Beginner Stamping Options

[tueller]

I am a newbie using "the counts standard reply to new Knifemakers" guide to make my first knife. It will be a small simple designed fixed blade using 1/8 thick 1084 steel and wooden scales. I know many will think its not necessary but since it is my first knife I want to put my initials on it and probably mark it 1084 (it is a pet peeve of mine when a knife steel is not marked). I prefer the look of stamping more than etching.

So my question is: Can I just buy a number and letter stamping kit from the local hardware store for like 30 bux and use that? My thought process would be to heat up the desired location (probably with a blow torch or something) prior to the heat treatment process and hammering in the stamps. I know it might not look the best and if I stay with the craft I would order a custom stamp (which I am guessing is expensive). For now is that an ok beginner way of stamping my two initials and 1084 into the knife? Or if not could I please get some recommendations? Thanks a lot.

 

[CUTS LIKE A KRIS]

Another option that would most likely look better and be easier for you is to talk to an engraving company. They set it up and it looks good. No muss, no fuss, no double stamps!! What I did for my first knife:

If you do go with the regular stamps, I suggest an arbour press if possible to prevent bounce and double stamping. With an actual holder and arbour press it looks like this:

I know some just use the stamp, vice grips and a hammer, but I got a lot of double stamps that way so found the arbour press.

Good luck.

 

[phorizt]

I've used this set from Harbor Freight for a dozen or so knives and it has worked great. http://www.harborfreight.com/36-piece-18-in-steel-letternumber-stamping-set-60670.html
You don't have to heat it up. Just do it before heat treating the steal while it is still annealed. Use a big hammer and give it a good solid whack. Make sure it's on a flat solid surface(the floor of my garage has worked for me).

 

[i4Marc]

I used HF stamps to mark a few blades. The stamps deformed giving a lousy impression, in more ways than one. That said, a good set of stamps will work fine until you get a little farther along in your knife making pursuits. After the HF stamps I bought an American made set and have had no issues at all marking steel. I shopped around and ordered a stamp from Buckeye Engraving. They were the least expensive and they make a nice stamp. I place the blade on my anvil then hand hold the stamp and use a BIG hammer to make the impression. I use either a 4 or 8 lb sledge with the handle cut down. I usually mark the blade cold before I start normalizing it but less force is obviously needed if the spot to be marked is at least a dull red heat.

 

[Bill DeShivs]

There are local engraving shops. Try trophy shops and jewelers. You can look on line, too.

 

[tueller]

Thank you guys. Very good points and I appreciate the pictures. I didn't even think about the engraving option. Since it is short money, I will buy a stamp kit and play with it. When I want to be self reliant (prob my first knife), I will try stmping myself. When I am more concerned about cosmetics, I will have it engraved. If this isn't a fad for me and I stay with it, I will prob get a press and a custom stamp (some crazy tiger fighting a cobra or something cool.... Lol just kidding). Thanks for all the input. Much appreciated.

 

[zhyla]

I have one of the stamp sets. I find it tricky to align them to get a good spacing of digits. And they're error prone if used with a hammer. I can't imagine taking a blade I've spent hours grinding on and then risking a mis-stamp with these. If you're going to use them do the stamping as early as possible.

I think the stamps are more appropriate for stamping tools, boxes, etc than for marking knives. Even when done correctly they just don't look very good.