Stamp or electric etch?

Barker

Barker

Joined
Dec 24, 2005
Messages
1,159
I am getting ready to purchase some means of marking my blades and am undecided as to get a stamp by Evers or get an electric etching system. Both are pretty easy to use. They are just different. I work mainly with stainless and if I stamp its got to be done before the heat treating. The etching on the other hand can be done after the blade is finished completely. I would appreciate any help with this decision.
 
I've only ever etched but it's so simple and so asthetically pleasing that I don't know why you would consider anything else. My .02 worth.
 
I've only used stamps on damascus (don't make anything else). I tried electro-etching and wasn't satisfied, but have seen other people get good results.
I don't think you can't beat the depth and overall permanence of a good stamp, though it can be tricky to get. ---If you stamp, use a fixture!---

I've been looking into laser marking for a larger project I'm working on. I've run some test peices with a delicate logo. You can get great definition and pretty good depth (If you want). The local laser places around here want about $3.00 a blade to mark mine (pretty deep) plus something like a one-time $35 charge for converting your file to something they can use. (I'm sure other places will vary.)
Still, I think stamping is best for a pattern welded (or otherwise forged) blade, just because it involves a hammer and has a classic look ... just seems a better fit to me.
 
Stamping. That way if the blade ever needs refinishing or touching up of a satin finish, the mark stays unchanged. I used to etch but since I switched to stamping a few years ago I've never looked back.
 
Consider the size of the stamp or mark you are going to use. Sometimes a stamp won't fit where an etch will. A large stamp on a small blade is sometimes out of proportion. If you forget before to stamp before heat treat you are SOL.
 
That's very true! A stamp really only works well for a small brand or one (short) word type of mark.
 
The stamp would only be my name (6 letters). Each letter would be 3/32"tall. I usually use stainless so I must stamp it before heat treatment.
 
Do you stamp before heat treatment -
a) because after heat treat it's too hard to stamp
b) because heat treating stabilizes the steel - removing any stresses from the stamping ?

Thanks,
~ Dagr
 
Dagr said:
Do you stamp before heat treatment -
a) because after heat treat it's too hard to stamp
b) because heat treating stabilizes the steel - removing any stresses from the stamping ?

Thanks,
~ Dagr
Click to expand...


Probably both but I would say the first for sure.
 
Hello Barker,

I too work only with S.S., and have been etching my logo in my blades for over 20 years. Versatility, is the reason I chose Marking Mehtods Companie's equipment. I get a long life stencile with 5 sizes of my logo on it. Costs about $ 10.00 each, and lasts about a year. The art work for the first stencile is about $ 65.00 one time charge. Anyway, the 5 differant sizes of my logo works great from small Bird & Trout knives, all the way up to big wide Bowie blades. And I get a nice "DEEP" etch with my equipment.

With an etching machine you can also bring in more dollars by etching your customer's name or other info. ( birthdays, weddings, graduations stc. ) on the blade. I charge $ 20.00. per line. For this service I use a very thin rice paper and my old typwriter. The keys perforates the paper, makeing your own stencile, and your good to go.

I also offer my knives as Corporate Gifts, and if the company wants their logo put on the blade, I charge them another $ 100.00 for the art work, for the stencile, average cost is about $ 65.00. Then it's $ 20.00 to put their logo on each blade. Or I can eat the cost for the logo stencile, as I did for the lion & sheild stencile I had made for the Safari Club Intern., ( MN. Chapter ), Which allowed me to personalize all the club knives I build for them each year. It's a great little side business. I've even had a knife customer that wanted his family name in Chinese, and another that wanted a Bible pharse etch on their knives. Both gladly paid the $ 100.00, plus $ 20.00 to personalize their knife. Used the stencile once and threw it away. They were happy and so was I.!!

I'm able to offer my knives with lightly engraved bolsters, at no charge to my customers. I can do this useing a stencile with a scroll pattern of it, and in just a few minutes I have a fancy scroll design on my bolsters, that really dress up the knife. The scroll patterns are not so deep into the bolster that they will fill up with blood, fat or dirt, and be hard to clean. Which is a good selling point for hunting knives. I must have 5-6 differant scroll pattern stenciles on hand by now. So I offer quite a wide variety to chose from.

I also build a Wild Boar Hunting knife. Used to kill a boar, with just the owner and his knife. Plus a pack of trained catch dogs. On the blade I acid etch a wild boar, also from a stencile. When the customer gets his first hog, with the knife. He can then send it back to me, and I etch the date and place of his kill on the blade, next to the wild boar. It makes for a great customer service angle.

None of these services that I offer, and make a liveing from, could be done useing a stamp.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Best Regards,
Jay Maines
Sunrise River Custom Knives
www.sunrisecustomknives.com
 
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