What is the best way to mark a few barrels with caliber and twist?

[savage99nut]

I am have problems marking my barrels using stamps, they never turn out as nice as I want. I have tried the stamp kit that you put several letters in at a time, I have also gone to smaller stamps to no avail.

Does anyone have any suggestions for doing this so it turns out straight? Is there something out there that helps get it right. I only do a few barrels a year but would like to do it myself and would like it to be reflection of the precision that goes into each barrrel.

thanks for your input in advance

Bob

 

[Rustystud]

I have two pantagraphs one large and motorized and the second small and diamond Tipped.. If I were to do it over I would buy a CNC mill with the fourth axis. Stamps not done professionally look poor at best.
Nat Lambeth

 

[savagedasher]

Hand engrave on the bottom of the barrel. If you want it to show where other can see have it done by professional. Don't Stamp it. Larry

 

[deadwooddick]

CNC or acid etch ?

 

[PDS]

You can Google electronic steel marking or electrochemical etching for some info. Knife makers use this to mark their blades.

 

[DogBuster]

simple.....easy..........cheap

http://www.amazon.com/DYMO-LabelManager-Hand-Label-Maker/dp/B005X9VZ70/ref=sr_1_1?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1439227154&sr=1-1&keywords=dymo+label+maker

 

[Preacher]

simple.....easy..........cheap

http://www.amazon.com/DYMO-LabelManager-Hand-Label-Maker/dp/B005X9VZ70/ref=sr_1_1?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1439227154&sr=1-1&keywords=dymo+label+maker

So you just print the labels and stick them on a barrel with that thing??

 

[DogBuster]

simple.....easy..........cheap

http://www.amazon.com/DYMO-LabelManager-Hand-Label-Maker/dp/B005X9VZ70/ref=sr_1_1?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1439227154&sr=1-1&keywords=dymo+label+maker

So you just print the labels and stick them on a barrel with that thing??

yept.....they offer different types of tape...about $6 a roll....

white plastic or metallic work great on barrels...if you like stick it on

the underside where its out of view...or right on top......I use it also on

my plastic ammo boxes...looks much more professional than a magic marker

 

[savage99nut]

Probably needs to be more permanent than the stick on marker.although that would work quite good to identify barrels that are being stored.

Seems like the majority agrees that stamps should be avoided

 

[Eddie Harren]

http://www.markingmethods.com/store/pc/home.asp

 

[rkittine]

Any trophy shop should have a manual panagraph that could be used to engrave the barrel, either with a rotating carbide cutter or a diamond tipped tool as outlined in a prior post.

Bob

 

[sundance]

A local trophy shop charges me $5 to put the caliber on the barrel. It looks 10x better than if I did it !

 

[missed]

We have a place in town that does laser engraving, it looks pretty good. I would check that out or a machine shop that has a mill with a 4th axis.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Start watching ebay or visit some trophy shops that have been around a long time and get a new hermes pantograph. Its what most gunsmiths use these days

 

[ridgeway]

I have a small New Hermes with a set of block font and Script. My ratio is not adjustable on mine, so I need the correct size font for 1/8"-1/4" high letters. I simply use a diamond drag. If doing it again, I would have a larger one with an adjustable ratio arm and a motor. CNC 4th axis is the ultimate, lol.

 

[Tim Singleton]

Lee Gardner, Skeetlee on here
Has a nice setup. Professional deal. It maybe the same thing Dusty is talking about idk
Shoot him a pm

 

[rkittine]

With all the computerized engraving these days, you should be able to pick up a used New Hermes at a good price. The adjustable ratio arm and the motor attachment are good options to have in addition to a lot of various fonts. When I owned my gun shop I think I made more money on engraving and selling trophies then I ever did on the guns.

Bob

 

[R.Morehouse]

Acid Etched......I friend of mine did a barrel for me last weekend. After he plugged the machine in it took about 20 seconds and looks great. He told me the set-up cost him a bit over $200 I think and man is it slick.... 8)

 

[savage99nut]

I see there are several acid etching outfits out there, Is one any better than the other?

 

[Steve Ladino]

Coat the area with fingernail polish, let dry..........write the data in the dried polish...........hook up the positive clamp of a battery charger to the barell............mix up a very strong salt and water solution............hook up a Q tip to the negative clamp.......dip into the solution..........turn on charger..........dob Q tip saturated with the solution onto the relieved data on barell.........more you dob the deeper the etching...........Practice on a piece of scrap first...........cheap and fun !