Blacksmithing - Making a touchmark stamp

In this video I show how to make a simple touchmark stamp or makers mark stamp.
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/ torbjornahman

[@rosethunder3820]

I was wondering how you'd get the smaller bits and then the jewler's file came out and it all made sense! So glad to finally find a tutorial on this!

[@StutleyConstable]

Than You! I asked a number of people online how to go about making one of these. The only answers I got were long lectures on how important a touchmark is to identify your work and how you need to be careful to not over harden the stamp. Long lectures that answered none of the specifics. Again, Thank You!

[@torbjornahman]

Ok, thanks!

[@nabilsumrain3036]

you will have to make another one to put a stamp on this one :')

[@IkaraPentiki]

First youtube video i've see so far of someone making proper use of a file. They only do work in one direction, folks!

[@leifvejby8023]

+Ikara Pentiki You can see it here too, and some draw filing.

[@antonhelsgaun]

+Ikara Pentiki i can do them both ways, just very innefeccient

[@youngdjr1978]

+Anton Helsgaun But you will dull your file, pressing the sharp edges back in.

[@scottleft3672]

its often lazyness that people use the backstroke....or as a guide for keeping momentum.....but many dont savvee the proper technique nor learn it.

[@mcdanielr88]

depends if its swedish or american cut file

[@gamingSlasher]

It is really hypnotising to watch this. Lovely to see such old craft skills.

[@TheFordguy85]

Love your videos. Always good to see a craftsman such as yourself at work. Keep up the good work!

[@greghanlon2235]

T-man you did it again - functional art. Peace.

[@SkillCult]

Excellent work and presentation, this has been on my project list for a long time!

[@markirwinsculpture7536]

Simple and clear. Thanks for another great film. Better than TV by far!

[@castleincorporated]

Deciding on your maker's mark is the hardest part.

[@general5104]

EXCELLENT !!! True artestry

[@mercatorboatworks5810]

Torbjorn, Thank you for yet another top notch informative video.... Your skill sets are amazing.

[@DraGma]

I'm so glad I found your channel a while ago. Awesome job as always.

[@torbjornahman]

+DraGma Thanks!

[@lvd2001]

You made it looked like a Child Play when I know it is not - Well Done

[@ricksalazar6637]

Torbjorn you are BRILLIANT!!! Thank you again for your teachings!

[@torbjornahman]

+Rick Salazar Thank you!

[@brucek6563]

I wondered how you made those. Very intricate work! Beautiful!

[@blublublublublublub]

very impressing and finally someone who uses the file properly!

[@sethparrow04]

Pun intended?

[@Scipher77]

Thank you for the video, I will be attempting this! The only change that I will make which I think will improve the utility of the stamp is to mark the face of the stamp that should face you to ensure the orientation of the touch mark is always as you want it instead of accidentally stamping upside down. Your videos are really good :-) Thank you again.

[@torbjornahman]

+Scipher77 Thanks! Yes that's a good idea. I have made that on my own stamp.

[@mkivy]

Hello sir, what a joy it is to watch a person workin their craft...what a master u are...thank u sir...I’m going to have my wife’s cabin in the woods built here in Colorado and our bed room and living room will all be wrought iron.even the front porch railings will be iron...I am designing them myself.

[@torbjornahman]

Wow, very cool. Thanks!

[@jessefoulk]

I was excited from the beginning. Repurposing a spring for a stamp punch. I always wondered how it was done. Tiny file work. Simply amazing.

[@torbjornahman]

+jesse foulk Thanks!

[@billerubin4240]

Nice work! Ever since I made my first chisel in shop class 43 years ago, I have wanted to get back in doing metal work. I think it's about time.

[@torbjornahman]

+billy rubin Great!

[@accieherlong]

This is a really nice example of quality work.

[@DreynHarry]

WITH A FILE??? OMG you are crazy, amzing, but crazy! You are such a master I really enjoy your videos. There not one boring or bad one so far, please keep on enlightening and enjoying! Thx for all this cool videos and stay well.

[@torbjornahman]

Oh, thank you very much!!

[@Bobzorzz]

Thanks so much for making these vids. I wish I had a place to put all the smiting tools. I find it beautiful and infinitely interesting. Would love to see more, maybe make a hatchet head and some more hand tool.

[@torbjornahman]

+Bobby Bates Thanks! There are things on the to-do list ;)

[@johnbreitley2389]

Make videos more frequently plz. It is really joy to watch it.

[@giovannivita8680]

Ok, that was really smart, amazing job pal

[@PapaGleb]

Very impressive. Didn't realize how easy it can be to make a custom stamp. Thx

[@NotsoGonzo]

This is exactly the video I wanted to find for so long

[@dedogster]

So thats how its done! Nice work!

[@general5104]

THANK YOU! EXCELLENT! I've always wondered how the maker's mark dies were made.

[@welbhloud]

Found your channel yesterday, awesome stuff. And I was looking for such tutorial and you uploaded it the next day, thank you:D will make mine tomorrow

[@torbjornahman]

+ronowootz Ha ha, thanks and good luck!

[@moet1114]

The thing I love about ur channel is that ur reviving a practice that people haven’t done in centuries and this is what makes me binge watch ur videos. Please keep doing the things u love to do.

[@KitoMarchetaria]

Awesome metalwork ! Thank’s for sharing ! 👍🏻

[@JoesAutoElectric]

This was just awesome to see! Thank you!!!!

[@billwithers7457]

Another awesome video. Short, sweet, and oh so informative.

[@torbjornahman]

+bill withers Thanks!

[@shakilkasper3402]

this video was exactly what i needed, great work and thanks for the upload!

[@kycornbread6990]

impressive, shows lots of patience

[@Accolade.]

long time I didn't see your tube, so thanks 4 you. I like it.

[@kellycrosseralge1668]

Great video, thank you! My dog did not enjoy the various file sounds, but I enjoyed watching him make silly faces.

[@analog56x]

very cool! i wonder if you could do an etch to get the same result... wouldnt be near as skillful, but for intricate designs, it would be a heck of a lot easier... what do you think?

[@torbjornahman]

Got that question before... I'm not sure. I don't think you can etch that deep, but it could perhaps be a helpful start defining the design.

[@waterrocketengeneer]

Thanks for showing, I've been planning to make one myself. I'll make it today, I really need it.

[@torbjornahman]

+EddvT Great. Good luck!

[@MainlyArchery]

+Torbjörn Åhman As you can see, it is my own channel I'm referring to.

[@torbjornahman]

+EddvT Nice! Be careful, you might have hardened the hitting end when you dumped it in the oil.

[@waterrocketengeneer]

I know, and for that reason I put the whole stamp in the oven this morning to temper the back end as well so it won't explode on me when I use it

[@torbjornahman]

EddvT Good! I would temper that end beyond blue or even normalize it. You could heat the end and put the working end in a quarter full tin-can of water or something to protect it and just let it air cool. Just to be safe.

[@r3nt3rbe]

I was thinking is it possible and here is it :D everything is possible in blacksmithing

[@thomasarussellsr]

Beautiful job. Thanks for showing us.

[@desertmulehunter]

Nice, love your work!

[@lutherhgrindstonemtn3456]

Thanks for sharing this very informative video. I also have been needing this tool but not sure how to make, Now I know, no excuse for not having one now! Take care.

[@torbjornahman]

+Luther H GrindstoneMtn Great, thanks!

[@ThomasTheRebel28]

lovely Job. I plan on either making etching stickers or one of these. But again lovely job, I enjoy learning from your videos.

[@prairiecracker214]

It’s lovely. Not trying to be braggy or diminish the fine work done here but with a steady hand and a pair of safety glasses this mark could be done with a cutoff wheel. My touchmark is just slightly more complicated than this and I have done several with my small grinder and a thin cutoff wheel. The size (scale) and quality are equal. Thanks for the vid, always appreciate others work

[@torbjornahman]

Thanks. Absolutely, a small dremel tool would be nice for this kind of work!

[@blackswanprepping8827]

Very cool! I should have made mine this way... I just subscribed, looking forward to more of your videos!

[@torbjornahman]

+Dutchhorse Thanks!

[@EleanorPeterson]

I love the sound of blacksmithing in the mornin'. Sounds like... industry. ;-)

[@tylerkrug7719]

Really really cool video! I'd love to make one, ah some day,lol

[@lowellanderson6532]

Nice work, and a good video!

[@iamdamo]

so slick. great work!

[@ronsbeerreviewstools4361]

Thanks for posting this, this is informative & entertaining.

[@T3_forge]

Great video, thanks for sharing with the world!

[@michaelsanchez8519]

I always did wonder how you made your signature stamp. Great stuff 👍

[@hankjenkins769]

Thanks for the re-direct to this video. Have a blessed day

[@torbjornahman]

No problem!

[@monteprovolt2253]

Thank you for another great video.

[@walterkiel552]

That was great! Thanks for the video!!

[@jojomama4787]

I know this is not a new video as I have watched it before but since I love my files I shall attempt to make my own marque.I will use this information as it's probably the most accurate...again,thanks for doing what you do!

[@torbjornahman]

Great. Thanks, and good luck.

[@paolodecorato651]

Sei veramente un maestro! ti sei fatto addirittura il punzone con il marchio, sei grande!

[@torbjornahman]

Thanks!

[@johnnygoins7457]

Very satisfying to watch,I enjoyed it.thanx for the vid

[@richardharris5336]

Impressive work!

[@jasongross4124]

Thank you for the video, very informative.

[@PaulKrzysz]

Super gluing the design onto the punch was clever. Thanks for another great video.

[@torbjornahman]

+Paul Krzysz Thanks Paul! Somehow etching the design would probably be even better... it's quite hard to see the the contours when the paper gets dirty and worn.

[@OrionsAnvil]

+Torbjörn Åhman Another great video. This is something I will do whenever I can come up with my design. I thought gluing it down was a good idea as well. I was going to ask you if etching would work then I saw your response here. Thanks for the videos.

[@torbjornahman]

+OrionsAnvil Thanks! Regarding etching, I'm purely speculating about the usefulness, but worth a try someday.

[@puly4339]

i love this sound quality

[@markgcns]

Hey Torbjörn Åhman, I realise this is an old video. But i wanted to share a tip I was taught 30 plus years ago by, at the time, a gentleman in his 80's. He taught me to dress a metal working file with chalk. Like what schools used to use on black boards before tech took over. It acts like a dry lubricant and allows the file to clean out as you work. If you've never tried this before, I recommend you try it at least once. I think you'll be quite surprised. Thanks for the great videos. Ha det så bra!

[@torbjornahman]

Thank you! I know the trick but haven't tried it yet... that's odd. Thanks for the reminder. Merry Christmas!

[@barblesburg2435]

Ho

[@FelixTheG]

:D amazing i was looking for a tutorial and suddenly you uploded yours perfect:) thanks for sharing !

[@torbjornahman]

+Cpt. Kamikaze No problem! Thanks

[@SharpWorks]

Could this work punch a mark on annealed steel? Or should it only mark red hot steel? I want to mark my knives and I want to know if I can use this without needing to hammer into the steel while hot

[@torbjornahman]

With a proper heat treat I would say yes. You might want to consider a design with thinner lines so it has a chance to penetrate. That's however difficult to do by hand with files...

[@SharpWorks]

Torbjörn Åhman thanks for the info! I'll give it a try one of these days

[@randoprior4130]

Sharp Works If you are blacksmithing the knives it isn't any issue at any part through the process. If you aren't even heat treating it yourself then I would get with etching in a design. WAAAAY easier. But you should be blacksmithing at some point so make a stamp and hit it into black hot steel

[@leighchristopherson6598]

Sharp Works You should only ever stamp a knife blank while it is hot, stamping cold introduces stresses into the steel, and can result in a broken knife. Other objects that aren't hardened, and don't have to survive the stresses of use as a tool, can be stamped cold.

[@pjhalchemy]

Thanks as always, Torbjorn! Nice intricate work with (small tools) this time & nice temper color. ~¿@ Linseed oil...interesting. ~PJ

[@torbjornahman]

+pjsalchemy Thanks! Yes linseed oil, just for some simple surface finish and protection. It smells good too...

[@tecnobs3d]

Fint att få se lite finlir Torbjörn! Dina vidoes är en fröjd för ögat, fortsätt med detta korta som långa. Uppskattade av många! /Bengt

[@torbjornahman]

+bsjoelund Härligt att höra! Tack.

[@radoczi94]

I like this, i will get a spring, and make my own stamp, thanks for the idea!

[@torbjornahman]

+radoczi94 Great!

[@jillpatterson7952]

I truly believe I can use this video to create a custom makers mark stamp for my blacksmith husband using the files & rotary tool we have... if I can just figure out how to get him to make the actual body without knowing what I intend to do with the head of it ;) Thank you so very much!

[@torbjornahman]

Ha ha, good luck!

[@TheHardcoreStu]

great video, thanks for sharing!!

[@AllodialTitle]

Another one bookmarked many thanks..

[@wlehtola]

what an awesome sound at the anvil

[@nacerber1035]

Sharp work sir. great.

[@torbjornahman]

Thanks

[@myracrodruons]

What a coincidence !! The symbol you made is very similar to that usebe by Lars Enander, a blacksmith that worked for Gransfors Bruks.

[@torbjornahman]

Ha ha, really? I didn't know he used one similar to this... it's the same initials so it might not be that strange after all.

[@rogeriocesar689]

Que trabalho espetacular!!! Parabéns.

[@carlcox7332]

A Jewelers saw or a tiny hacksaw blade in a coping saw frame works great to start edges but I place them where they cut while pulling. I use to make basket weave stamps for leather work and used that method to cut all my lines then shaped with the needle files.

[@torbjornahman]

Great! Thanks.

[@ramirocisneros3980]

Felicidades ,. Eres todo un maestro en el arte del hierro.

[@SuperPPMJ]

Thank you for this VDO, I want to watch. ขอบคุณครับ

[@edmorris5007]

Thanks for this video....I wanted to know if it was possible, and how to make a touchmark...you are impressively talented!

[@torbjornahman]

+Ed Morris Thanks. Yes, this is one way of doing it.

[@Lucas-nf7uj]

That file really moves metal!

[@garycarraigeacha8794]

The steel was annealed. Put into a softened state. When it was left to cool down slow by itself just before the filing was shown. That is when you want to do that kind of shaping. It makes the job go quicker. It gets hardened when cooled abruptly. FYI. I don 't have any videos but I forge too.

[@Lucas-nf7uj]

@@garycarraigeacha8794 thank you!

[@laurentnahra708]

I love your work

[@torbjornahman]

+Laurent Nahra Thanks!

[@peteranderson6833]

I made one today, thanks so much for the lesson.

[@torbjornahman]

Cool. Thanks.

[@joshuasamuels4802]

Most welcome for watching and a *HUGE* thank you for showing us!

[@torbjornahman]

Great! Thanks

[@jonohx]

Nice work........keep it up.

[@thomasblackwell6860]

And now I know what my first project will be.

[@lesliehunt2117]

I love your videos, thanks!

[@torbjornahman]

+Leslie Hunt Thanks!

[@ScottyBr4700]

Very cool!

[@YL_AmericadoSul]

Thanks for the video. I'm gonna try making my touchmark puch the same way you did it. I also thought of making a negative mark on tool steel so I could harden and temper it and then use it to make my punch but your ways seams easier! =D

[@torbjornahman]

Thanks!

[@YL_AmericadoSul]

It worked! Saved me more than 100 U$!

[@shonaoneill5151]

Really good tutorial, thank you. I have a question about the steel. I do have spring steel like you used, but I also have 01, 02, D2, L5, 1080, 1095. Which would be best for this application?

[@torbjornahman]

Thanks! I'm no expert but I actually think L6 would have been pretty nice, but not sure about L5? The rest would probably perform mostly like string steel in this application. O1 is tough to work with since it air hardens a bit so it needs proper annealing before digging in with the files.

[@0199Lucky]

this is probably the most patient job on earth

[@torbjornahman]

+Sébastien Lagacé Ha ha, probably not, but thanks anyway :)

[@miksbondars230]

i would be too impatient for this kind of job. btw nice work!

[@3DAdventure]

Excellent file work! Impressive :)

[@torbjornahman]

Thanks!

[@tommysmith8801]

so much inspiration

[@konstantinzhdanov5461]

Interesting method 👍

[@blacksmithbrazil8838]

parabens Torb ficou muito bom

[@scottleft3672]

nice job....very nice job.

[@loganbloom5664]

Thanks! Very helpful

[@shadowcastre]

Torbjorn.. Your videos are inspiring.. I have gotten many ideas from you as I am putting my shop together. Would the design have to be shaped/cut in more pointed, the bigger the stamp gets? Thanks for the video.. Shad

[@torbjornahman]

+shadowcastre Perfect! Sure the surface area of the stamp dictates the force needed to make a specific indentation depth. I don't have a formula for that I'm afraid. You could test a normal flat punch with the same area as your design to assess the force maybe...

[@shadowcastre]

good info.. Thanks! Shad