I don’t personally do a lot of fine wood working (ok, none), but you can bet that if I ever did create a piece of furniture with my own two hands (I’ve been told that assembling the Ikea Billy bookcase doesn’t count. Hrmph.), you can bet that I’d want the world to know that it was a Jen Original. That’s when something like the Rockler Branding Iron would come in handy.
Whether you’re a hobbyist or you have a woodworking-related business, a customized brander that seers your name into your work is a pretty fulfilling way to complete a project. There are a few options available, including whether you want to heat the end up using a torch or buying the electrical version (neato!). Reviews indicate that Rockler does a quality job – letters and numbers turn out crisp and the brander heats up well, regardless of the type purchased.
The only negative of this tool is resisting the urge to brand everything around you, because, well … it’s kind of fun, actually! Rockler Branding Irons start at $64.99 and high-end versions can be found for $104.99. They also have a custom logo version in the $200 range.
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I keep thinking about getting one of those as well. I have several pieces that I would like to brand. Right now I just sign the underside of the piece and date it.
Thanks for your comment Kevin! Signing your work by hand isn’t so bad either. There’s good precedent, folks like Leonardo da Vinci, Salvador Dali and Rembrandt rarely used branding irons. But when it comes to woodworking, I think a custom branding iron has some good appeal. Send us a pic if you take the plunge at some point!