Nick69 Report post Posted November 23, 2011 Hi all, After helping me solve my previous stamping issue I thought id ask about branding, not sure if it belongs in this section though..... I want to make my own branding iron, I have 2 CNC engravers/cutters and plan on using one to make my own designs. The question is what material to use? Aluminium, Brass, Steel?? Anyone ever made one before? Nick Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nick69 Report post Posted November 24, 2011 Ok, well I started a test piece today in billet aluminium. Should be finished over the weekend then I will test it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
katsass Report post Posted November 24, 2011 Hi all, After helping me solve my previous stamping issue I thought id ask about branding, not sure if it belongs in this section though..... I want to make my own branding iron, I have 2 CNC engravers/cutters and plan on using one to make my own designs. The question is what material to use? Aluminium, Brass, Steel?? Anyone ever made one before? Nick FWIW from the old grumpy guy: Kind of depends on what you are going to do with it. For cattle it needs to be steel, for branding leather it can be almost any metal. I brand holsters and soft cases for rifles and shotguns, and use coat-hanger wire and small diameter welding rod. (pics) I have seen mini-irons made from silver; very nice and expensive ones. Mike Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nick69 Report post Posted November 24, 2011 Sorry I should have made it clearer, its for leather use only. Hopefully the aluminium one turns out well. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
McJeep Report post Posted November 25, 2011 I was just thinking about this very topic yesterday - as a way of putting my makers stamp on natural leather - watching this with interest Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bison Report post Posted November 26, 2011 I had an electric brand made with my logo (same as my avatar here). It works really great on soft leather like elk and deer. It's made out of aluminum, has a steel shank and wood handle and a rheostat so I can adjust the heat for the job at hand...I've even used it on wood and it works really well. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nick69 Report post Posted November 26, 2011 Thanks for the replies. The first test piece came out well so hope to have it finished next week. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sylvia Report post Posted December 4, 2011 Hey Guys. I've done some pyrography and have wood burner with an alphabet set and some simple tips. I tried some branding with it as an experiment but notice that steam marks seal the leather so that dye doesn't take as well. Is there a secret? Should I be branding after dying? Any insight or help would be greatly appreciated. Syl Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
katsass Report post Posted December 5, 2011 Hey Guys. I've done some pyrography and have wood burner with an alphabet set and some simple tips. I tried some branding with it as an experiment but notice that steam marks seal the leather so that dye doesn't take as well. Is there a secret? Should I be branding after dying? Any insight or help would be greatly appreciated. Syl From the grumpy old guy; I make a new set of 'branding irons' for each item, as the heat (I get 'em yellow/red with a torch) destroys what temper they have in fairly short order. I always cut my stuff, dye it and then assemble. The branding is done after the dye has dried thoroughly, and prior to assembly. Mike Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sylvia Report post Posted December 5, 2011 From the grumpy old guy; I make a new set of 'branding irons' for each item, as the heat (I get 'em yellow/red with a torch) destroys what temper they have in fairly short order. I always cut my stuff, dye it and then assemble. The branding is done after the dye has dried thoroughly, and prior to assembly. Mike Hi Mike I thought that might be the problem. Thanks for the tip! It's funny you use the south end of a northbound cat as your Avatar. My brother has used a similar katsass on his wood working. But his has a crescent moon, so his is actually Kats ass by the light of the moon! ha! I didn't think there was another one of you guys in the world. ha ha ha. That's awesome. Syl Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
katsass Report post Posted December 6, 2011 Hi Mike I thought that might be the problem. Thanks for the tip! It's funny you use the south end of a northbound cat as your Avatar. My brother has used a similar katsass on his wood working. But his has a crescent moon, so his is actually Kats ass by the light of the moon! ha! I didn't think there was another one of you guys in the world. ha ha ha. That's awesome. Syl Sylvia, I would like to see your brother's design. I've been using the 'katsass' logo for over 40 years now and my customers enjoy it. Many will pick up a new item from me, and the first thing they do is look for it. It's gotten to the point that there has become a few katsass snobs, they look for the logo on a holster and determine if it is an 'original' that I did for years free hand with a ball stylus, or a 'modern' one done with a stamp. To me it's kind of odd that it has gotten that far. Mike Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sylvia Report post Posted December 6, 2011 Sylvia, I would like to see your brother's design. I've been using the 'katsass' logo for over 40 years now and my customers enjoy it. Many will pick up a new item from me, and the first thing they do is look for it. It's gotten to the point that there has become a few katsass snobs, they look for the logo on a holster and determine if it is an 'original' that I did for years free hand with a ball stylus, or a 'modern' one done with a stamp. To me it's kind of odd that it has gotten that far. Mike Let's see, my brother is 73 and I know he's been using this since he was a teenager. I don't have an object he's made but I do have a machine embroidery file I made for his wife. It will give you an idea of what he hand draws. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
katsass Report post Posted December 6, 2011 (edited) Let's see, my brother is 73 and I know he's been using this since he was a teenager. I don't have an object he's made but I do have a machine embroidery file I made for his wife. It will give you an idea of what he hand draws. Sylvia, thanks for the picture. That's funny, as your brother and I are only a few years apart. Back then the saying 'it's the cat's ass' was fairly common, but in time it faded away. I think our name and logo came form the saying and the fact that we (Ma and I) raised Siamese cats back then. Mike. Edited December 6, 2011 by katsass Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sylvia Report post Posted December 6, 2011 ha ha ha! I swear you two are birds of a feather. The photos really shows that you are the "Cat's Meow!" I love cats and have owned a Seal Point Siamese... but whoa they are mouthy! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
katsass Report post Posted December 6, 2011 (edited) ha ha ha! I swear you two are birds of a feather. The photos really shows that you are the "Cat's Meow!" I love cats and have owned a Seal Point Siamese... but whoa they are mouthy! Well, I wasn't sure that the pics went through --- photobucket jammed up on me, and I don't see them now. Have fun with your branding. Mike Edited December 6, 2011 by katsass Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
