When do you make your mark?

[CShepherd]

I'll be etching my mark onto my knives. I've got one finished with the handles on and 3 that are waiting to have the handles put on.

Do you mark your blades before you put the handles on or afterwards?

Thanks,

Charlie

 

[HELLGAP]

Very last thing you do is mark it clean it and sell it.

 

[Cliff Fendley]

The last three things I do is Mark it, Wax it, Sharpen it. In that order.

 

[BossDog]

I sharpen it, etch it, wax it. (I can still screw it up sharpening it. Cliff is better than I am.)

The idea is you do not want a knife with you name it if it has a flaw you can't live with.

 

[CShepherd]

That is sort of what I thought.

Thanks.

Charlie

 

[deker]

I finish the blade out and mark before handling. A couple of reasons there. First off is that it's easier to get the stencil properly placed without a handle in the way. Second, on my damascus blades, I etch the mark before I etch the steel. It makes for a cleaner impression of my mark since electrolyte isn't bleeding out under the stencil through the etched pattern in the steel.

-d

 

[Cliff Fendley]

I sharpen it, etch it, wax it. (I can still screw it up sharpening it. Cliff is better than I am.)

The idea is you do not want a knife with you name it if it has a flaw you can't live with.

The way I've got it figured I've got two choices, take a chance screwing it up sharpening or cut my finger off waxing it. I can make another knife easier than I can grow another finger.

When you sharpen after waxing you will have a layer of fine dust from the belt on it. Just don't rub the blade. Before wiping off the burr blow the knife off with air so you don't scratch it with the dust.

 

[John Barker]

I'm with Deker. I mark the blade right before attaching my scales. Nothing sucks more than a messed etch after your done, this way I can fix it if I get a bad etch.
-John