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General Category => The Coffee Shop => Topic started by: yyyyyguy on November 15, 2011, 09:29:47 pm

Title: Signing your projects
Post by: yyyyyguy on November 15, 2011, 09:29:47 pm
Just wondering how many of you sign your projects, with a stamp or other form of ID. I've thought of it but haven't come up with a way I liked.  Pete
Title: Re: Signing your projects
Post by: dgman on November 15, 2011, 09:36:04 pm
If I have room, I use an electric branding iron that says " Hand made by Dan Gallo". If I don't have room, I don't do anything.
Title: Re: Signing your projects
Post by: daliclimbs on November 15, 2011, 10:22:39 pm
I sign absolutely everything.. I have stamps that I had custom made, they are great and only cost a few bucks to get made. If I don't have room I burn it with a fine tipped Pyro pen..
Title: Re: Signing your projects
Post by: Gabby on November 15, 2011, 11:11:46 pm
I've used the wood burning tool with a fine tip or the fine tipped Sharpie pen alternatively you can print up tags that you decoupage on the back side if there is room to do so.
Gabby
Title: Re: Signing your projects
Post by: Intarsia92 on November 15, 2011, 11:12:42 pm
I had a branding iron made with my signature on it and use it to place my name, along with countersinking a Penny, with the currant year's date, on the back of my projects, if there's room.
Title: Re: Signing your projects
Post by: GrayBeard on November 15, 2011, 11:37:00 pm
I made myself some labels and apply one to the back of each piece if there is room...
If not I attach a business card with ribbon in some fashion and sign the piece with a fine tip marker

~~~GB~~~
Title: Re: Signing your projects
Post by: Gabby on November 15, 2011, 11:41:09 pm
The penny is a nice touch, doesn't surprise me though look who uses it!
Good on ya Al!
Gabby
Title: Re: Signing your projects
Post by: mrsn on November 15, 2011, 11:44:40 pm
I sign the back of most of my stuff (if there is room) with a sharpie or paint. I am still trying to figure a way to sign a piece of jewelry...

I also recently started signing and dating the front of portraits in pencil before I spray finish them. The pencil is light enough to not distract from the art, but still there.

When I frame a piece I cover the back in craft paper, it hides any less then perfect edges on the back side. If the project is for someone in  particular I write a secret message to them, otherwise I just write something fun, then hide it with the craft paper.
Title: Re: Signing your projects
Post by: BilltheDiver on November 15, 2011, 11:47:54 pm
I often use a custom made stamp, inked with india ink instead of the normal stuff.  It seems to tolerate the solvents in modern finishes better.
Title: Re: Signing your projects
Post by: wombatie on November 16, 2011, 12:25:08 am
If its a portrait in a frame I have stickers that I have made up and on them it says,

Name of Portrait:
Pattern Made By:
Cut By:
Date:
email address:

If its something else I try to put my name somewhere.

Marg
Title: Re: Signing your projects
Post by: jimbo on November 16, 2011, 12:53:03 am
I only mark my stuff with the timber I use as it seems to be important to my customers, mainly the ones that post overseas, the most popular timber is rimu and that is 95% of what I use
Jimbo
Title: Re: Signing your projects
Post by: Waddawood on November 16, 2011, 01:42:41 am
I cut my last name into each piece with a blade.  I make it part of the cutting process.
Title: Re: Signing your projects
Post by: Gabby on November 16, 2011, 02:33:06 am
I sign the back of most of my stuff (if there is room) with a sharpie or paint. I am still trying to figure a way to sign a piece of jewelry...

I also recently started signing and dating the front of portraits in pencil before I spray finish them. The pencil is light enough to not distract from the art, but still there.

When I frame a piece I cover the back in craft paper, it hides any less then perfect edges on the back side. If the project is for someone in  particular I write a secret message to them, otherwise I just write something fun, then hide it with the craft paper.

You could design a trade mark and either stamp it with ink or paint or if there is sufficient metal in the piece have a metal stamp made like the old jewelery makers did. Did I mention REALLY SMALL? LOL
Gabby
Title: Re: Signing your projects
Post by: Gabby on November 16, 2011, 02:59:55 am
Here is our kennel logo. This can be used as a stamp or brand painted on burned on you name it.
Should give you some ideas for your own "mark".
Can you guess what it represents? No cheating!
LOL
Gabby
Title: Re: Signing your projects
Post by: tux_linux on November 16, 2011, 08:36:09 am
interesting. I have thought of marking my stuff too.
I thought about some sticker to put on the back (probably some moo labels (http://uk.moo.com/products/labels/)...)
But the branding iron is also a nice idea. where to get one  ???
Title: Re: Signing your projects
Post by: GrayBeard on November 16, 2011, 10:09:25 am
Torsten, here in the US Rockler and WoodCraft both sell the branding irons. There are also adverts in the woodworking magazines for other vendors...look around and I'm sure you will find one in your area that will make one for you....
NOTE: they are not a cheap item!

~~~GB~~~
Title: Re: Signing your projects
Post by: tux_linux on November 16, 2011, 04:11:48 pm
I will check that out. Or maybe  - a friend is into forging. He should be able to make something.
Title: Re: Signing your projects
Post by: CNLNC on November 16, 2011, 04:17:54 pm
Hmmmm.....
I wonder if you could convert old typewriter strikers(?) into small initial or name brands. It would be small, but could work??? just a thought.
Let  us know how it works to the brave soul who tries it first...
Title: Re: Signing your projects
Post by: GrayBeard on November 16, 2011, 04:35:53 pm
Typewriter strikers?

Try finding a typewriter that someone has not labeled an 'antique' and is now wanting more than the thing was worth brand new!

~~~GB~~~
Title: Re: Signing your projects
Post by: CNLNC on November 16, 2011, 05:14:22 pm
That is funny GB, I did a quick craigslist search and noticed mostly all the typewriters are now being sold as "vintage" or "antique". There where a few of them from the $20 to $40 range, but most where much higher.
I didn't think of that when I thought of the idea. Oh well...

Come to think of it, I have a "VINTAGE" typewriter somewhere, wonder what it's worth...hehe ;)
Title: Re: Signing your projects
Post by: GrayBeard on November 16, 2011, 06:24:34 pm
I frequently wander 'antique malls' and have seen them that I know I threw away better and they are asking $100 or more. As you say they are now "VINTAGE"!
Title: Re: Signing your projects
Post by: Bill P on November 17, 2011, 07:46:50 am
I'm the same as Dan, but my brand says, "Hand crafted by Bill Purcell"

Bill
Title: Re: Signing your projects
Post by: Gabby on November 20, 2011, 12:10:14 am
If you are into molding perhaps you could cast one out of brass, a welding supply would have plenty of brass rod you could melt down for it, wouldn't take a lot for one small enough for a "made by brand". You could heat it with a butane torch hot enough to scorch wood just be careful not to melt it! LOL
Gabby
Title: Re: Signing your projects
Post by: tux_linux on November 20, 2011, 06:21:35 am
Could it be possible to get a (big) soldering iron and add a special head to do the trick?
I need to check that.

EDIT: I have found what I was thinking of (http://www.lercherdirekt.de/index.php?x=0).
Costs in Germany around 50 Euro + the engraved stamp 70 Euro = around 120 Euro(~160$).
hmm, idea for the Christmas wish list I guess.

Edit2: ...and a printed stamp? would that go too?
Title: Re: Signing your projects
Post by: Russ C on November 20, 2011, 06:52:22 am
I just sign my projects with a good ole Sharpie and put a clear coat over it. Still on projects I made 30 years ago.  :)
Title: Re: Signing your projects
Post by: Marcellarius on November 20, 2011, 12:17:49 pm
I don't sing my work.  but you made me thinking......
maybe I will think of something like a burn mark or so.
Title: Re: Signing your projects
Post by: yyyyyguy on November 20, 2011, 05:50:30 pm
Sounds like a good Christmas present, kids are always asking what they can get me, I've never signed anything but may start.  Thanks for the feed-back :)
Title: Re: Signing your projects
Post by: BilltheDiver on November 21, 2011, 01:23:12 am
I always wondered about the branding irons.  Especially the electric ones for better consistency.  I have heard it's easy to screw up the brand though with either too dark or too light a mark.  My last names Murphy, so I am not optimistic about my consistency on different woods.  It would be just my luck to complete a project I could be proud of and then screw up the signature.
Title: Re: Signing your projects
Post by: Gabby on November 21, 2011, 01:56:06 am
Simple search found bunches of places that make custom rubber stamps, I didn't take the time to open any of them but several advertised them starting around $3.00
Take a look.
Gabby

http://search.avg.com/route/?d=4dc5c095&v=7.8.31.1&i=23&tp=tab&lng=en-us&q=custom+rubber+stamps
Title: Re: Signing your projects
Post by: BilltheDiver on November 21, 2011, 02:00:45 am
That's what I use Gabby.  Had one made up, and I use india ink on it.
Title: Re: Signing your projects
Post by: Gabby on November 21, 2011, 02:20:34 am
That's what I use Gabby.  Had one made up, and I use india ink on it.

If I ever get to making enough things I might do that too, but at the rate I'm going it will be a while.
 :(
Gabby