Branding iron

[Arnold9801]

I’m looking for a straight forward and basic branding iron that I can heat with a propane torch to security mark my wooden beehives with my post code.

I don’t want anything elaborate in posh text or logos. In having great joy in making my own, I am well gifted with power tools but mainly for woodworking. This creates limitations when I work with metal!

Applying my love for “scratch building” last night i was meticulously working away at making my own letters from 4mm mild steel rod. Unfortunately most letters require a few parts and this may prove awkward in welding as they are quite small- 25mm tall.

I haven’t got a welder so was wondering if it would be to difficult to weld these parts to form the letters followed by the back plate to them?

I only want the finished product to brandish my post code measuring approx 20 to 25mm tall and approx 80 mm wide.

Any advice please?

Regards

Arnold 9801

 

[thick_mike]

It strikes me that forming the letters from 20A copper wire would be easier and then tack welding it to a steel plate? No experience of this and it would be a rough and ready result at best, just trying to think through the problem. Maybe you can get steel wire of a similar gauge somewhere?

 

[thick_mike]

Brass and Dremel here...

https://youtu.be/tpHTSr4rKsE

 

[thick_mike]

This is genius! Do this vvvvvvvv

https://youtu.be/3K4J7yn7ga0

 

[Lazurus]

How about a straight forward pyrography kit, then you can add whatever to where ever you wish. Or simple lazer engraved plaques which can be stuck on, or an old fashioned ink stamp and a coat of varnish.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Or a V cutter in a router - that's how I used to mark mine.

 

[dynax]

lidl have a soldering kit with burning tips this weekend if that's any good, had a quick look and i might get one myself only £7.99

 

[Jacob]

What about just traditional punching instead of branding? Then you just file and/or emboss the end of an appropriately sized bit of bar, iron or brass. Letter by letter, or all together but more difficult. Add decorative touches like a star at each end, etc

 

[Stormer1940]

I know on some Facebook groups people sell bespoke branding irons - Retail for around £60 - 80.

 

[Lazurus]

topic106584.html

Similar link above

 

[Arnold9801]

Thanks for the replies..

I think I will have to go custom built.

I searched last night to see if you can buy iron letters individually... not much joy!

Regards

 

[brianhabby]

I bought a brass one from Chalco Stamp & Die Company in Wellingborough (01933 418311) about five years ago, size was about 40mm x 25mm and the cost then was £60.00.

I think the size you need would prove to be quite expensive but give them a call and see.

I can also see problems with heating a branding iron of the size you mentioned (80mm x 25mm). It would be difficult to get enough heat over the whole of it. I think you would find yourself heating one half of it which would then cool down too much while heating the next half.

Have you considered a stencil? Like the sort of thing used to mark pallets etc but on a smaller scale. You might even be able to cut the letters yourself from some metal sheet. You then use a stiff brush to stipple the ink over the letters and hey-presto, job done.

Whatever you decide, best of luck in your efforts.

regards

Brian

 

[chiokli]

Can you reach out to anyone with a CNC machine? I experimented with cutting brass bar 25x3mm on an X-Carve CNC router with a 60° vee bit and made a pretty usable stamp of my logo. Silver soldered to a piece of brass tube and then a steel shaft. Took about a 1.5hr of machine time to carve something 60x20mm.

 

[Arnold9801]

Chiokli

A cnc machine is beyond me! What can this do and anyone on the forum with one of these?

 

[ScaredyCat]

Have you got a laser printer?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7EcdcWm9bk



.

 

[user22161]

I searched last night to see if you can buy iron letters individually... not much joy!

What about these or similar? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Old-Hot-Meta ... 2650647106

 

[Tasky]

This is genius! Do this vvvvvvvv
https://youtu.be/3K4J7yn7ga0

^ +1 - I've been dying to try this myself - I'm just waiting for my working skills to improve and make something worthy of etching a design on!

 

[novocaine]

I electro etched mine from a piece of steel flat bar. vinyl cutter for the resist, salt water and a 9v battery. should have let it etch deeper. maybe on the next one, it's getting a bit worn now (3 years of use). just for your post code you could use stick on letters from the craft store or cut your own with a scalpel.

Worked this time. by David Rees, on Flickr

 

[brianhabby]

Someone has just pointed out that custom made branding irons are being sold on eBay from less that £20.00. I had a quick look and there does seem to be a few sellers selling them. Got to be worth a few minutes of your time.

regards

Brian

 

[Mike-W]

I was working in Didcot yesterday and decided to pop into The Toolpost who mainly sell turning tools but do other useful stuff as well. Anyhow I spotted that they sell branding Irons made from brass and fitted to a soldering Iron. The owner told me they can supply branding irons to use on the fire but at the same cost, so if i went down this route i would buy one complete with the electric heater fitted.
Here is the link to the page: https://www.toolpost.co.uk//index.html its ¾ the way down the page immediately past the The Sorby Pro-Edge Sharpening system replacement belts - sorry can't provide a direct link to the product, i don't think there website is that user friendly!