Branding Hive Bodies

[GSF]

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.

[tefer2]

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! $$$$

[capt44]

Most of the branding systems I've seen were heated with propane.
They are expensive too.

[Little Bee Farm]

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

[D D]

good morning to you all.   a newbee here i used a steel letter punch and it worked great      DD

[RC]

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.

[rwlaw]

Ditto on the turkey fryer burner. Keep an eye out on craigslist, probably pick one up cheap.

[GSF]

Dang! I didn't think of that  X:X. Opps, all I have is a fish fryer :lau: