How do I put a makers mark or signature on wood?

Try Rockler.com

J. Robison

>I know that Rockler sells branding irons that you can customize.

Branding Iron Source *LINK*

Yonak

>Here's another option for standard or custom, electric or fire-heated branding irons. I never bought from them and really can't recommend them either way, but, at least, they were responsive when I requested information.


Brand New Industries

Re: How do I put a makers mark or signature on woo

Thomas Skaggs, Foothills of Mount Level

>For what it's worth, I have had several customers make a point of checking to see if I had hand signed my work. I hand sign and date everything I make with India ink (before finish).

Yes, you can get custom made signature branding irons but my customers seem to want my personal signature on the piece. It may be different for others but that has been my experience.

Tom

Chico has a cool system....

Robert Englebrecht

>that was shown on this forum a couple of months ago.

Re: Chico has a cool system....

Steve Yakoban

>I can't find anything on Chico. Can you post a link?

Re: How do I put a makers mark or signature on woo

Jeffrey D. Rose

>I have made my own branding iron. I used my initials and a font that I liked in Microsoft word. I printed off what I liked and glued it to the piece of brass. Then I used my dremel and carefully etched out the metal around the letters. It worked really well. The etching only needs to be about 1/16" deep. And be sure to remember to put the letter on backwards, so your initials are forwards when they are branded. To complete the setup I took some treaded rod and put in the back of the brand and topped it off with a file handle. It works great.

Jeff in Iowa.

Re: How do I put a makers mark or signature on woo

Lee Ohmart

>On the PBS show where they appraised antiques (Antique Roadshow?) there have been several examples of furniture where they look for the makers signature. In the show I watched, it was done in pencil and surprisingly survived many years. I have begun signing my projects with india ink. It's a heck of a lot less expensive and easier than a branding iron. Since most of the stuff is Mission or Arts and Crafts, I came up with an Arts and Crafts font and sign it "Ohmart Wookworking" with the date of completion. Someday I'll be famous, right?

Size Changes

Thomas Skaggs, Foothills of Mount Level

>Another advantage to hand signing is that you can vary the size according to the size of the place you are signing. Unless you have multiple size branding irons you are limited to that size. Sometimes I make small things where a branding iron would be a problem...or curvy things too.

Just another thing to ponder.

Tom

Re: Chico has a cool system....

Robert Englebrecht

>Check this out.

Not a signature per say.....

SanMan

>......but gluing in a penny, nickle, or even a quarter of the year the piece was done is a nice addition to the bottom of any piece I think.

That way when its passed down to your great grandkids, theres no doubt it was made waaaay back in '07.

SM

I adopted . . .

[email protected]

>Gandalph's ( the wizard ) elven "G" rune about twenty years ago. After LOTS of practice I can knock it out with a broken Dremel burr. I filed down the end of the shank to a point.This carves it out rather than just denting it in like an "engraver". I found I COULD do a signiture with practice but space is limited. This goes in a corner on top. If the peice is mounted I "felt" the bottom of the base with a "cut-out" of the felt to glue on a card. Once the felt and card are dry I coat the card and it's edges with clear fingernail polish. I've cleaned or repaired some pieces I did, like, fifteen years ago and its still good to go. Another option is laser engraving / burning. You can have your own pattern made. You send off your image of your signiture / mark and the company makes up the program for the laser mahine. I plan ahead and have the part that I want the mark on done before I assemble the project. Pretty slick. The initial "program" costs about fifty bucks. After that its about ten dollars to burn it.

Re: I adopted . . .

Steve Yakoban

>Interesting... do you have more information on this?

I agree, Tommy.

Don Henthorn

>I had a customer from Houston that drove three hours to bring back a child's walnut Lincoln Rocker that I had forgotten to sign. I never dreamed my signature meant that much to him but he made handmade Windsor chairs and it was important to him. It shows you are personally proud of your work.

Re: How do I put a makers mark or signature on woo

knotscott

>I've always wanted to get a torch to burn my name on the pieces I make, but I could never justify the $80-$100 cost. I ended up with an $8 ink stamp with the same logo I would have used on the torch. It works out great, but you need to stamp the piece before clear coating it.

Awards shop . . .

[email protected]

>like "sports" shops that do custom embroydery of school logos and such. Now-a-days its mostly done on CNC like machines. Look around for a trophy shop or custom awards. Lots have the laser burning machine. The basics are already in the machine. Common fonts and symbols. You might even find one that can cobble together your mark / signiture from whats already programed into the machine. BUT the neat thing is to give the shop YOUR signiture and have them send it off to the manufacturer of the machine they use. The gift shop on base also has custom "pictures" of specific equipment done up. Like I said, the initial cost of the "file" / program costs a bit but after that you've got it always. I'm told the programs "fit" most of these machines so if you find another shop that can burn it for less you can take it with you. Done that a couple times.

A $20 etching tool does a goog job.

Don Henthorn

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