How to go about "signing" your work?

[OCtoolguy]

27 minutes ago, crupiea said:

I use a rubber stamp of a crow on the back. All my pieces are flat in the back so plenty if room. Write my name and the date under it.  The crow is sort of my thing. 

I drank some "Old Crow"  one time. Does that count?

 

[Rockytime]

I knew an old crow once er.. was that an old battle ax? I forget.

[BadBob]

Rubber Stamp work pretty good and they are cheap. You can get ink that will stick to about anything.

 

[Badgerboy]

I got a custom made logo burner from Chris @ https://wolverinewoodcraft.com/

He did a great job and the quality of the brass Iron is excellent.  I can either burn directly on the piece or make “coins” to hand out or glue on the back of a piece.

[Clayton717]

Depends on the project I'm working on. I sign the back of fretwork before framing, then apply an address label with my name and info on the back. If it don't get a frame I sign it with a fine tip marker. The address labels are small versions of my business cards I order from Vista print. Other projects I use wood coins I call them( like Don showed above) i have them in a few different sizes. Everything that leaves my shop has my signature on it o e way or another. Except my small turnings li,e pens.

[Rolf]

I started with a stamp many years ago, too big for most of my stuff and very limited. I also bought a good woodburning set from Colewood. The have some vey small ball ends that allow you to write like with a pen. That is great for all but grainy woods with different densities. I now use a laser "engraver" that allows me to do whatever I want, with any font and size.

This name plate is a simple application.

I will be signing all of my ornaments this way. Much neater and more uniform than my hand burning efforts. 

You do have to learn a bit about power and fill etc.  I am using Lightburn software which requires that the machine accepts GRBL language.  As you can see there is some flare up (burned areas around my letters) this will go away with less power or a light sanding. The photo shows these darker areas but in reality it is not obvious on the actual piece?

In the font example I used too much power.  The large one and the numbers are filled, the others are just outlined. 

I went from 10 mm to 1mm

[kmmcrafts]

I also started engraving now that I have my laser set up.. and this summer I had started using the CNC to carve my logo on the bottom of clock bases etc.. But this laser is much quicker and easer to use so I'm actually doing a custom order today that I'll be trying the laser on some thicker wood to see how it goes.. The video is not of my signature but just showing how it engraves and cuts.. I may make small round logos like Steve Good makes and sells where I can just drill a recess in the bases with a forstner bit and glue my logo in.. 

IF I get caught up on these orders Ill make a design and video the engrave and cutting then show what I mean by making small round logo to glue into the base.. I also may start engraving on my ornaments on the back side.. size could be so small you hardly see it, LOL This thing is awesome with the details so long as you learn the proper power and speed settings..

Video is me making a set of ornaments for my son.. and the smaller one in the center is a keychain.. 

 

[Foxfold]

I have a laser engraver but haven't tried to use it yet.      I sign mine with my pyrography pen  

[WolfmoonCT]

I used to use a waterslide decal I could print on my inkjet.   After printing a whole sheet,  I spray it with poly urethane.  That seals in the ink.  Then I can just cut them.  After the first coat of poly goes on the wood to seal the project, I can slide the decal on, let it dry, then add more coats of Poly as I finish the project.  that way the decal gets embedded into the finish, and doesn't rub off. 

[Fedido]

All you guys and gals using irons and burning your mark in makes me even a lower budget outfit. When I am done, I just use a sharpie and make my mustache drawing, nothing else. Knowing my luck though, that is the only piece that survives after being through in as fire starter. 

[FrankEV]

I sign and date (month/year) on the back with a wood burning tool.

 

Edited September 28, 2020 by FrankEV

[ike]

I dond't sign unless they ask but I do put a business card taped to the object.

*IKE

[rjweb]

Kevin,

Is your laser hooked up to your CNC, or is it a seperate unit, if so what make and model #, I am seriously looking into getting a laser this fall, Thx RJ

[kmmcrafts]

31 minutes ago, rjweb said:

Kevin,

Is your laser hooked up to your CNC, or is it a seperate unit, if so what make and model #, I am seriously looking into getting a laser this fall, Thx RJ

RJ, it's a cheap stand alone unit called a K40 and are all over ebay and amazon.. cost about $300-450 depending on the time of year and on sale or not.. most anytime of the year though $350 is the going price.. I got mine for $275 off eBay from a sale price. Been a lot of fun to play with.. Not a real large work area though.. I think it's 8 x 13? work area I know it's just a little larger work area than a sheet of paper..

They say to try to stay away from the digital display ones if you can..  This is about like what I have.. but search eBay and Amazon or google for K40 laser cutter.. should find you plenty of them, LOL.. I suggest joining one of the K40 laser groups on FB to educate yourself.. as not all K40's are built the same.. following the groups you'll learn so much on what to watch for when purchasing one..

https://www.ebay.com/itm/40W-CO2-Laser-Tube-Laser-Engraving-Engraver-Cutting-Machine-Laser-Cutter-12-8/390715548557?_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item5af876238d:g:jjgAAOSw1S5deazH&amdata=enc%3AAQAFAAACcBaobrjLl8XobRIiIML1V4Imu%2Fn%2BzU5L90Z278x5ickkyMJZWL%2BqFSgQ3TOOe%2FNr7ovBv8iatWsbrvyWGl%2Fi%2FnosJqxYilibuTrmJgsvue2vXpqQVdRZfSJG1Y1aSGibMSu0nuauJGszzss9eFsC52QgQGl5YHY2OlMMZiDV3mA0WuRE2M7VZC2dqVah0%2FfeCRDyiqFf%2F6TO%2FIegIIrMRoRVAOJ6zGLOlfihSgOZqiAI%2FwEUwL5OfLxtFtMNilyIyaEKBujnQ7B6kqByTKgxPM8NwD22oVFRXR8B4tcJ31FAclpTOrS%2B9q3wdmev%2BjFA4DyfoX%2BnFESMiM9fYG3vp3Wa1SLP4MgzVIVVCHcWo4UaHc8uhr5oEVqlqMUejEVGS%2BpS%2FjI5bcBXav2%2BsibNNCY7zUbWwXz0Pk1g%2FmXUM0jp%2BFOBuRhSFVTo6194VQ5dDl2QsnWjpPe0tjWvZwtLcdLbm4nLTYWuZJbj%2F%2BB%2BfndDp5uFELmrMDJ2ugl6WUlaQWSlFDbbzcV8TWSFOZTzyB1h924hOTPjos%2BWCxeTTBVEra2TLnHMyBnQigN%2FjwY60wN1jfWT37QlQC%2FPyYDqMyfc%2Fapjadwh%2FMXtZaSdu5OE5xUYh99TV1WRbGWtwVJvdAPPODz6tPEJPWcT1mk2j19SaEhIEWXnFqqHPj9leQ2Z9EsnkrEGXYr%2F%2Bk8yzFDGCQHod%2FdNBjSlKPwjuxjctj1XaPziaaT0hfU%2FanVnW2GfEIZlTL4qBOMeh8z6G%2BE8%2B8iUz1brEnaS1ii57t%2F0NsUVWe%2BmfBKs5GJGUOMxQV%2Frhs9wYp2j2AMljyADKvCwpQ%3D%3D|cksum%3A3907155485578db37fcbef2f463198bca17b14e69c0b|ampid%3APL_CLK|clp%3A2334524 

[Rockytime]

10 hours ago, Foxfold said:

I have a laser engraver but haven't tried to use it yet.      I sign mine with my pyrography pen  

Nice signature and it comes out beautifully.

[rjweb]

Thx Kevin for the information, will start checking out, is it alright if I pm you if I have any other questions, RJ 

[kmmcrafts]

5 minutes ago, rjweb said:

Thx Kevin for the information, will start checking out, is it alright if I pm you if I have any other questions, RJ 

Yeah sure, be glad to help out if I can.. I'm no pro at these yet but I'll try to answer any questions you have.

[OzarkSawdust]

I've been doing the Sharpe thing...when I remember to. But I just got some of Steve Good's medallions. A wedding sign * I did the other day got the first one! Went real easy, drilled a 1" hole with a Forstner bit, put a couple drops of glue in the center of the hole ( it was a tight dry fit but just wanted to be sure it stayed put ) and stuck it in. I need to do some experimenting with different thicknesses of wood to see where I can use these. I like the way it looks!

*  I "got to" do this sign twice! About three days after she picked it up I got an email. It seems her husband saw the sign ( for a friend he works with ) loved it, but informed her the wedding was NOT the 10th...it was the 12th !  So she apologized, and asked me if I would make another with the correct  date...LOL. Sure...I'd be happy to!

[OCtoolguy]

Just to be sure, you folks do know this post was posted 2 years ago? I posted it and since then have purchased a very nice wood burning kit use, on eBay. $50.

 

[kmmcrafts]

1 hour ago, octoolguy said:

Just to be sure, you folks do know this post was posted 2 years ago? I posted it and since then have purchased a very nice wood burning kit use, on eBay. $50.

 

I knew it, LOL.. I updated it with my newer methods of signing though.. LOL 

[Rolf]

It is nice that we can now discuss laser related work without folks going ballistic. This discussion was risky a couple of years ago. I remember when Bob Duncan did an article in SSWWC and folks were threatening to cancel their subscription.

[barb.j.enders]

I just use a sharpie with my initials and the year. I do this after I have put the finish on.

[kmmcrafts]

13 minutes ago, Rolf said:

It is nice that we can now discuss laser related work without folks going ballistic. This discussion was risky a couple of years ago. I remember when Bob Duncan did an article in SSWWC and folks were threatening to cancel their subscription.

It still is... just depends on where you're posting it.. Most folks here seem pretty laid back.. though I have gotten flack from a few when I first started posting some of my cnc / laser stuff.. The majority of those that get bent out of shape about these nice machines is those that seem to feel the machines require no skill and somehow feel threatened that the machines are going to take over the scrolling side of things.. Can't and wont happen... if they only could be open minded and "learn" about them they would see it's a whole new skill set to run these.. also more handmade than one really knows.. because they refuse to even think about learning about them they are actually hurting their own skill level of woodworking and a whole new level of what they can make in their own shops.. To me they are limiting themselves and their knowledge. 

[Rolf]

Well said Kevin. It is most definitely a learning curve, especially if you are not comfortable with computers. 

To me it is just another tool that to enhance my scroll work.

Edited October 1, 2020 by Rolf

[Bill WIlson]

I personally have no interest in CNC or laser machines for my woodworking.  Sure they are cool and do some pretty neat stuff, but adding that arrow to my quiver, just doesn't appeal to me.  I have nothing against it, per se, so I don't really have a dog in the fight.  However, I do recall discussions that we had in the early days of our scroll saw club.  It was the position of the founding members (most now either deceased or no longer able to be active in the club) that computer based machines, that could mimic scrollsawn work, were not to be part of the club's interests and activities.  I think most of the resistance to this technology was rooted in the fact that laser made items were showing up at craft shows and competing directly with "hand made" scrollsawn items.  Usually at a much lower price.  The casual observer didn't necessarily know the difference as the laser cut vendors weren't necessarily advertising how their items were made.  THey would tell you, if you asked, but it wasn't like they had a sign in front of their booth proclaiming such.  Many of our club members thought this was dishonest and was unfair competition for the traditional scrollers, especially considering the fact that these items were mass produced and generally imported.  Not exactly in keeping with the spirit of the small town craft show ethos.

Since then, the technology has advanced and become much more affordable and accessible to the adventuresome hobbiest.  I think this has changed the dynamic a bit and helped computer based machines be more accepted in the crafting community.  Like I said, no dog in the fight.  Just wanted to offer that perspective.