No More Crooked Stamps!

jhiggins

jhiggins

Joined
Jul 11, 2003
Messages
3,258
Ever spend a hellaciously-long time setting up your stamp, trying to get it just right? Feel a lack of confidence when it comes time to set it? Do you currently use etching as a makers mark, but want to move on to a good PERMANENT stamp? All these things have daunted me for a long time, but no more. I decided to build a functional jig to hold my stamp in a perpendicular orientation to the blade.
31018437-M.jpg


The stamp itself is a slip-fit in the main billet, but is held in place by a compression spring - just in case a glancing blow from the hammer happens, and it won't wipe out the jig. :-)
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Here you can see the business end. I made the max width 2.5" and I suppose I could enlarge it should I ever make a knife that is wider. I could also theoretically stamp a 3/8" thick blade if I was so inclined to make such a monster.
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So I put it on the Centurion and line up the blade.
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Its pretty simple to center the stamp using this thing.
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From the top view, you can eyeball the stamp for being skewed fairly quickly now.
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Give her a good smack... BLAMMY! :eek:
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There ya go! :cool:
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I dont even stamp my knives but that is so cool i want one anyway.:D How much if I buy a tapper with it?
 
adammichael said:
I dont even stamp my knives but that is so cool i want one anyway.:D How much if I buy a tapper with it?
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Everyone has stamps that are different widths, lengths and thicknesses. It would have to be by custom quote only. I probably would'nt take orders for these unless I ran into a good deal on 2" billet. This stuff is pricey. :)
 
I've had a fixture like that for 7 years, but mine also has a base plate.

But you couldn't pay me to stamp my knives.

With a DC etch, I can etch deeper than a stamp will stamp. I'm not sure what you mean about-

Do you currently use etching as a makers mark, but want to move on to a good PERMANENT stamp?
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But hey, whatever works for you :)

-Nick-
 
NickWheeler said:
With a DC etch, I can etch deeper than a stamp will stamp.
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BAH! I could rub your etch off with toothpaste! :D

I smell a "Stamp-Off" a-brewin! :D
 
Hey Jeff, you wouldn't mind if one borrowed your design and made one for personal use would you? Been trying to figure out how to mark em and a stamp seems a lot simpler than etching.

How do you keep your anvil so clean?
 
Is that anything like a dance off? :p

In retrospect, my post seems a bit snide. I didn't intend it too. I agree, if a guy is going to stamp, you cannot go wrong with a fixture to keep it lined up.

I really wouldn't trade my etcher though. On a DC setting, it removes metal until you stop. I guess maybe you were referring to just an AC etch which just turns the surface black? I wouldn't care for that either.

It's a nice piece of work there J. And the pic of the Centurion is always good for some extra brownie points :D

-Nick-
 
NickWheeler said:
I've had a fixture like that for 7 years, but mine also has a base plate.

But you couldn't pay me to stamp my knives.

With a DC etch, I can etch deeper than a stamp will stamp.

-Nick-
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I wouldn't go so far to say you could etch deeper than .010 but it's a deep
mark if you want to go that deep..

the military came up with the process just for the reason of stress problems caused by stamps..just a tid bit to how and why.. :)
 
jmxcpter said:
Hey Jeff, you wouldn't mind if one borrowed your design and made one for personal use would you?
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John, feel free to copy it to your heart's content. I wont be making these available for sale. :)

jmxcpter said:
How do you keep your anvil so clean?
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Its a little thing called lack of use. I bought it right before I hurt my shoulder a couple years ago.

NickWheeler said:
I really wouldn't trade my etcher though. On a DC setting, it removes metal until you stop. I guess maybe you were referring to just an AC etch which just turns the surface black? I wouldn't care for that either.
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What kind of etcher is it, Nick? I know there are some very intense etchers available for industrial applications out there. If you guys want myopinion, the coolest and most-permanent way to mark a blade would have to be EDM, but I am not about to sink that kind of cash into it.
 
I have anvil-envy. :D

Very cool stamper. Even the lower-end Personlizer Plus like has a DC setting with some nice power. It'll eat metal pretty decent. :D
 
J, I have a Marking Methods Mark 300.... but I've seen marks just as good come from the less expensive units.

I think a lot of it is method. The guy that I bought mine from, sold me a $800 set-up for $300 because (it turns out) he didn't know how to use it right, and thought it wouldn't mark anything as well as his stamp. I bought the video from MM, and it's been gravy ever since :D

And just an FYI, I have Evers brand stamps... so it's not like I was dicking around with cheap-o name stamps either ;)

-Nick-
 
NickWheeler said:
J, I have a Marking Methods Mark 300.... but I've seen marks just as good come from the less expensive units.

I think a lot of it is method. The guy that I bought mine from, sold me a $800 set-up for $300 because (it turns out) he didn't know how to use it right, and thought it wouldn't mark anything as well as his stamp. I bought the video from MM, and it's been gravy ever since :D

And just an FYI, I have Evers brand stamps... so it's not like I was dicking around with cheap-o name stamps either ;)

-Nick-
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Glad to see you supporting Henry Evers Co. The quality of the ones I have from them are better imho than Harpers. I know there are other stamp manufacturers out there, but Evers has a seriously-fast turnaround, and great CS.

Ya, I will have to check out MM. The flexibility of having good graphics and clear, crisp stencils is so nice when you want somethign a little special on a knife - you dont have to have a new stamp made each time. To be perfectly honest, its something I will probably get back to eventually and donate my home-made etcher to a worthy young maker.
 
Holy smokes, Nick. I checked out that MM #300A. That is one sweet unit, that looks like its got power to spare. Mine only puts out about 23 vdc. I'll have to get me one of those!
 
Chiro75 said:
I never thought I'd say this about a tool, but man, that is BEAUTIFUL!
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Dang, Steve. I wish you had said that in Around The Grinder. Decorum here prohibits my heartfelt reply... ;) :foot: :D
 
Jeff,

You are a scam artist. There is no way you are making knives in that shop. You can eat off the floor. You are not fooling me. :D

BTW, very nice job on what I can tell in the pics.

I love that anvil, what weight is it?

Thanks for the pics.
 
your stamps will be straighter, if you don't keep your head tilted after you lick 'em ;)
 
Okay, I'm not J, but I had a Centurion for a bit, and I can tell you there are 260 lb. (and awesome! :D )

-Nick-
 
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