What are you using to mark your knives?

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Dixieblade57

Joined
Jun 20, 2007
Messages
1,361
I am a member but have only posted once before so I hope this is the right place to put this.
I am intrested in marking my knives that I am presently making. I have found this refrence on etching, http://www.engnath.com/public/etch.htm.
Can anyone recommend anything about the electro etching process? What are the stencils they are uing in this process made of and can they be obtained from a source or do you make your own.
I have also heard some are using a product from Radio Shack as there electrolyte, for this process. Ths stuff from Radio shack is mostly Ferric Chloride, Hydrochloric Acid, and water to balance the mix. Does this sound right.

Any ideas or information what others are using to etch in their mark or name on their knives will be greatly appreciated.

I have checked into a stamp but the stamp and the machine is right at $4oo.00. ? The way I see it with a stamp you are totally limited to a flat surface where with the eloctroetch method you can do any surface the stencil will fit.
Dixieblade57
 
Enable your personal info so you can accept PM's and or emails. I have some info for you. You can make an etcher or purchase a nice one for cheap also.
 
I made mine using a Chris Crawford tutorial and have stencils by Ernie. I've marked several blades so far and it seems to work really well.
 
I stamped my blades for the first two and half years, but i bought a Personalizer etching machine and had Ernie Grospitch make me a batch of stencila nd I couldn't be happier.
 
jll346 said:
Enable your personal info so you can accept PM's and or emails. I have some info for you. You can make an etcher or purchase a nice one for cheap also.
Click to expand...

:confused:Not sure if I enabled the right thing. I am really new to posting on this forum. So if you can't PM me please explain t othe dummy, Me as too how eto do it. I have been gleaning info fro quite a while but the search feature was screwed before it broke and can't find this info I am looking for!
thanks for the help!
 
Ryan Minchew said:
I made mine using a Chris Crawford tutorial and have stencils by Ernie. I've marked several blades so far and it seems to work really well.
Click to expand...

:thumbup:Thanks for the info I Googled the Chris Crawford tutorial and I think that might be a great help. I do have a question though you say you used stencils by Ernie, who or what is Ernie?
Also do any of you have pics that show the results of your etching work. I'd like to see the kind of depth and clarity you are getting on your marks!
 
Thaks for the info, Jim!
Ernie, I appreciate the email may be contacting you in the further about some stencils.
 
I found a tutorial on how to etch with a battery and salt solution, so I think that will be the mark on my first knife. Just finished it! :D
 
I ordered a stamp from Buckeye, but once I got it in hand, I started wondering how to use it in such a way that I got consistent results. This prompted me to order an Etch-O-Matic kit. I really like it, and am able to get good, consistent results with it. If you're going to go the electrochemical route, I'd recommend getting (or making) a stencil burner. Very handy setup to have!
 
I user a personalizer plus...it really wasnt that expensive. I use it with Ernie's stencils and get deep, crisp etches.
 
Thanks for all the great info everyone has already given me.

Got a question to throw out there, actually it was in the first post and never got answered. :eek:

What are you using as an etchant in the process?
I know someone mentioned something about salt, and one was using battery acid out of an old battery.

Here is what I was thinking of http://rsk.imageg.net/graphics/uc/rsk/Support/MSDS/2761535_MSDS.pdf
it's from Radio Shack it's what they use to etch Computer boards. The stuff is mostly, ferric chloride, hydrocloric acid and water too balance the mix.
Has anyone used this as an etchant?
What was the results if you have tried this?
If not using this what are you using and the results please.
 
Scott Gossman meantioned that in another thread over on W&S.

Personally, I've been using beeswax and carving into it and using tabasco. (sticky vinegar)

But I'm not getting fine lines and designs. And I'm not terrific at it yet.
 
Koyote,

How long do you have to let it sit with the tabasco on it? I have heard of beeswax and acid to engrave but not tabasco.

Tommy
 
woodsman1031 said:
Koyote,

How long do you have to let it sit with the tabasco on it? I have heard of beeswax and acid to engrave but not tabasco.

Tommy
Click to expand...

Depends on how HOT you like it!:D:)
Sorry I couldn't resist!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyone talk about their chemical make up of their etchant??????????
 
For purposes of the discussion, tabasco = vinegar = acetic acid.

the primary reason i use tabasco is it is "sticky" and easier to apply withou runoff than vinegar.

i ran into this technique via a bookbinder friend. It is used to etch printing plates, apparently. And i am still learning. Sometimes the beeswak doesn't 'stick, and some acid gets under it. Not sure why yet, but it may be the buffing. I am going to try doing it pre buff and leave it longer.

right now i leave it about 8 hours with ambient temp around 70 to 85 f.

i should do some reakl tests and a thread.
 
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