Branding Iron

[smitty0312]

I am thinking of buying a branding iron to "stamp" the back of my pieces, there are 2 types, heat up with torch, or electric, which works better? The heat up with torch one is way cheaper than the electric one. Give me your thoughts or experience with these. Thanks as always.

 

PS- Here's a link of what I'm looking at.

 

http://www.brandnew.net/estore/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=2&cat=Handcrafted+by+Irons

 

[Wilson's Woodworking]

Oh Dan! The one on Page 3, Bottom of the page on the right.   I want one now.

 

I will be paying attention and see how people here say they work.

 

Thanks for posting this.

 

[amazingkevin]

Cool me three !

[Travis]

I don't have one personally.  But what I've read, the electric ones heat more evenly.  The torch ones will heat one area hotter than others, so when you stamp your work, part of your stamp will be burned darker than the other part.  This can cause a distortion and maybe some letters not being that legible.  But it does give a more rustic and authentic look to a brand.  Not sure if that will play a part in your decision or not.  If it was me, I'd spring for the electric version.

[Scrappile]

I sprung, but for the torch heated one.  I'm sure with a little practice I will know how to get the heat pretty near right and besides I'm rustic, I like rustic....

[Clayton717]

I have only used an electric one. The woodworkers guild has one we use to mark our community projects. It takes a fair amount of pressure to get it stamped good and the handle gets hot. We wear a glove when using it. The torch heated one, as stated above draw back would be a getting an even heating. 

[heppnerguy]

I am thinking of buying a branding iron to "stamp" the back of my pieces, there are 2 types, heat up with torch, or electric, which works better? The heat up with torch one is way cheaper than the electric one. Give me your thoughts or experience with these. Thanks as always.

 

PS- Here's a link of what I'm looking at.

 

http://www.brandnew.net/estore/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=2&cat=Handcrafted+by+Irons

I ran across this sight. I am not interested in branding any of my pieces so I really did not read this but only glanced over it. This guy shows you how to make your own branding piece for under $25   not sure it is worth looking at or not but there it is if you wish to

 

http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-a-woodburning-brand/

 

Dick

heppnerguy

[Doug]

I use electric and am pleased with it.  A lot of folks said I should be signing my work and since I cannot write anything legible and did not want it to be able to be traced back to me I wanted to personalize in a way to protect my identify - part of the requirements of the witness protection program.  I did not really like what I was seeing at Rockler and some of the other places and found this web site:

 

http://www.branding-irons.biz/

 

Terry is great to work with and very accommodating.

 

By the way, my brand says

 

   Done by Doug

Live Long & Prosper

 

I had to pay homage to my mentor and hero, Mr. Spock