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The Newbies Arena Are you new to knife making? Here is all the help you will need.

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  #1  
Old 05-24-2013, 09:58 AM
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Question How do you Apply your maker's mark?

Hello all

Specifically how do you apply your maker's mark on your knives? What systems, procedures etc. do you use? What would you recommend and why?

Thank you


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Old 05-24-2013, 11:00 AM
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Ray Rogers Ray Rogers is offline
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There are only two major methods: stamping and electro-etching. Electro-etching is the most popular method if for no other reason than there are more stock removal makers than guys that forge and even a lot of the heat and beat guys don't use stamps. As you have already learned, stamps aren't practical for thinner blades.

The Etch-O-Matic is probably the lowest priced and most popular etcher on the market. Some guys build their own but it's difficult to build for less than the price of an E-O-M. I just recently wore out my first E-O-M after 20 years of use and have purchased another one.

Once you have an etcher you get a stencil made for your logo. Again, some prefer to do this themselves using special papers and a laser or ink jet printer. I've done this and it works fine but the stencils I had made by a professional work better and last longer than the ones I make.

To etch, you tape the stencil on your blade and then apply your etcher to the stencil. An E-O-M looks like an electric shaver but with a felt pad where the shaving screen would be. You pour a little chemistry on the pade and apply the pad to the stencil. With the small E-O-M unit I use 20 seconds for carbon steel blades. This is done twice, once with the etcher set for DC current and once for AC current. That's all there is to it. The mark is deep enough to require major blade damage to remove it. It is clear and sharp and will work on the thinnest steel you have without doing any damage at all to the steel.

Look in any knife magazine. You can easily tell when a blade stamp was used on the knives in the magazine. Virtually every single knife in the book that isn't stamped has an etched logo....


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Old 05-24-2013, 12:31 PM
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I started out around 25 years ago using a battery charger, some wires, and a salt solution.
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Old 05-25-2013, 05:30 AM
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Since I forge all my blades, hot stamping is just part of the process for me.


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Old 05-25-2013, 10:50 AM
Jim T Jim T is offline
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I flat grind. No room in my garage for a forge. I put my logo on with an Etch-O-Matic using stencils made for me by the amazing Ernie Grospitch.

Jim T
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Old 05-25-2013, 12:44 PM
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Old 05-27-2013, 06:55 AM
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I tried salt water, a 9 volt battery a Q tip and a alligator clips.
Put wax on the knife to be marked and scratch out your name through the wax.
apply salt water to where you want you name, dab q-tip that is attached to the battery to the blade which is also attached to the battery.

I haven't made knives for 6 years since getting a full time job but it worked ok.
Wayne Goddard does his this way if I remember correctly.
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Old 05-27-2013, 12:08 PM
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Marking Methods machine with stencils made by the same.

John I.


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Old 05-27-2013, 12:54 PM
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Stamp and a press.


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Old 05-27-2013, 07:23 PM
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Might think about a jeweler pantograph. Very clean and professional looking mark. Can have different marks made for about $60 each that will not wear out in your lifetime. Also can vary the size of the mark to fit your knife without getting a new stencil.

I tried all the other methods and they work but all of them had a downside to me. Mostly I was stuck with one size unless I had another stencil made and it had to be done in advance. Also I was getting less than professional looking results. Now I have been very happy using the pantograph. I can also offer engraving of other items and can even do a special note on the one side of the knife if the customer wants.

Good luck in your search.


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