Steel Stamp For Form 1 Marking

safecracker · Feb 23, 2015

I've got several Form 1 projects approved and/or pending, as well as others on the horizon. Rather than finding and running all over to get these engraved, I was looking at using single letter stamps to get the job done. Problem is, I don't trust myself to get everything lined up and straight. I don't want it to be sloppy. Anyhow, I ordered a stamp from Buckeye Engraving in Kent, Ohio with my trust name on one line, and city and state abbreviation below it. Easy folks to deal with. Cost was $95 plus shipping. I'll practice a bit to make sure it's a clean strike and I can exceed .003" in depth.

www.steelhandstamps.com

outrider58 · Feb 23, 2015

Doesn't sound like a bad idea...

TyFromMD · Feb 23, 2015

I thought about doing something like this but was concerned with it penetrating the anodizing on an ar receiver to stamp the aluminum . Let us know how it works.

protegeV · Feb 23, 2015

clandestine · Feb 23, 2015

That's a pretty good idea if you have multiple devices to mark.

Thanks. I'm going to order one.

rico903 · Feb 24, 2015

Any chance of damaging the receiver? This is an idea I had never thought of.

fire_medic · Feb 24, 2015

safecracker said:
I've got several Form 1 projects approved and/or pending, as well as others on the horizon. Rather than finding and running all over to get these engraved, I was looking at using single letter stamps to get the job done. Problem is, I don't trust myself to get everything lined up and straight. I don't want it to be sloppy. Anyhow, I ordered a stamp from Buckeye Engraving in Kent, Ohio with my trust name on one line, and city and state abbreviation below it. Easy folks to deal with. Cost was $95 plus shipping. I'll practice a bit to make sure it's a clean strike and I can exceed .003" in depth.

How do you accurately test .003". My micrometer that I use for reloading
as the depth gauge out the other end but the tip I feel is to wide to enter
the engraving.

outrider58 · Feb 24, 2015

TyFromMD said:
I thought about doing something like this but was concerned with it penetrating the anodizing on an ar receiver to stamp the aluminum . Let us know how it works.

Doesn't engraving do that anyway?

clandestine · Feb 24, 2015

rico903 said:
Any chance of damaging the receiver? This is an idea I had never thought of.

Yes, you can damage something, but if you back it with a solid object it will be fine.

biermkr · Feb 24, 2015

General question/observation before I purchase one of these stamps. As a form 1 project I am the manufacturer and required to engrave/stamp with name and location, so if I move or sell the item no new engraving/stamping is required?

This does seem like a great idea.

TyFromMD · Feb 24, 2015

outrider58 said:
Doesn't engraving do that anyway?

I was talking more about the ability of the stamp to penetrate deep enough.

clandestine · Feb 24, 2015

biermkr said:
General question/observation before I purchase one of these stamps. As a form 1 project I am the manufacturer and required to engrave/stamp with name and location, so if I move or sell the item no new engraving/stamping is required?

This does seem like a great idea.

No new engraving is needed or required.

TyFromMD said:
I was talking more about the ability of the stamp to penetrate deep enough.

It will strike hard enough to be the ATF required depth, you just have to strike it hard enough. I have done a ton using single digit stamps. lubing the die with oil will make a cleaner impression too.

The most important part is to back the area being stamped.

Remember you don't have to mark the receiver, you can stamp the barrel instead. You won't hurt a rifle barrel with a stamp set.

E.Shell · Feb 24, 2015

I dunno, even just one letter at a time takes a lot of pressure... I'd love to see your results.

SneakySh0rty · Feb 24, 2015

This definitely would speed up the process. I await your results!

Out of curiosity, what are you going to do for caliber and serial number stamping? For suppressors, or SBRs out of 80%, etc.

rayrevolver · Feb 24, 2015

I am an idiot but... could you do this in a vice?

Probably need to remove the FCG, but then setup with the lower upside down, one jaw inside the lower, the other with the stamp?

Can you order a low profile stamp? Based on Orion or Ident prices, you would save money if you did anything more than 1 lower.

awptickes · Feb 24, 2015

rayrevolver said:
I am an idiot but... could you do this in a vice?

Probably need to remove the FCG, but then setup with the lower upside down, one jaw inside the lower, the other with the stamp?

Can you order a low profile stamp? Based on Orion or Ident prices, you would save money if you did anything more than 1 lower.

No, you'll crack the receiver like that...

Just get a piece of hardwood and fit it to the ID of the FCG pocket. Use a small dead-blow hammer and you're good.

However, you sound like you might be happier with the results if you send it off to a professional.

SneakySh0rty · Mar 6, 2015

Any updates on the steel stamp?

safecracker · Mar 7, 2015

I approved their proof on Wednesday, February 25. They told me it's an approximate two week turnaround time for delivery. I will keep y'all posted.

bigplayer2382 · Mar 9, 2015

safecracker said:
I approved their proof on Wednesday, February 25. They told me it's an approximate two week turnaround time for delivery. I will keep y'all posted.

as simple as this is, id love to see a video to see the force involved with stamping such a thing and the end result.

safecracker · Mar 13, 2015

So after a good bit of practice I used my steel stamp. I know - the edited cell phone pic below sucks, but you get the idea.

The hardest part is keeping the stamp level as it has two lines. I used a 4-lb. sledge to strike it. The surface being stamped needs to be solidly supported in order to get a good impression. Although I have no way to measure the depth of the impression, I am satisfied with it. This stamp is in color case-hardened steel; mild steel and aluminum will mark much easier. Also, keep in mind that .003" of an inch, or 3 mil (a mil is 1/1000 of an inch), is 66% less than 'paper thin'. A sheet of copy paper - which measures approximately .009", or 9 mil, thick - is 3x as thick as the required depth of impression.

Steel Stamp For Form 1 Marking

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