A friend is doing some pallet scrap woodwork and asked about wood branding irons in a heart and star. Here is what I came up with. Any better ideas? These seem to work but I have too much time into them, as far as making them.the heart was forged from half inch square, and the star was 3/16x1" stock. then both were ground and sanded flat on the branding side. It would be less next time now that I have a clue on how. I guess I'm just sharing and fishing for a better idea.  

 

They seem to work ... I would make the star more skinny ... sort of pushing the low corners further in. But that's just me. 

I like the Idea Marc. Thanks. They do work. just fishing for ideas.....  

 

 

Drop down to 1/8"x1" stock for both, less heat when branding so you don't get the flaring around the edges of your mark.

Be sure the handles are aligned with the art work. Makes indexing the image much easier.

Make a round to square section in the center of the length of the handle, and add a twist for decoration. Little things like that make a difference.

Thanks for the tip Jeremy. Good point. 

Good point Glenn. The handles are alligned but not as decernable as maybe they should be. 

Nice work, Das. You're a bit of a star and I can see your heart is in your work.

Greetings Das,

A cut off of pipe is thin wall and forms easily into many shapes. Also if stainless works good for food cut outs.

Forge on and make beautiful things 

Jim

Haha nice one Aus. 

Jim, that's an excellent idea I hadn't thought of. Thank you. 

Das,

Very easy to form up.

Jim, that would make it great for different sizes too. Larger or smaller pipe.  Perfect. 

Did another heart a few weeks ago out of one section of pipe, and a fleury de lis, out of many manipulated pieces of pipe, for my old Boy Scout troop tonight. 

Heart is 1 1/2" tall and 1 5/8" wide. The fleur de lis is 4 1/2" tall by 3 5/8 wide. 

 

Looking good

The irons came out very nice, especially the lily.... pretty symetrical!

Maybe just  grind the Lines in some angled geometrie with some bevels(hope You get what I mean) to get more depth in the branding, but it is hard to do better than You already did.

You are more skilled than You always say

Cheers

Clever work with the symmetry on the fleur, Das. You've got  a bit of a menagerie on the floor there too.

Thanks Jimmy. 

Templehound, I know exactly what you mean. It would be easy to do at any time, so I will leave that option open to them. And that you for the compliment.  

Aus, it took a bit of tweaking and fiddling with.  Yup, got some critters kicking around the shop lol. 

I'd do sharper inside corners on the star. Otherwise, these really great.

I see what you mean JHCC. If I'd have made sharper bends in the 5 pieces or use 10 sections welded up it would be easier to wind up with sharper angles. Thanks. 

Nice irons! Especially like the Boy Scout logo!

I like the handle work..

Thanks John. That's my favorite so far too. Being an Eagle Scout I guess it just has more meaning and it turned out the best I think.   

They feel good in the hand Bubba. 

13 hours ago, Daswulf said:

I see what you mean JHCC. If I'd have made sharper bends in the 5 pieces or use 10 sections welded up it would be easier to wind up with sharper angles. Thanks. 

Just had an idea, feel free to try it out. For the stars that it would be real easy to get sharp corners by cutting 5 short pieces of angle iron, and placing them on end in the shape of a star and welding. seems like it would be quicker, easier, and more symmetrical than welding 10 pieces together.

                                                                                                                               Littleblacksmith

Something like this might be interesting:

seems like that would work better in my pagan days.

two star trek badges intertwined....