What press for stamping?

[alclark2]

I'm looking at a few Harbor Freight presses to be used for stamping blades. The first is a 6 ton benchtop model. This would save space and be ideal. I'm not sure if it is strong enough though. The second option is a 12 ton floor standing model. I know this one will have enough force to get a good stamp. I don't want to do this twice though. Any input on how many tons of force yields a good mark? Thanks in advance. -Aaron

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

1 to 2 tons is all you need to stamp a makers mark. Press tons are in per square inch. A stamp covers a tiny fraction of a square inch.

 

[alclark2]

Thank you Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith

 

[kuraki]

Press tonnage is a rating of force and not pressure per square inch. I think what Stacy is trying to say is the effect of the stamp is to focus that force into a tiny amount of surface area. Maybe semantics but important to realize when calculating for a press build, or that sort of thing.

Tonnage is the calculation of pounds per square inch in hydraulic pressure distributed over the surface area of the cylinder piston. A 6 ton press exerts 6 tons onto a 1" square stamp, or 6 tons onto a 6" square block, but not 216 tons onto a 6" square block. Where a 3,000 psi fluid pressure on a 1" cylinder forces the cylinder to move with 1.17 tons of force, and 3,000 psi of fluid pressure on a 6" cylinder forces it to move with 42 tons of force (but much slower).

 

[P.Brewster]

It totally depends on the size of your stamp and the desired depth. My 0.2 x 1.2" mark required a 20 ton press.

 

[E.Carlson]

I use the HF 6 ton with my simple text stamp with no issues.