Signing

[TAIrving]

Do you sign your work?  Show us an example of how you sign. 

Here is mine. My initials are TAI and the "Eye" bit is a takeoff on my last initial.  I use a small laser to burn it into the work.  

[meflick]

Yes I sign most of my work if at all possible. How and where I sign it depends on the size of each piece as well as when I remember to sign. A small ornament, I may only sign with my initials and year with a permanent marker or with my pyrography pen.  If. bigger,  I may sign my full name. I also have a couple different branding irons that are different sizes that I can use or I also have my brand files on my computer and have used them with the laser. The benefit of doing it with the laser is I can size it up or down depending on the size of the piece and it still looks good. It’s late so I will have to add photos later (if I remember )

Edited June 17, 2022 by meflick
Typos fixed. (But I probably missed some 😉)

[OCtoolguy]

42 minutes ago, meflick said:

Yes I sign most of my work if at all possible. How and where I sign it depends e size of each piece as well as when I remember to sign. A small ornament I may only sign with my initials and year with a permanent marker or my. Pyrography pen.  If. Bigger,  I may sign my full name. I also have a couple different branding irons that are different sizes that I can use or I also have my brand files on my computer and have used them with the laser. The benefit of doing it with the laser vis I can it up or down depending on the size of the piece. It’s late so I will have to add photos later (if I remember )

I envy you folks who have the space for lasers & CNC machines etc.

Edited June 17, 2022 by OCtoolguy

[WayneMahler]

I sign mine. I use a permanent fine line marker along with the date. It then gets finish applied over the top. It is dated for the year it was created. 

[Rolf]

I now sign all of my work with a small tabletop laser. Much easier and controlled, especially on wood that has hard and soft grains. 

[meflick]

9 hours ago, OCtoolguy said:

I envy you folks who have the space for lasers & CNC machines etc.

We are blessed. We built our present house and moved into it 17 years ago next month. The joke is that we built it for his garage workshop and my craftroom. Neeedless to say, 17 years later, and many different toys errr tools editions later both are full. My craft room, supplies have extended out of my room into the bonus room over the garage. With now being empty nesters, we talk about downsizing - except those two spaces -  The laser is a desktop one like Rolf and easily moved around. The CNC and my two scroll saws and sanding equipment has been responsible for his shop space becoming fuller. He’s a good man to share his shop. My biggest problem is I can’t get rid of “that” I might want to do that hobby again (and I often do, after a long period away from it. ) we should probably rent out as a “maker space”.

[Foxfold]

transfer and pyrography pen

[barb.j.enders]

I just sign my initials "BE" in my cursive writing.  I have dated some items but then I thought if I am selling them, someone might look at the date and say "you have had this awhile - can I get a discount?  I don't date anything anymore!!

[TAIrving]

18 hours ago, OCtoolguy said:

I envy you folks who have the space for lasers & CNC machines etc.

When it is not in use, I store my laser in a box about the size of a shoe box.  

[OCtoolguy]

2 hours ago, TAIrving said:

When it is not in use, I store my laser in a box about the size of a shoe box.  

How long does it take to set it up and do all the adjusting? I've never used one so any info is appreciated. I might want one if that's the case.

 

[trackman]

You can’t see very good in picture unless you zoom in. I buy Steve Good’s signature coins to sign with. 

[merlin]

For Ray: try these tiny lasers they only burn 3 inch square and are really easy to set up. at about 6 inch square .

 

 

https://www.banggood.com/3000mW-USB-Laser-Engraver-Desktop-DIY-Logo-Mark-Printer-Carver-Laser-Engraving-Machine-p-1338648.html?rmmds=home-recommendation&ID=0&cur_warehouse=CN&trace_id=db291655543470267

 

 

Edited June 18, 2022 by merlin

[kmmcrafts]

9 hours ago, trackman said:

You can’t see very good in picture unless you zoom in. I buy Steve Good’s signature coins to sign with. 

I bought my laser to in part make these myself, had the laser for 3-4 years now and never did design and make my own 

[Rolf]

12 hours ago, OCtoolguy said:

How long does it take to set it up and do all the adjusting? I've never used one so any info is appreciated. I might want one if that's the case.

 

I have mine mounted on a board. It is about 16 x12 " . I put it on the table plug in the power and the USB connector. Start the program, I use Lightburn,  and I am good to go. 

The rest is software settings.  The laser is on at a very low power so I can see where my start point is. It probably took me longer to write this than to set it up.

[Rolf]

22 hours ago, Foxfold said:

transfer and pyrography pen

That is a beautiful font! Transfer, as in graphite paper? 

[TAIrving]

18 hours ago, OCtoolguy said:

How long does it take to set it up and do all the adjusting? I've never used one so any info is appreciated. I might want one if that's the case.

 

My unit is the NEJE Master 2 Mini. It appears to be out of production and no longer available but they offer the NEJE 3 which appears similar and comes in several configurations.  You can still get one for just under $200 from the NEJE website.  

The one Merlin mentioned looks similar in capability.  

I might have exaggerated slightly about the shoe box.  The unit itself measures 9" x 10.5" x 4" and the box I store it in measures 10" x 12" x 6".  It will burn and area up to 110mm x 120mm.  I only use mine for engraving and have not yet tried cutting with it.  

Setup is easy; take it out of the box and connect it to power and the computer and you are ready to go.  I use the software provided by the manufacturer and it works well for me.  It will accept *.jpg images for burning.  I create my images using standard computer drawing software.  

I think that adjusting the focus is a simple task but have not yet had the need to do so.  

Wear eye protection glasses when using a laser as they can damage your vision.  The NEJE laser comes with protective glasses.  

Burning wood smells bad, so don't do your burning in the house.  

Any other questions?  

There are lots of YouTube videos about using these devices.  

[OCtoolguy]

6 minutes ago, TAIrving said:

My unit is the NEJE Master 2 Mini. It appears to be out of production and no longer available but they offer the NEJE 3 which appears similar and comes in several configurations.  You can still get one for just under $200 from the NEJE website.  

The one Merlin mentioned looks similar in capability.  

I might have exaggerated slightly about the shoe box.  The unit itself measures 9" x 10.5" x 4" and the box I store it in measures 10" x 12" x 6".  It will burn and area up to 110mm x 120mm.  I only use mine for engraving and have not yet tried cutting with it.  

Setup is easy; take it out of the box and connect it to power and the computer and you are ready to go.  I use the software provided by the manufacturer and it works well for me.  It will accept *.jpg images for burning.  I create my images using standard computer drawing software.  

I think that adjusting the focus is a simple task but have not yet had the need to do so.  

Wear eye protection glasses when using a laser as they can damage your vision.  The NEJE laser comes with protective glasses.  

Burning wood smells bad, so don't do your burning in the house.  

Any other questions?  

There are lots of YouTube videos about using these devices.  

Much appreciated. Thanks. Time for some research I guess. Always something.

[Foxfold]

6 hours ago, Rolf said:

That is a beautiful font! Transfer, as in graphite paper? 

Thank you, alas I can't remember what it's called. I put it in my computer, reversed it as in turned it over so that it looks back to front, I 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 !!

Edited June 18, 2022 by Foxfold

[Rolf]

I have used that method by just printing the image on a laser printer (not ink jet) and acetone. 

I have also used one of these heat transfer tools that I found at a yard sale.https://www.dickblick.com/products/transfer-tool/?clickTracking=true&wmcp=pla&wmcid=items&wmckw=60101-0000&gclid=Cj0KCQjwkruVBhCHARIsACVIiOxPI7czTdu8yj7m75gXKJPKYsxnz6p6Kwxaq2lyBS2BtkxMDNb6OycaAix7EALw_wcB

[meflick]

Ok, I finally got a chance to get some of the images. The first one is direct from Rockler’s website. It is images of the first two original branding irons hubby and I have. The top is the one I have with my full name (where it says Rockler). I usually put date and my initials signed by hand in the middle if I use this one. He got it for me as a gift when I first started dabbling in woodworking.
 

The bottom one is one I got him even longer ago as a gift for signing his woodworking. His full name is where it says Rockler. I don’t think we added a second line. He builds a lot of different things, but enjoys bigger projects like furniture. They are both pretty big, so work on furniture but small pieces, not so much.
 

All the branding irons we have are electric and not torch, and the branding head can be removed and switched out for another.

 

Then one year for Christmas, I had gotten both of us some of Steve Good’s signature coins. This is mine, I have eradicated my last name for posting. Mine has a female scroller, his were a male woodworker since he doesn’t scroll. 

 

When I wanted to do something smaller for small projects, I ordered a smaller branding iron with a logo I had created for my side hustle. At the same time, I got a branding iron of my signature.  They are smaller then they appear here.

 

Then, I have the last logo and my signature setup to burn with the laser and that allows me to adjust the size up and down based on size of project. WHEN one or another is determined as the one to be used, depends in large part on the size of the project, who it’s going to if a gift, and WHEN I remember in the process to mark it. If really small, I will just use the pyrography pen or a permanent marker to sign my initials or name and add date. Even if I brand with one of the other methods, I will try to date with my pyro pen and my initials. I don’t sell stuff, I’m either keeping or giving as a gift, usually to extended family so I like to have the date I crafted on it. 

I like Brenda’s way. It is quick and easy and lots cheaper then buying signature coins, branding irons, or a laser and it also allows for easy sizing up and down depending on the size of the project. Nothing wrong with doing it by hand either. Matter of fact, many of mine is done that way because I forget until I’m done and it’s just easier that way!  

Edited June 19, 2022 by meflick
Typos (but I probably missed some 😉)

[kmmcrafts]

I make my clock bases with my CNC.. I v-carve the bottom of the base with my business name.. works quite well for me. I typically set up and do a large batch of them all at once. About 15 minutes it makes about 8 of them with very little sanding or clean-up of them. I don't have a picture off hand but I've posted about it on here a couple years ago. Doing one offs on small projects is not worth the time with either the laser or the CNC so I mostly just write on my work with a fine point Sharpe marker. 

[Rolf]

I was talking to my nephew about this on Fathers day, I have given him many of my tools as I upgrade. 

He has done a wide spectrum of projects furniture turnings etc. He has purchased a small desktop CNC for engraving his logo.

He suggested that I upgrade mine instead of just my first name. 

[Gene Howe]

For about seven years, I used a no name Laser. When it died, it wasn't immediately replaced as we were in the process of selling our home and moving.  I now have a still in the box Ortur with a more powerful Neje laser unit. I had visions of doing some cutting but, with this gifted DW 788, that idea has been somewhat discarded. So, the laser will be relegated to simple engraving tasks. As kmmcrafts noted, engraving a logo on one offs are hardly worth the effort.  

[Norm Fengstad]

I sign work either with a permanent fine point marker or a wood burner

[Gene Howe]

I graduated from a pencil to a Sharpie. If we plan ahead well enough, we can get our logo and/or signatures done with the little laser.