This may be one of those rookie mistakes. I bought me a branding iron to id my hives. I bbq some meat today and decided to take advantage of the hot bed of coals and burn my id in a couple of my boxes.
It didn't really work. The best I can figure is the heat just wasn't hot enough. I left it in there a while. Has anyone else used a branding iron? How to do you get it hot enough? In retrospect, I should have used an electric etcher.
Using that method you will need two, one reheating while using the hot one.
It took me a 12 pack to do an arm full by the camp fire.
I ended up buying a propane unit! $$$$
Most of the branding systems I've seen were heated with propane.
They are expensive too.
Here is where I am getting my Branding Iron for doing around 5000 frames soon. Reasonable price for the electric model too.
I guess i can't post links for some reason........ anyways just google leevalley and type in Branding in the search. they are around 105.00 canadian , but they come from the US.
Good Luck
good morning to you all. a newbee here i used a steel letter punch and it worked great DD
To begin with, I used a propane torch. It worked, but took a long time to heat up the branding iron.
Now I use my turkey fryer, just lay the branding iron on top of the flame and let it do it's thing. Doesn't take very long to heat up that way.
Ditto on the turkey fryer burner. Keep an eye out on craigslist, probably pick one up cheap.
Dang! I didn't think of that X:X. Opps, all I have is a fish fryer :lau: