Branding Nails

A great little project to make some tiny branding irons out of wire nails...

MATERIALS

Wire nails - I used 125mm wire nails that have a head of about 10mm diameter

Block of wood - for the handle

Sticky backed vinyl sheet

Propane gas

TOOLS

Etching tool - you will need to make your own, easy to do

Salt water solution

Hammer

File

Sharp knife

Rotary tool + grinding wheel

Hammer the nail into the end of a block of wood...

...this will make it easy to hold the nail to work on the end

File the nail head flat ready for etching

Cut out your design from a sheet of sticky backed vinyl...it will be tiny!

Remember to reverse the design especially for text and logos...as with all printing it has to be reversed so it will be the correct way when burnt into the wood

Firmly stick the stencil to the nail head

You will need to make an etching tool...check out my Metal Etching video or have a look at Laserage's Instructable on how to etch with a battery.

Attach the etching tool

Plug in the transformer

Pour out some salt water solution...

...and dip the cotton wall on the end of the etching nail into the solution.

Press the tool onto the end of the nail head and hear it sizzle...etching is taking place.

Fumes are produced...PLEASE make sure you undertake this in a SAFE well ventilated place and do not breath in the fumes.

It will take around ten minutes to produce a good deep etch and a nicely defined edge to your stencil.

A crud will have formed on the end...scrape away with a knife to reveal your design

Cut away the excess metal around your design...

...this is too enable the brand to be as clean as possible without metal to the side scorching around the brand.

Take it slowly with a steady hand so the etched edge isn't nicked by the grinding wheel.

A rotary tool and small grinding/cut off wheel works really well...a hand file should do the job as well.

Cut the wooden block to a convenient length as a handle...

...plane...cut...sand to a nice finish that feels good in your hand.

All ready to brand some timber...

Heat the end of the branding nail with a propane torch.

It will take a little practice to work out how hot you will need it...grab a scrap piece of wood and do some practice runs.

Place on the timber for a couple seconds...

...pull away...

...NICE!

Why not brand your own branding nail!

It makes sense so that you can easily see the design of the tool...especially that you will want to make lots of them.

Remove the nail from the wood...

Heat up the nail head as before...watch those fingers as you do not now have a nice timber handle to insulate from the heat!

Brand the handle...

...Carefully tap the nail back into the handle.

These are super useful and so small...perfect for branding little things!

I am entering this project into the Pocket Sized Contest as they are pocket sized! and if you have enjoyed this project, I would really appreciate your vote...thank you so much.

This project is part of my YouTube channel where I try to make cool and interesting projects.

Please check out my channel if you want to see more of the projects, if not there will be more coming to Instructables soon.

Why not check out what I am up to on Facebook.