What's your Brand

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I was playing around today and decided to make a branding iron for burning steaks.  I thought that I might make a couple for Christmas presents, but I think they'd need to be brazed or TIG'd to be that nice.  I was running the .030 solid wire w/ gas I had in my machine.  1/4" rod, 1/8" flat stock. I borrowed Aczeller's idea and used a HF chipping hammer coil to keep it cool.  I used my little 18" HF bender I modified to make the bends.I think mine turned out pretty crude because:1. I don't weld that great, especially in small, tight spaces.2. I think that maybe .023 wire might have yielded some smaller tacks.All in all it's pretty straight and even, and makes a clean imprint so I will call it a success for now. Attached ImagesHobart 140 Handler w/ gasHyperTherm Powermax 380 Plasmaoxy/acetylene
Reply:Well it passes the test on wood so you must have made it pretty flush and even. Looks pretty good. You should see some that actually get put to use. Some are pretty crude. For show I might have tried the .023 and itty bitty stringers.
Reply:I like it.. Make one with a Ford emblem and we'll talk.. ...zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Make one with a Ford emblem and we'll talk..
Reply:Originally Posted by SandySo any ole scrap and some wire should do the trick  ...
Reply:Ahhh rick I just looked for mine, MIA since the move. I am coming town to so cal in a week, do you want me to bring a cow? We can see how it looks on leather instead of wood.
Reply:I want to see how it look on the Fillet 'O AngusZap-I don't think I have either the talent, or patience to make a Ford emblem.  It's hard enough to make block letters, Script would be a whole other thing.I just remembered an seldom heard accroym for Ford: For Old Retired Drunks.  I've heard most of the rest.Hobart 140 Handler w/ gasHyperTherm Powermax 380 Plasmaoxy/acetylene
Reply:Originally Posted by SandySo any ole scrap and some wire should do the trick  ...
Reply:thanks for the credit on the handle, but i can't take full credit for it... i found it from someone else here for thier BBQ grill handles, but i can't remember who (sorry!!!). it looks go tho... it may look crude, but i'd bet that it will hold up for quite a few steaks. i always wondered how to make one... i've only seen 'em cast before. how did you make the bends? i think i may make one for the grill that i'm making for my parents for christmas... shove it in the coals and warm up while the steaks are cooking.as far as the Ford logo Zap, if you can find a logo old enough (just grab it off the Falcon... hehehehehe), aren't they real metal, with the blue jsut painted/epoxied on? i know the one on my parents' Excursion is plasic, so i am thinking the older ones are metal. a little grinder work and a little bit fo your expert build-up skills would be all that was required i would imagine. then just stick a solid stock to it and "voila"! i've also seen them maide by jsut bending the solid stock back around to keep the handle cool, similar to this...http://www.tejassmokers.com/images/1509A.jpgthat's actually a pit cleaner-outter thingy (i have no clue what it's acutally called... they call it an ash rake/cleaning tool on the website, but cleaner-outter thingy sounds better. hehehehe), but the handle is the same and/or similar to what else could possibly be used.Chevy would be fairly easy, and Mopars, the same way as Fords?Later,Andy
Reply:If if that aint cooler than a polar bear's tail :Thats a perfect gift for some folks I know.....thank goodness for the welding web weld it like you own it
Reply:Andy - Good thought, unfortunately, the old script are die-cast, they would melt.Besides, the brands need to be mirrored.I wonder if light annealed wire or band would be easy enough to shape and tack weld?I also wonder if I can convince her!
Reply:I made one as a gift for a friend that I was real proud of. I am looking for a picture now. It was his initials and made from cold rolled 1/4" square bar. Had a twisted shaft and a wooden Nicolson file handle. Too bad you can't buy these anymore. They looked real nice and the Lutz I think don't look near as good. I have seen some great ideas for handles that I want to make.I like that iron. Thats a lot of metal to heat up though. Would be more difficult to get hot enough to brand in a gas grill as is mine from my friends feedback. My next one was to be made of 3/16" square rod.I will post when I find pics.MmmmmmmmmmmmBeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrGooooooooooo  oodddd!!!!
Reply:Thanks for the comments.  I also looked at an old file handle, and I also have a wood turning lathe to make custom handles/woods.  I just went for simple on this prototype.Also, casting would be best, open up to more detail like the Ford Emblem and be quicker.  But, we are welders....and I just "run what I brung".I heated this up in the gas BBQ and left it in while I was doing something else, less than the time to cook a nice steak.  My idea was that more steel was better to maintain the heat long enough to hit one or two steaks.  If it's too light, you'd have to wait for it to heat up again.  It didn't get red like I'd liked though w/o the coals to lay it in.Hobart 140 Handler w/ gasHyperTherm Powermax 380 Plasmaoxy/acetylene
Reply:What a cool idea.  Gonna make me one of those... heh..Various GrindersVictor Journeyman torch200cf Acet. 250cf oxygenLincoln 175 plus/alpha2 gunLincoln v205t tigLincoln 350mpEsab 650 plasmaWhen you can get up in the morning, Its a good day.Live each day like its your last.
Reply:mine is the   G3G3miller... 225g, s32p, 250x, 304, 12vs, MSW41     victor o/a thermal dynamics cutmaster 50 lenco panel spotter        hobart hf-boxG3 Farms.....raising cattle, hay, kids and hell, ...oh yeah I'm a fire sprinkler contractor by trade.
Reply:Here are a couple I made for a customerMiller Syncrowave 200Hobart Handler 140Thermal Dynamics Cutmaster 38E-Z Tube BenderPlasma Cam DHC2
Reply:Any other branding iron pics out there?I did some research before making mine and considered several historic options.  A letter with "wings" if an historic symbol for "The Flying M".  Other popular ones are a letter lying down, "The Lazy __".  Or there's"The Crazy ___" that is backwards.  Mine is the "Bar -M- Bar"  Check online to find out more traditional meanings.Hobart 140 Handler w/ gasHyperTherm Powermax 380 Plasmaoxy/acetylene
Reply:a bow tie would do
Reply:Here are pics of the one I made my buddy. These are after use and moisture. I didn't have any Stainless and thought a hot vegetable oil application would protect better than it has. The rust is worse than I would have imagined. You live and learn. WTF. I can't post any pics for some reason. None of the links above this window are working. I will try when I get home then.MmmmmmmmmmmmBeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrGooooooooooo  oodddd!!!!
Reply:i got some 1" x 1/8" flat stock from work the other day... seems somewhat flimsy... maybe that'll work out pretty well.Qucifer... were those water-jetted? look great... it almost seems like they woudl take too long to warm up... did you ever find out how well they worked?Later,Andy
Reply:Like I said...Rusted..Ahem...Patinated quite extensively.  MmmmmmmmmmmmBeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrGooooooooooo  oodddd!!!!
Reply:good God man... get a tetnis shot before you eat one of THOSE steaks. hehehehehe. looks good tho... interesting that there is no backing plate on it.Later,Andy
Reply:Originally Posted by aczellergood God man... get a tetnis shot before you eat one of THOSE steaks. hehehehehe. looks good tho... interesting that there is no backing plate on it.Later,Andy
Reply:Ed Mac-I assume you mean that you're a Chevy man.  That would be pretty easy.Hobart 140 Handler w/ gasHyperTherm Powermax 380 Plasmaoxy/acetylene
Reply:You guys got my hands moving. I reeeeeally hope to do some casting this weekend kids and wife willing. Yesterday I made a reverse pattern for Ford and forgot to reverse the Bowtie so will have to remake it. Tonight I'll coat them and hopefully have ready for Saturday.MmmmmmmmmmmmBeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrGooooooooooo  oodddd!!!!so what do you want for the ford? and where's the mopar?Later,Andy
Reply:I'm not real good at casting yet so will have to see how it comes out.Which Mopar. The standard M? That would be easy to reverse.MmmmmmmmmmmmBeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrGooooooooooo  oodddd!!!!
Reply:i was thinking more along the lines of the Dodge Viper or Ram symbol... but the "M" would be cool too... never thought of that... it seems like itd be pretty easy to make even without casting... just some time with some square stock and a torch.Later,Andy
Reply:Got these casted today.  Went OK but not perfect. The Ford looks good but the Chevy was kind of screwed which is weird because it is the simpler design. The license plate is for my wifes uncle. I made a Mopar, Ram, and a Tennessee Vols pattern but didn't cast them yet.I tried to make a mounting boss for the back but it didn't pull from the sand very well. I'll figure out a way to make a handle for it.  Last edited by petersenj20; 12-09-2007 at 08:42 PM.MmmmmmmmmmmmBeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrGooooooooooo  oodddd!!!!
Reply:They look mighty fine. These aluminum??
Reply:Sorry about the huge pics. I tried to edit but the 30 minute time limit expired and locked.Yes, They are aluminum.MmmmmmmmmmmmBeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrGooooooooooo  oodddd!!!!
Reply:Good start P, but they need about 1/4" more relief.  By the time you get a clean face on the belt sander, you'll be pretty thin.  If the backing touches it won't give a clean imprint.Hobart 140 Handler w/ gasHyperTherm Powermax 380 Plasmaoxy/acetylene
Reply:I personally like the "as cast" look. I still need to make a handle before I tryto use it on a steak. Once that is done I'll see how well it works and go fromthere.I haven't been very successful at pulling out the deeper castings so I madethe intricate Ford with a 1/8" shelving spacer from an office cubbie-holedivider.You can see the short pour on the vanity plate. It is a freebee and will bepainted so I decided to fill the holes with solder and let it slide.I'm still learning and have yet to come up with a good way of doing the facingof the letters and designs without a mill. I usually round over the edges on my belt sander so I just let it slide as is. Most of the time involved is the pattern work and by the time you get topouring and have spent all that time on a one time cast it is hard to acceptfailure. Especially if not getting paid for it. Not a good excuse when you'retrying to generate word-of-mouth work.MmmmmmmmmmmmBeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrGooooooooooo  oodddd!!!!
Reply:I've done a few castings myself over the years and maybe you do this already, but you need to have a 3* draft angle (1.5* per side) and this draft has to be on every surface.  That way you can get any deep casting to release well. I worked in a place that made patterns and that's what the engineer called for to mill into the form components.Hobart 140 Handler w/ gasHyperTherm Powermax 380 Plasmaoxy/acetylene
Reply:I cut all the edges to 5-10 degrees. On lettering and such the tight corners prove tricky.MmmmmmmmmmmmBeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrGooooooooooo  oodddd!!!!
Reply:Just a follow up to the pics I posted. This one is Sh**y. Don't know why the photo came out so bad but here goes. Attached ImagesMmmmmmmmmmmmBeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrGooooooooooo  oodddd!!!!