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Signing Bowls?

Thomas Heck

Thomas Heck

Joined
Feb 13, 2012
Messages
20
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1
Location
Pineville, KY
Just wondering if anyone uses a wood burning pen to sign bowls. I have used sharpies, bought a wood burning iron with signature, and currently use dremel engraver, then I stain the engraving. If the bottom isn’t perfectly flat, the iron rocks and doesn’t look good. The sharpies run and wear off. And the engraver works ok, but you have to then put stain in it to make it show. Just thought a wood burning pen might work. Thanks
 
I keep a Colwood Cub woodburner with a writing tip in the shop to sign bowls, etc. I also have an electric branding iron, but it requires a pretty flat surface or it produces irregular results (I used the branding iron on flat work before I started turning ... it doesn't get much use now!).
 
Scorch pen looks neat but I guess I was more thinking of a simple wood burning pen that you could hold good enough to sign with. Thanks for replies.
 
A great many turners sign with a wood burning tip.
What generally works best is a small ball or rounded wire tip as they move easily in all directions.
Experiment with speed and temperature.
Generally a slow writing speed and med low temperature works best.

I find wearing optivisors ( magnifying lenses) helps too.
 
I found a Chandler wood burner with good reviews. It looked small and simple to use.
 
I have been using a pyrography burning pen to sign my turnings for a long time, it works well, though some woods are harder to write on than others, slow and steady works best for me.

Here are some that show how I sign and also the burner and pens that go with it, there all kinds of pens, a “writing” tip works best and what I use, Lee Valley is one of the places that sell the pens and burners.
https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/shop/tools/power-tools/31042-the-razertip-wood-burning-systems


Bottoms 1.jpg bottoms 2.jpg Burners and pens.jpg
 
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Thanks a lot. That was the one and that was kind of my thoughts but saw some example stuff and thought it might work. Thanks for the photos. Looks like some nice work and burner works well.
 
I looked at the pjl website. Looks like they have ball point in 19 s- l. Which would be best. Thanks
 
I use a Pigma Micron Pen, archival ink that does not smudge. I have not found a finish that bothers it.
 
Thanks again for all the help.
 
I use a Optima woodburning pen as well to sign my work. It is very easy to control and you can adjust the heat as well.
 
Another option is an engraver. I've seen quite a few turners use them, as do I. I use this one from Dremel, less than $30 https://www.dremel.com/en_US/products/-/show-product/tools/290-engraver-kit. I use a black pen to write whatever, then go over that with the engraver. Versus a burner the wood is indented and more difficult to remove, not sure if that is an advantage or not. I've considered a burner, but I don't think it saves me time - I would need to use pen/pencil to write with, then trace with a burner, probably about the same time. If one can "sign" with a burner without tracing it out it saves time.

One advantage of an engraver is marking on metals - I use it to put various markings on tools and such, it will mark hardened tool steel.
 
A simple soldering iron with a chisel tip can be used to burn basic block lettering....

(Edit: I a should have written this out in all caps..... ;-)
 
I have used a Colwood Detailer woodburner for many years for signing my pieces, and I use the RT-C tip (https://woodburning.com/collections/replaceable-tips-rt) for anything that involves handwriting. On my pieces with a milk paint finish or very finely polished surfaces, I use an inexpensive engraver.
Barbarini's Tambourine

Barbarini's Tambourine

  • Media owner Kalia Kliban
  • Date added
  • Comments 1
Cherry, 12" across, finished with walnut oil.
"Barbarini's Tambourine" is the tune for a...
The title on the musical plate was done with the RT-C tip, as an example...
 
Thanks for the photo and all the advice. You all have given me plenty options.
 
I have that engraver, just doesn’t show up good on some woods. So I always put stain in the engraving and sometimes it bleeds and doesn’t look too good. So I thought burning might be simpler. I just scratch it out with the engraver. I guess using a pencil might make it neater. Thanks again
 
I’m guessing you burn the wood before finishing or buffing. Is that correct?
 
Thanks
 
There have been several threads about this same topic. I know, I started one a few years ago. I wanted to buy a branding iron. I ended up using my Dremel engraver, like Betty Scarpino. On some work I rub a gold wax pen that Cindy Drozda sells, then I spray lacquer. Looks very classy. You might want to search for the older threads. Aloha
 
Have used two methods till recently. Sign with pyrograpgy and place logo in center with bit I made to achieve 3 interlocked circled. I looked on Etsy and found branding irons for $27 from China and takes a month almost exactly. The first I ordered 1 inch and it was 1 inch wide but 1.5 tall so I ordered a 1/5 inch and it works great.Images are deceiving but the first is the larger iron IMG_3871.jpg IMG_3968.JPG
 
Thanks a lot for the pics and info. I’ll look at the other threads.
 
I appreciate all the help. I ended ordering an Optima 1. It seems to work great. First time I’ve used a woodblock. Thanks again.
 
Doug Freeman said:
Another option is an engraver. I've seen quite a few turners use them, as do I. I use this one from Dremel, less than $30 https://www.dremel.com/en_US/products/-/show-product/tools/290-engraver-kit. I use a black pen to write whatever, then go over that with the engraver. Versus a burner the wood is indented and more difficult to remove, not sure if that is an advantage or not. I've considered a burner, but I don't think it saves me time - I would need to use pen/pencil to write with, then trace with a burner, probably about the same time. If one can "sign" with a burner without tracing it out it saves time.

One advantage of an engraver is marking on metals - I use it to put various markings on tools and such, it will mark hardened tool steel.
Click to expand...

What size and type of grinding tip do you use?
 
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