petersenj20 Posted August 29, 2007 Share Posted August 29, 2007 I want to make a touchmark for my metalcasting endeavors. I have read several things including the blueprint here and at anvilfire. I have a few ideas of what I want for the design. I will be going to an iron pour where they let you make scratch blocks they will later pour into a 5x5 plate. I was wondering if this cast iron plate could be used as the die for a punch heated to orange or red heat and driven into it to form the design. Once it is formed and hardened I could make a proper die with a steel plate. I want a very small touchmark and I don't think I can get the detail I want trying to make a matrix punch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted August 30, 2007 Share Posted August 30, 2007 I discussed a Mother/daughter type of touch mark with Jim Wilson and it can be done. He suggested the original (mother) being a good quality material and kept cool at all times. The duplicate (daughter) would be heated to to a temperature where it could be driven into the original and create the impression needed. Then heat treat and temper as needed for the steel and use at hand. This way you could make a touchmark and if you used it enough to wear it out, you would still have the mother (original) to make another duplicate touchmark (daughter). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candidquality Posted August 30, 2007 Share Posted August 30, 2007 The concept is sound. And would save a lot of work should your original become lost or damaged. Is there anywhere a comprehensive registry of touchmarks. I've seen the one across the street, but there has to be a larger list somewhere. I'd hate to duplicate anyone else's. Or is that not feasible with the number of smiths currently practicing? what about old touchmarks? or will that be relegated to the history books and you have to pick up one for each culture? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petersenj20 Posted August 30, 2007 Author Share Posted August 30, 2007 Thanks. The original die being cast iron I know is not good quality. But if it will make the first punch in steel, I can then make a proper die out of tool steel and should last forever. I just hope I don't break the cast iron die in 2 pieces even with the punch heated to yellow. Never hurts to try. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted August 30, 2007 Share Posted August 30, 2007 Using cast iron isn't going to give you particularly good results in the first place and it will have a pretty short lifespan in the second. If you carve the master / mother die from steel it'll last you many times longer. Making a die also means you don't have to carve it in reverse. Frosty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petersenj20 Posted August 31, 2007 Author Share Posted August 31, 2007 I am not real confident in carving steel. What I can do, will be using a carbide burr that will be much bigger than the small detail I want. If I had a mill would be a little easier (Maybe) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted August 31, 2007 Share Posted August 31, 2007 Carving steel isn't hard, especially on a touchmark scale. Just use small SHARP chisels and a light hammer. Carving your own also provides you excellent practice making chisels. Frosty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Lumpkins Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 Good subject.. Just wondering did you make you a touch mark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Hammer Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 If your design isn't too difficult, it's not hard to make your own touchmark. My last name is Hammer, and my initials are DJH. This is the touchmark I made and use (not a great picture, but it works perfectly... high relief).... I used a commercial chisel for the tool, ground the hammer shape with a zip disk and used reverse letter stamps to put my initials in the hammer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Hammer Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 This is a better picture... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petersenj20 Posted January 5, 2009 Author Share Posted January 5, 2009 I replied in another Touchmark post but not here. Go figure. S'funny already more than a year ago. here is my "Die" and the resulting punch. I used an inferior die material, and I don't actually have a forge. I was out of acetylene and used my Reil burner in open air. I didn't really get above a pale orange. I punched the design in the angle with a chisel and welded the tube around it to help keep the punch straight. The first one I tried had an upsetting effect and more or less folded over. I did whack the spit out of it though. IW is for Ironwood Workshop. I fancy myself a woodworker and metal fabricator. One day when I am better prepared I will attempt again. In the meantime a small chisel will make the mark. It is rather simple. I think its in the shop somewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Falzone Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 If your design isn't too difficult, it's not hard to make your own touchmark. My last name is Hammer, and my initials are DJH. This is the touchmark I made and use (not a great picture, but it works perfectly... high relief).... I used a commercial chisel for the tool, ground the hammer shape with a zip disk and used reverse letter stamps to put my initials in the hammer. DJ that's a real nice job. I didn't know you could get reverse letter punches. Sam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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