and wacking it with a hammer...
Click to expand...

That could very well have been me:
press.jpg


Since I had the steel on hand, this unit only cost me around $40 to make, the bottle jack was $35 of it. It took about one afternoon to do, and it is one of the best things I have done for myself in years.

I mentioned it before and only bring it up again, because I am VERY pleased with the way the pressing of the stamp works compared to any form of hammering I used in the past, be it by hand or with any sort of jig. When I was at the tool store I almost bought an arbor press, since that is the way others have done it, but I took a chance on the much cheaper bottle jack instead. Now my stamps are cleaner, deeper and clearer than I have ever got them before and I can take my time a position things perfectly. The 20 tons of pure pressure does a much better job than any hammer blow could do and it is mcuh better on my stamps. I expect to get many more years of life out of them now. Needless to say I highly recommend this method.
 
thanks, a lot, for the post. My next door neighbor has a mig welder
and I have some 1/4" thick angle iron lying around. Sometimes you
just have to see it before you can understand it. Guess I learn better with
the visual aides.

Best regards,
Dana
 
Don, I stamp mine cold and annealed, with a 2 lb dead blow hammer, been doing it this way for many years. BUT after seeing this rig by Kevin, I'm going to change my ways :thumbup: Thanks Kevin !
 
Kevin, thanks for posting the pic! I will be getting my stamp from H. Evers very soon and was wondering myself what would be a safe effective way to do it. Time to fire up the welder and bandsaw!
 
Don Cowles said:
Kevin, do you do your stamping on cold (annealed) steel?
Click to expand...

Yes Don, I stamp completely annealed. I have done it after drawing the riccasso back soft after the heat treatment, but that can be very hard on the stamps.
 
jmwands said:
Heya Dana, Don F. had listed this link for makers marks,
http://www.henryaevers.com/
and it looked like a nice little setup, plus they actually list their product for bladesmiths,
jm
Click to expand...

I saw that critter. It's a pretty nice setup and I'm sure it's nicely constructed as well.
I got a quote and they run close to $185.

Take care,
Dana Hackney
Monument, CO
 
I appreciate the feedback. I designed and built a holding jig for my Evers stamp, but failed to take into account the fact that the flats on my ricassos are not parallel, due to how I taper my tangs. I have been in the process of modifying my design, but think I will follow your lead, Kevin. Looks like a sound solution! I have had enough double-strikes and crooked stamps to last me a long time.
 
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