branding iron for wood were

[adamant]

What size unit and font do I get? Like the idea of branding my name on my hives.
I can get one with 1/2 " car rectors but not sure if that will be large enough. Also will they work on hives that where painted? What's your recommendations? Wattage? Font size?

[fish_stix]

Mine has 1" high letters with my first initial and last name. 3/4" should work fine. If you can swing the initial cost get a propane burner not the electric iron. Electric works great on cows but pretty slow going on wood. Ours hooks up to a BBQ style or even larger Rec Vehicle size propane tank. We can brand hundreds of hives in an afternoon, branding both end boards. Lot easier if you brand before assembly. And yes the propane burner brand will brand right through paint, but it's not pretty afterwards!

[Michael Bush]

Mine are 1" and you can pick them out from the road.  Mine is propane.

[forrestcav]

where do you get your branding irons at and how much? My state (TN) when you register issues you a number that you can brand on your boxes.

[Michael Bush]

http://www.novatoolco.com/

I got this one:
http://www.novatoolco.com/Brandingiron-BeeHive.htm

[Lone]

Hello Forrest,

We use the cattle branding irons here, but we already have the gas/propane burner.   If you can weld you could possibly make your own or there are plenty of folk who make brands.  Yes, it is a good idea to paint after branding wood.

Lone

[forrestcav]

yeah I considered making my own as well. The heat source isn't an issue as I can put it in my propane shoeing forge. I guess I'll look into some bar stock.

[Lone]

Hello Forrest,

If you can shoe horses, you will be able to make branding irons with your eyes closed.

Lone