how do you sign your work

My wife kept is simple for me…..for my birthday I got a branding iron that simply says

Handcrafted by
Adrian McNabb

I was hoping to get a date stamp too but the bank account said no…..lol

-- Adrian ..... The 11th Commandment...."Thou Shalt Not Buy A Wobble Dado"

Sharpie with signature and date prior to finish.

Someone told my wife that the signature and date are important because it provides a “history” for the piece. Apparently collector look for this sort of thing- not that anyone would be collecting any of my work :^)

I have taken and etched my name in with a dremal and filled it with wood putty of a contrasting colar and sanded it down. It looks good but I would like to get a branding iron in the future.

-- Glenn, New Mexico

Sharpie my name and date and shop location, but asking for the custom branding iron for xmas or bday this year…

-- Rich, WNY, www.nyrockingchairs.com

If you’ve got the funds, splurge and get the branding iron w/ your signature on it (with a date stamp). That would be pretty cool. I think it’s more personal if you stick with the Sharpie marker. No two signatures will be EXACTLY the same, making your handcrafted/custom pieces even more unique.

-- Lane Custom Guitars and Basses

I have a branding iron, similar to yours, with the date. I also sign under it with a sharpie.

-- Tim -- http://tmuli.com

I date my work by inlaying a penny ( current year ) A 3/4 forstner bit works great.

-- Pat, Colorado

I Sharpie my name and install a penny.

-- - Real men read directions

Arnold,

This is what we use: A 2-inch (1.995”) medallion with our logo on it – and my signature goes under it:

To apply to the project I use a 2-inch Forstner bit to drill into the wood carefully, and glue the medallion in place with 2P-10 adhesive/accelerator instant glue.

-- Al Navas, St Joseph, MO, http://sandal-woodsblog.com

Sharpie…but I’m thinkin’ about doin’ the penny thing too.

-- Bob Vila would be so proud of you!

Branding irons are good if you make things large enough for the iron. I prefer a good old sharpie. I sat down one day and drew a lot of different designs, before coming up with the one I use now.

-- Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didin't do then by the ones you did. - Mark Twain

hmmm…maybe when I get good enought to admit I built something…:-)

-- ....next big purchase is wood for the next project, Mark

Hi:

I sign with a stylized logo of my intials and the year in Roman Numerials.
I use either a Sharpie or a wood burning tool.

-- Randy (P), rustic wood crafts, Morning View, Kentucky

I should probably sign all my work but I only tend to sign the pieces i really like (which being highly critical of my own work isn’t much).

When i dosign i burn the logo you see in green to the left (its my intials D P) then sign and date with sharpie.

I really need to start signing everything oh well i’m kinda lazy that way too.

Have a great day….......

PS when you design a logo make sure to keep it simple, too much will only distract from it..

-- Wood and Glass they kick (well you know) Have a great day all Dug

I usually used my engraving tool, I’ve used this signature for many years.

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

Very good ideas. I will probably include my full name in my logo, since My initials would mean noting 100 years from now. Not saying that my work would last that long, but you never know. Like the penny idea, very clever. I like Al Navas’ logo, looks very professional. Keep suggesting, Thank you Very Helpfull every

Al Navis, where did you get the medallion made up? That’s awesome! I’ve been a Sharpie guy so far, but the dremel, penny, roman numeral ideas are all cool too. I spent an hour designing my branding iron with Craftsman Fonts I found online for free (i.e. Chelsea Studio, Willow, Bala Cynwyd, Adresack, Avignon, and Nickley).

-- You can't control the wind, but you can adjust your sails

I burn it in with a wood burning tool “ODIE”.

-- Odie, Confucius say, "He who laughs at one's self is BUTT of joke".

Arnold and Skully,

We had our medallions made by Laura Zaruba, owner of elle Z designs. And I just posted on my blog, to document the source – I received many questions from readers, and thought it best to archive the information for future reference.

Laura was terrific!

-- Al Navas, St Joseph, MO, http://sandal-woodsblog.com

I let my finished work speak for itself with my tell tale signature, clearly evident and apparent in all projects.
My joinery has my telltale mark in my loose and uneven dovetails, often further embellished by fine examples of end-grain tear-out. Ill fitting m&t’s are proudly displayed and featured on most tables and cabinetry which I label as finer furniture. Kitchen cabinets feature my unique variations on the square and plumb design theory. Uneven spacing of pulls and latches are also a prime example of my “outside the box” technique and approach. Glue drips and tool marrrs typically erupt through the final finishes, which only further distinguishes my custom designed pieces. These are just some of the distinguishing tells the set my work apart from the typical professional woodworker.

-- Ciao, gth.

Gusthehonkey LMAO! I don’t think they’ll be able to tell our stuff apart!

-- Fred.... Poconos, PA ---- Chairwright in the making ----

Sharpie. There’s nothing – in my opinion – as personal as an ‘actual’ signature written by hand on a piece so (painstakingly?) built by hand.

-- Jarrod, Eagle Nest, NM http://anthologyfinefurniture.wordpress.com

Gus,

LMAO!!! I know, but please don’t ask how I know… ;-)

-- Al Navas, St Joseph, MO, http://sandal-woodsblog.com

lmao!!!!!!! Gus, thanks for reminding us that we are not alone at the top!
Craven

-- let the chips fly!