Do you brand/sign/date your work?

[uglystick]

There's no doubt that it's a nice to be able to identify who made something.

It's a special touch to show you take pride in your craftsmanship, or for heirloom pieces that will be passed down to family or friends.

I'm curious to hear what experienced & newbie alike are doing on their projects? Personally, I haven't put any name or date on my projects, yet.

Do I Need A Branding Iron?

[lrogers]

Yes, I sign the stuff I make for the family. I use a "Sharpie" marker before I put the poly on, usually on the underside. I feel that signing with a marker, makes it more personal than a branding iron.

[LarryG]

+1 on what that other Larry guy said. Sign and date with a Sharpie before the finish goes on.

At this point I'm mostly building stuff for family and friends, gratis, with a view toward someday hanging a shingle and trying to supplement whatever retirement income I'll have. If that happens, I may consider getting a branding iron, but then again maybe not ... I too regard a hand signature as more personal, less "production," than a burned image from an iron.

[Warren]

I brand it with my name in an innocuous location.

[gjbivin]

I have a branding iron with date attachment. Decades from now, that is if the piece lasts that long, people will be glad you put the date (at least the year) on it.

I've always had some concerns as to how long marking pen and other dye-based inks will last before fading. Maybe a long time or never, if protected under finish, but it would be interesting to see if anybody has done some research on it. If you want it to persist, good old-fashioned india ink is permanant: it's carbon particles suspended in whatever solvent they use for the fluid.

[JR]

LOML gave me a simple three-letter branding iron for Christmas. It made me very happy!

JR

[Rounder]

I have a small branding iron with a "R" in a circle.

[DonHo]

I burn( using a wood burning pen) my initials and the year on the bottom of most "gifts" I make for people.

DonHo

[WayneJ]

Sharpie pen under the poly. That way I can keep track of my progress. Just initals and year.
Wayne

[Ken Massingale]

Sharpie with name and date completed.

[LCHIEN]

I have a small branding iron with a "R" in a circle.

can the symbol for a registered trademark be a registerd trademark in and of itself?


I have one of those electric brands, handcrafted by yours truly.

I try and put it on the inside or bottom of an item, if appropriate.

[ejs1097]

I burn( using a wood burning pen) my initials and the year on the bottom of most "gifts" I make for people.

DonHo

That's what I do as well. I do this before any stain is applied and it comes through stain just fine.

For painted projects I use a paint pen instead of a sharpie.

[bigsteel15]

I will very likely hand sign anything I do when I finally get a "real" project under my belt.
I have a family piece (spice cabinet) made by my Great-great Grandfather in 1904 that is hand signed to his wife.
I don't know what he used (paint of some kind?) but it has held up over 100 years and there is no finish over it.

[25]

can the symbol for a registered trademark be a registerd trademark in and of itself?


I have one of those electric brands, handcrafted by yours truly.

I try and put it on the inside or bottom of an item, if appropriate.

If not I forsee someone filling a bunch of law suites soon.

[scmhogg]

I have one of those "Handcrafted By" irons that you have to heat with a torch. A PIA.

I also use a 3/4" forstner to make a shallow cup for a brand new penny that I epoxy in some hidden place.

Steve