Blacksmithing For Beginners - Making A Touchmark

[@ugo7295]

Great video Dennis, actually all your video's are very heplful. I am in the setup stage of forging, thank you for making it a little easier.

[@psylegio]

I believe that the need for touchmarks also is signifying the transition that the blacksmith profession has been going through for a long time - that of going from a rather anonymous manual labor to the realm of the blacksmith artist. The days of manual massproduction has shifted towards the crafting of one of a kind unique objects. I think the process is quite similar to that of potters, glassblowers etc.

[@oscarjamal2284]

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[@zacharygabriel5872]

@Oscar Jamal instablaster ;)

[@oscarjamal2284]

@Zachary Gabriel thanks so much for your reply. I got to the site on google and Im waiting for the hacking stuff now. I see it takes quite some time so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.

[@oscarjamal2284]

@Zachary Gabriel It worked and I actually got access to my account again. I'm so happy! Thanks so much, you really help me out :D

[@zacharygabriel5872]

@Oscar Jamal Happy to help :)

[@prairiecracker214]

Thanks Dennis, very useful tutorial. I would incorporate some of your method into my mark if I had a void in mine,, like your D. As it is, I designed mine to be solid in that/those areas. I have used a small, thin cut off wheel in my angle grinder to make several touchmarks that work well. I am able to remove and taper all areas that I don’t want impressed in my product. This might work for you in some off your outside detail. For some this may seem like an awkward tool for such detailed work but with your work piece secured and a good rest for your arm (and safety glasses)a person can do some pretty incredible sculpting. Thanks for the video and insight into this method

[@kiksforge]

For my touch mark i got letter punches and punched "KIK" into some tool steel then created a nice boarder around that. When hammered into hot steel the letters stand proud of the base of the touch mark, looks well, i must admit. Another nice vid Dennis. Thanks.

[@garcidal1269]

Very instructional material. Thanks.

[@jalanham1]

Thanks for sharing. Id love to see a video on making chasing chisels and their uses.

[@jamesmcmillen4828]

I'm so glad you posted this video! I've been trying to figure out a way to make my own touchmark. My logo will be a simple heart with the number 7 inside (Seven Hearts Forge). There's going to be a lot of fine negative spaces between the 7 and the walls of the heart. I've been thinking of making tiny chisels from concrete nails in order to get into the nooks and crannies. Its not an elaborate design, but I've never made a touchmark and I'm not experienced with sculpting AT ALL. It'll be interesting to see how many times I screw up. lol

[@df-intheshop330]

With your design you could make a special punch that has the end shaped into the number 7 and that could be driven into the stamp while it is hot. I would punch the 7 into the end of the stamp first and then shape the outside of the stamp into a heart around the 7.

[@jamesmcmillen4828]

DF - In The Shop Brilliant idea! Thanks, Dennis!

[@ianturpin9180]

I am lucky with my initials all I need is a small chisel three hammer strokes one for the I two for the T simple

[@edgarderschmied4497]

Cool technique, but I don't have a design for my touchmark so I can't try it yet. Need to think about it.

[@shortfuse43]

Your video is very interesting in that you are using an engraving chisel rather than what you more commonly see, that is, files and Dremel tools. If I may inquire, what did you use to make your engraving chisel(s)? And, what temper did you take it to? Your video has inspired me to make some engraving tools to use rather than fight with a rotary tool scooting all over the work piece and the files leaving rough marks that are hard to clean up.

[@df-intheshop330]

I make all my tools by recycling scrap steel. Most of my chisels are made from spring steel and I temper them to a full straw to a red-brown colour. See my videos on how to work with carbon steel and how to use cold chisels.

[@billsaunders1879]

I want to make one with BS. Can I drill holes then square off the back for the inside of the B and drill holes to make the inside radius of the S?

[@df-intheshop330]

That's right. The more you can do by drilling, sawing or filling away the waste material the easier it will be to get nice straight lines and smooth curves.

[@billsaunders1879]

Thank you

[@jeffgrier8488]

Great video, I have been wondering how to make one of these!

[@flybyscy]

Great video. How do you make the small chisels? Thanks

[@df-intheshop330]

Go to my channel page & check out this playlist - Recycling Scrap Steel Into Tools

[@grandadz_forge]

Would it be worth trying a Dremel tool with a tiny bit?

[@garcidal1269]

Probably. But it will not be so artesanal. And no all people have a dremel, but have a cisel (and if they didn't have one, they can make one).

[@tropifiori]

Nice video Dennis

[@gabrielnavarro8721]

Great video ! So, blacksmiths never used touchmarks in the old times ? All the honor must have been saved for the castle owner or whatever, and the poor simple blacksmith surely stayed unknown in his shop, away from the Medieval jetset I guess. Distinguish modern pieces from ancient pieces, that makes sense, good info thank you ! Hope you're doing well

[@jagboy69]

small endmill stuffed in a bridgeport. done. lol

[@rekin505]

it seems to me that touchmarkis superfluous

[@df-intheshop330]

In a lot of cases it is optional but if you are making historically accurate ironwork especially if you have access to wrought iron than you do have a responsibility to identify as modern.

[@TheDmurphyar]

I don't think anybody ever purchased or made a touchmark for any other reason than identifying their work as theirs. Touchmark so your work can't be passed off as old???? Huh?

[@df-intheshop330]

Smiths today are feeling a responsibility to make sure that the work they do is not misrepresented ( intentionally or not) as an antique or the work of someone else. Adding a touch mark not only identifies your work but it automatically identifies it as modern because most antique ironwork is unmarked. I don't like the touch mark being in a prominent place but I do think it is the responsible thing to do especially if your work is trying to be as authentic as possible.