My $6 Custom Branding Iron! :) :)

[Alex Franke]

Back in this thread I asked you all for input on a new branding iron design. (After I realized that I could no longer look at that design without seeing Mr. Peanut, I decided to ask my 5-year old which of my other designs he liked best.)

I mentioned that I was going to use a service in the Netherlands called Shapeways to "print" a stainless steel iron instead of shelling out nearly $200 for a custom Rockler iron. I said I would let you all know how it turned out.

Well, I couldn't be happier right now!!

The order arrived in the mail today. I tapped it, stuck it on a rod, and into a handle I turned from scrap yesterday, and after only a couple of "test burns" I ended up with what I consider to be an excellent result.



And yes -- you read the subject correctly. This particular branding iron cost $6, shipping included (although it was a $25 minimum order). Because of the minimum order I also picked up a couple other models to check out the different materials, and one other branding iron that I plan to try next.



I have a some full-size pictures plus a few more pictures on my website at http://www.thefrankes.com/wp/?p=1883. Let me know what you think! Sometime over the next few days I'm going to put up a step-by-step tutorial on the same blog site.

[tommyt654]

Thats way cool Alex, I,m in the market for one in a few mo,s myself, When the time comes I,ll p.m. you for all the details,Tommyt

[chopnhack]

Very classy Alex. What metal seems to work best? How did you tell them that you wanted the text in reverse?

[RAFlorida]

THAT is super sharp Alex!

Your design and style looks terrific. Gotta check into those irons. (Looks like you've started something here.)

[Mr__Bill]

Definitely classier than Mr. Peanut Your son has good design sense.


Bill.

[Alex Franke]

Very classy Alex. What metal seems to work best? How did you tell them that you wanted the text in reverse?

Shapeways only prints in stainless steel, so that's the one I used. So far it seems to work just fine.

They basically just print what you send them. I modeled the part with the text backwards using Alibre Design, which is a 3D parametric modeling application. (They have a free version that is feature limited but should work find for this type of work.) Shapeways just printed the model that I sent them. Here's an example of that the model looks like before you send it up to shapeways for printing...

[LCHIEN]

If you are interested in electrically heating it:


here's some soldering iron heating elements from Ungar.
http://www.action-electronics.com/unpl.htm

You would probably be interested in the 2-wire handle (7760) and a 50-watt thread on (37UG) heating element which you might then tap your brand for.

I measured my electrically heated brand and it drew 130 W. But the brand looks to be quite a bit bigger than yours. Mines about 1.5" x 3/4" and takes about 10 minutes to heat to a usable temp.

50W might heat your size brand in a similar time.

[cgallery]

That is awesome!

Something else to add to my list of to-dos.

[herb fellows]

Cool! What was the size of it? Do they offer other sizes? Any limit to the intricacy of the design?

[toolbelt diva]

Oh how awesome and cool! The pictures on your blog are great. I'd love to make a brand to use on my future projects, but I'm not a designer and the 3D software looks intimidating, so I can't wait for your step by step instructions.

[Knottscott]

Outstanding post on all fronts! That's less money than my $8 rubber stamp, and is the real deal.

[atgcpaul]

That came out great, Alex! Did you also have to design in that little stub on
the back, too?

[SARGE..g-47]

That's extremely nice Alex. I prefer just signing the work with a sharpie on bare wood hidden from view and then finish coating over it but.... the latest trend sends to be toward something as you have. On top of being a very nice design the price couldn't have been better.

[Alex Franke]

Thanks for all the nice comments!

Cool! What was the size of it? Do they offer other sizes? Any limit to the intricacy of the design?

The "AF" brand itself is 1/2" wide, and the "afranke" brand is 1" wide. (I wanted the mark to be inconspicuous.)

For the stainless steel, shapeways lists the "minimum detail" as 1mm (4/100 inch). Some of the detail on the branding iron is probably smaller than that and it still came out quite nice.

They can print anything from a few millimeters (cube) to 100cm x 45cm x 25cm (~39in x 18in x 10in)

That came out great, Alex! Did you also have to design in that little stub on the back, too?

Yes, I did. I put some holes in it to reduce the amount of material (save a little money) and to tap for a set screw if necessary. But as it turns out I was able to tap the larger mounting hole in the back deep enough to hold on a threaded rod.

[lrogers]

Very classy Alex!