The MCBA has a branding iron available to club members to use for marking equipment with your brand. This branding iron is heated using a flame from a portable propane tank. The branding iron has a 1 inch tall x 10 characters slotted character holder allowing each club member to create their specific brand. The club purchased a variety of letters based on the initial club member response. Additional letters can be purchased from Nova Tool Co, if needed.
Contact Bill Elliott at (256) 679-8085 to check-out the club branding iron.
The club provides the branding iron, tools for setup, and leather gloves. The following characters are currently available:
A
The borrower must provide the propane tank (like used on your BBQ grill). In addition, safety glasses are recommended.
Contents
Instructions for Use
Caution: Be aware that the branding iron gets very hot — extreme caution must be exercised to prevent getting burned. The propane torch flame heats the back of the character holder and flames exit each side of the the rear of the character holder.
Setup Your Brand on the Character Holder
First, setup the character holder with the letters for your brand. The letters are backwards and will read from right to left. Center the letter and tighten the screw clamps to hold the letters in place. Next, attach the letter holder to the handle and tighten the two square headed set screws.
Attach the Branding Iron to the Propane Tank
- Attach the branding iron hose to the propane tank. Note: this is a lefthand thread so you will tighten by turning counter-clockwise. Use the adjustable wrench to tighten the hose snuggly so that the connector seals. Many tanks have a shutoff that is opened when the attaching hose is tightened. It may be an additional full turn after you tighten by hand.
- Make sure the valve on the base of the branding iron handle is turned off. (arrow indicates clockwise rotation to shut off)
Lighting the Branding Iron
- Put on your safety gloves and glasses.
- Again, make sure the valve at the base of the branding iron handle is turned off.
- Slowly open the valve on the propane tank.
- Next, get ready to light the torch on the branding iron. Hold the branding iron away from anyone and anything flammable.
- Slowly open the valve at the base of the brand handle about 1/2 turn. You should be able to hear the propane flowing and likely smell propane.
- Light the flame by placing the lighter at the opening behind the character holder.
- Once, the torch is lit, you can set it down using the built in stand and wait about 10 minutes for the characters to get hot enough to burn the brand in to your equipment.