Ronn W Posted June 10, 2016 Report Share Posted June 10, 2016 I really should have a good way of signing my work, other than my trusted black Sharpie, I know that there are branding irons and brass tags. What do you guys use and do you have a favorite brand that has worked well you? I am leaning towards a branding iron of some kind. Whaddaya think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted June 10, 2016 Report Share Posted June 10, 2016 I still use a sharpie.. I do use a fine tipped sharpie tho. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unknown craftsman Posted June 10, 2016 Report Share Posted June 10, 2016 I don't sign my work I will if I'm asked.But my commissions don't.Plus I'm a nobody.So my signature is worth nothing. Im also pretty sure I can recognize my work.If I can't it for good reason. Aj Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allencrane Posted June 10, 2016 Report Share Posted June 10, 2016 I wasn't that big into signing my work until someone told me how important it was to them that I did it - something just for them. My wife bought me a hobby wood burning pen for Christmas. It has a fine tip on it and makes a nice clean line once it's heated up. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post ..Kev Posted June 10, 2016 Popular Post Report Share Posted June 10, 2016 32 minutes ago, Aj3 said: I don't sign my work I will if I'm asked.But my commissions don't.Plus I'm a nobody.So my signature is worth nothing. Im also pretty sure I can recognize my work.If I can't it for good reason. Aj Sam Maloof was a "nobody" at some point as well Part of my signature is always the month and year as well. So, if the name means nothing in the future, at least people will know when it was built. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted June 10, 2016 Report Share Posted June 10, 2016 I sign and date with a fine point sharpie. Personalizing a piece for friends and family always happens. Favorite clients or a unique project I am proud of get signed & dated. Commercial work and paint grade work for budget clients I figure why bother. I even add my web address to client pieces. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted June 10, 2016 Report Share Posted June 10, 2016 I made a monogram branding iron a while back, and I use a letter/number stamping set to add the year of construction ( my projects tend to cross monthly boundaries!) I sometimes add a personal note in sharpie, or burned, if it is a special gift for a family member. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treeslayer Posted June 10, 2016 Report Share Posted June 10, 2016 electric branding iron from Rockler and i stamp in the year with some cheap stamps from harbor freight, on stuff for family and friends i also sign with a fine sharpie, kids and wife get a note, Merry Christmas, happy birthday ect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryMcK Posted June 10, 2016 Report Share Posted June 10, 2016 I use a custom designed gas torch heated branding iron from http://brandingirons.com/ Serial numbers (on musical instruments) are stamped in with a set of number stamps. I also inlay my logo usually made from mother of pearl or abalone. On furniture it is just the branding iron on the back and a sharpie used for the date and signature hidden somewhere, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cliff Posted June 10, 2016 Report Share Posted June 10, 2016 Branding iron. My wife got me it for x-mas. I wish I had one I could do the date with. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Llama Posted June 10, 2016 Report Share Posted June 10, 2016 I use a sharpie. So much better than a dullie!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midtnwoodworker Posted June 10, 2016 Report Share Posted June 10, 2016 If it is something made to fit somebody's budget it typically does not get signed, but if someone wants a nice piece of furniture I will sign it. I think the branding iron looks better for non-personal pieces, but I prefer hand-written on something for anyone I know or something I am particularly proud of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronn W Posted June 10, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 10, 2016 10 hours ago, Aj3 said: I don't sign my work I will if I'm asked.But my commissions don't.Plus I'm a nobody.So my signature is worth nothing. Im also pretty sure I can recognize my work.If I can't it for good reason. Aj We are all someone to somebody. Wdwerker thoughtfully suggested that I sign a box for my granddaughter and I have had family members say that I should sign my work. My siblings all have furniture that was handed down from grandparents. Family history is important to them and they seem to think that my work will have "family value" someday. I am just considering what method makes the most sense for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted June 10, 2016 Report Share Posted June 10, 2016 I have a bowl full of wooden chains my grandfather made. He put the type of wood and the year on each one. A neighbor turned the bowl for me when he was using my lathe. He signed the bottom with a silver metallic paint pen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unknown craftsman Posted June 10, 2016 Report Share Posted June 10, 2016 3 hours ago, Ronn W said: We are all someone to somebody. Wdwerker thoughtfully suggested that I sign a box for my granddaughter and I have had family members say that I should sign my work. My siblings all have furniture that was handed down from grandparents. Family history is important to them and they seem to think that my work will have "family value" someday. I am just considering what method makes the most sense for me. Ron makes a good point and that makes sense to me also. Im not confidant that my furniture will be handed down.Maybe some of my built in work.I know some of the roof I have done will out live me because people are stuck with it. Did look at creating a furniture label several years ago when I was super busy.A small tin piece with raised letters.With the name of my business not my name no way. It turned out to be a pipe dream. @TIODS Yes your right Sam Maloof had to start out just like the rest of us. I wonder why his guys aren't making furniture up there any more. They couldn't have ran out of wood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaneymack Posted June 10, 2016 Report Share Posted June 10, 2016 " Yes your right Sam Maloof had to start out just like the rest of us. I wonder why his guys aren't making furniture up there any more. They couldn't have ran out of wood." Where did you hear this? The site is still up and running and there is no mention of them shutting down? http://sammaloofwoodworker.com/about.html Sent from my SM-N910W8 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkrusen Posted June 10, 2016 Report Share Posted June 10, 2016 Sad day if the Maloof shop really is shutting down. Find that hard to believe though. As for signing furniture, I like Kyle Toth's method. He signs his name and date in pencil and then goes over it with an engraving tool. Burning pen would work well with the same method. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unknown craftsman Posted June 10, 2016 Report Share Posted June 10, 2016 2 hours ago, shaneymack said: " Yes your right Sam Maloof had to start out just like the rest of us. I wonder why his guys aren't making furniture up there any more. They couldn't have ran out of wood." Where did you hear this? The site is still up and running and there is no mention of them shutting down? http://sammaloofwoodworker.com/about.html Sent from my SM-N910W8 using Tapatalk The last I heard Mike was still in the shop mostly doing repairs Larry is part of the tours and David is on his own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chestnut Posted June 10, 2016 Report Share Posted June 10, 2016 @Ronn W You might understand this. I wan to get a custom branding Iron made of my PE stamp when i get it except slightly different. Take the state off and make it look less official then my plan is to sign and date over it like any set of plans I'll sign and date. Currently I'm so dang happy to have finished the project i usually forget about the signature and date part. For the nice projects for friends and the stuff for my self i usually hide my hand drawn sketches in the project somewhere to see if someone finds them. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trialbyfire Posted June 10, 2016 Report Share Posted June 10, 2016 @Ronn W i usually hide my hand drawn sketches in the project somewhere to see if someone finds them. Are we talking "just" a false drawer bottom or some super secret squirrel Masonic type hiding? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chestnut Posted June 10, 2016 Report Share Posted June 10, 2016 1 minute ago, trialbyfire said: Are we talking "just" a false drawer bottom or some super secret squirrel Masonic type hiding? Tapped under a drawer hidden under something removable. Naa i don't' want to hide them too well because then they will never get found. I have an inset tile on my dining room table I hid all the plans for the table under that tile. The tile is only removable in the winter. In the summer the wood swells and holds onto it too tightly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trialbyfire Posted June 10, 2016 Report Share Posted June 10, 2016 That's actually pretty cool. I think it adds a lot more value to the piece. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun Guthrie Posted June 10, 2016 Report Share Posted June 10, 2016 I have a simple brass branding iron from Lee Valley. http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=32191&cat=1,43456,43462 Do it on my cutting boards on the side, never on top. Try to be somewhat discrete with it. The workmanship should be the showcase, not the brand or signature. Just my opinion. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Tom Cancelleri Posted June 11, 2016 Popular Post Report Share Posted June 11, 2016 Branding iron. My wife got me it for x-mas. I wish I had one I could do the date with. Cliff, as a tip, though you might already do this, after you brand your stuff, sand with some 180 or 220, it will remove the surrounding scorching and give you crisp detail. Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronn W Posted June 11, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 11, 2016 2 hours ago, Chestnut said: Tapped under a drawer hidden under something removable. Naa i don't' want to hide them too well because then they will never get found. I have an inset tile on my dining room table I hid all the plans for the table under that tile. The tile is only removable in the winter. In the summer the wood swells and holds onto it too tightly. Very cool, kind of like when the keyhole is only visible at sunset on mid-summers eve when the thrust knocks three times or like the movie "National treasure". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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