Branding / Trademark

[TAIrving]

I have recently created a distinctive brand which I put on my projects, i.e. a trademark.  And, as we mentioned in another discussion topic, I use a small, inexpensive laser to burn it onto my works.  So far, that is it, I designed the mark/brand and I use it.  

Question: has anyone gone to the trouble to register their brand as a trademark?  I am thinking about doing so but it sounds like quite and effort and expense to do so.  If you have, could you share your experience?  How did you go about doing it?  How long did it take and how much did it cost?  Any recommendations on how to do it?

Background: I have advanced enough in woodworking that I am now getting requests for special projects and my lady is asking me to do special projects to use as gifts.  And I am now marking my works with my own logo/brand/trademark.

Thanks,

Thurman

 

[John B]

First, why do you want to protect a "trade Mark", are you worried that somebody else is going to use it? That is the only reason I could see for going to the expense and trouble. At the turnover that you produce and the area covered by your sales, is this really a problem?
I believe that anything designed by you and is unique to you would be covered by copyright laws.

[TAIrving]

40 minutes ago, John B said:

First, why do you want to protect a "trade Mark", are you worried that somebody else is going to use it? That is the only reason I could see for going to the expense and trouble. At the turnover that you produce and the area covered by your sales, is this really a problem?
I believe that anything designed by you and is unique to you would be covered by copyright laws.

I suppose that is really the question, is it worth doing?

[WayneMahler]

I sign all my work. I use a fine tip permanent  marker and it is covered with finish. It is also dated to the year it was done in. Works for me.

[Foxfold]

I think 'signing' your work is all that's needed.  That's all I do, but there again it's just a hobby for me and I don't do enough to warrant a 'Brand/Trademark'.

[barb.j.enders]

1 hour ago, Foxfold said:

I think 'signing' your work is all that's needed.  That's all I do, but there again it's just a hobby for me and I don't do enough to warrant a 'Brand/Trademark'.

Brenda,  I love the signature.

[OCtoolguy]

6 hours ago, Foxfold said:

I think 'signing' your work is all that's needed.  That's all I do, but there again it's just a hobby for me and I don't do enough to warrant a 'Brand/Trademark'.

Brenda, how do you do that? Is it freehand with a pyrography pen? I've been trying to sign my stuff with a pyro pen but nothing as nice as yours. I've thought about a branding iron but that requires a torch. Too much hassle. Please advise.

[John B]

15 hours ago, Foxfold said:

I think 'signing' your work is all that's needed.  That's all I do, but there again it's just a hobby for me and I don't do enough to warrant a 'Brand/Trademark'.

If only my handwriting was as neat as that   Too many years in the police force where you never really wanted people to be able to decypher your signature

[Millwab]

8 hours ago, OCtoolguy said:

I've thought about a branding iron but that requires a torch. Too much hassle. Please advise.

Ray, when I decided to get a custom brand for my logo I found a place that would make one that screws onto my woodburner (just as a different tip would).  I already had the woodburner and using it is no trouble at all. 

[OCtoolguy]

1 hour ago, Millwab said:

Ray, when I decided to get a custom brand for my logo I found a place that would make one that screws onto my woodburner (just as a different tip would).  I already had the woodburner and using it is no trouble at all. 

Can you supply who/where/how much? I'd appreciate it.

[Foxfold]

On 6/14/2022 at 6:37 PM, OCtoolguy said:

Brenda, how do you do that? Is it freehand with a pyrography pen? I've been trying to sign my stuff with a pyro pen but nothing as nice as yours. I've thought about a branding iron but that requires a torch. Too much hassle. Please advise.

I found a nice font, turned it over so that it looks back to front, print a dozen on a page and then cut one out when needed.  I tape to my work and apply laquer thinner sparingly, rub with the back of a spoon and hey presto, it's on my wood. After that I either apply a spray finish or go over the signature with my pyrography pen.  Simples !!

[OCtoolguy]

2 hours ago, Foxfold said:

I found a nice font, turned it over so that it looks back to front, print a dozen on a page and then cut one out when needed.  I tape to my work and apply laquer thinner sparingly, rub with the back of a spoon and hey presto, it's on my wood. After that I either apply a spray finish or go over the signature with my pyrography pen.  Simples !!

Thanks Brenda, I'll have to give that a try.

 

[kmmcrafts]

19 hours ago, OCtoolguy said:

Can you supply who/where/how much? I'd appreciate it.

If I get time I'll see if I can find it but meanwhile if you want to research the wood burner type signature you might try looking for custom made pyrography pens. It's been a few years since I picked up my set from a estate sale but at that time I was doing research on pens etc. and there was a site where you could custom order wood burner attachments with your signature etc. I had thought about doing that myself, but the downfall is you're sort of stuck with whatever size you choose. Doing something similar to what Brenda does or with a laser machine make you own rubber stamps etc. you could modify it to your needs. This is why I have not gone the branding iron route.. some items are quite small and warrant a smaller logo etc. while others it'd be nicer looking with a bit larger one.  

[Millwab]

22 hours ago, OCtoolguy said:

Can you supply who/where/how much? I'd appreciate it.

Ray, the woodburner I have is from Walnut Hollow and the custom tip with my logo is from Wall Lenk.  They were able to make it for me because the thread size for the WH and their own brand are the same (8-32). Due to the size of the head the logo cannot exceed .75” x .75”  

The cost of the head with the logo is $74.20 + shipping USPS.  If you only want your initials (up to 3) the cost is 27.49 + shipping USPS.

The person I contacted at Wall Lenk is Chris Eastman (chris.e@wlenk.com

Hope this helps

[OCtoolguy]

2 hours ago, Millwab said:

Ray, the woodburner I have is from Walnut Hollow and the custom tip with my logo is from Wall Lenk.  They were able to make it for me because the thread size for the WH and their own brand are the same (8-32). Due to the size of the head the logo cannot exceed .75” x .75”  

The cost of the head with the logo is $74.20 + shipping USPS.  If you only want your initials (up to 3) the cost is 27.49 + shipping USPS.

The person I contacted at Wall Lenk is Chris Eastman (chris.e@wlenk.com

Hope this helps

I have a Colwood burner with plug-in tips so I don't think it will work but I might contact them anyway. Thanks.