OT: Branding iron source sought..

Bruce Scott · Post by **Bruce Scott** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 6:16 pm

I am after a simple steel, heat in the fire variety, cattle iron. Does anyone know where I can get one made? I can't find anyone making them here.

Mike-in-WV · Post by **Mike-in-WV** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 6:28 pm

Just go to Google and type in Branding Iron. You find all kinds of them.You can also look up a Black Smith in your yellow pages. If they don't make them I'm sure they can tell you where to get one. Hope this helps, Mike

wm · Post by wm » Thu Feb 07, 2008 6:31 pm

Look in the phone book under blacksmith or try typing blacksmith and your state into your favorite search engine.

My cousin has a blacksmith shop in his garage and runs it as a small hobby buisness (he is a paramedic with the local fire department). He has made decorative branding irons for a local eatery......I am sure the only difference is the quality of the iron used.

Wm

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 8:42 pm

Helga's House of Pain?

Comal Forge · Post by **Comal Forge** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 9:23 pm

I can make you anything you want but I'll bet there are some good local smiths near you who can make cattle brands. I get $100 USD for fancy ones with wood handles but a plain working brand should go for around $50 or thereabouts.

There are some period Spanish brands on my website if you are interested:

http://www.comalforge.com/

jnyork · Post by **jnyork** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 9:28 pm

BlaineG wrote:Helga's House of Pain?

Oh, yes!! Oh, yes!!

20cows · Post by **20cows** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 10:18 pm

Just for fun I made a baker's dozen for family members' Christmas presents this past year.

I found it more difficult to make a good burn on a firm surface than on the side of a cow.

Don McDowell · Post by **Don McDowell** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 11:06 pm

If your local welding shop won't build a set, go to www.valleyvet.com

Dakota7 · Post by **Dakota7** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 11:09 am

This outfit in Mandan, North Dakota makes good ones. We have used their electric ones for several years and they work great if you have electric power where you are branding. When we brand away from power we use home made irons and heat with propane. We also have a set of their freeze brand numbers for individual id on cows.
http://www.lhbrandingirons.com/
Being a part time brand inspector for the North Dakota Stockmens Assoc. I have seen a fair amount of bad brands, usually related to the way the iron is made. You want to have good venting in the figures, take a look at this site for info on that. http://www.sdbrandboard.com/brandtips.asp
You also want the iron to attach to handle in a few places as oppose to one attachment point so it distributes the heat better and you don't get blotching on the hide.

Don McDowell · Post by **Don McDowell** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 11:21 am

The thing I like best about the electric irons is they're always hot. Don't have to worry about waiting for the irons to reheat before doing the next calf. I know one fella that uses a generator for his electric irons when branding in makeshift catch pens away from the commercial power.

Bruce Scott · Post by **Bruce Scott** » Sat Feb 09, 2008 5:23 pm

Thanks fellas, lots of good info.

I have decided to run with a Comal Forge brand -

Abilene · Post by **Abilene** » Sat Feb 09, 2008 6:27 pm

You guys just showed me some things that I have taken for granted. Daddy worked in the blacksmith shop at Halliburton ever since I can remember. I kinda thought every body just made thier own brandin' iron like we did. Almost everyone has converted to electric in our neck of the woods, but I still remember the wood fire then changein' over to propane. Thanks for bringin' back those memories. Abilene