Branding by fire — the gesture of the ébénistes
Antoine forges branding irons following the French engraving tradition. A heated iron carrying your engraving presses onto the surface of the object, burns the fibres, leaves a permanent scented mark impossible to mistake for print.
Material and composition
Die in brass engraved with a conical tungsten carbide cutter rotating at 39,500 rpm, precision to 1/100 of a millimetre — the cutter tip is measured under a microscope. Turned wooden handle, German-made iron (ALK brand), engraving carried out in the Landes workshop. The Bon à Graver with the marking preview is supplied within 1-2 days after order for validation ; the vectorisation service and visual adaptation to the engraving is included with the tool. Accepted formats : .ai, .eps, .pdf, .svg (vector, strongly recommended) or .png, .jpg for images to be vectorised.
Markable materials
Solid wood
Oak, walnut, beech, chestnut, pine. Lignin crystallisation, permanent brown mark.
Vegetable-tanned leather
Reaction with tannins, deep permanent browning.
Natural cork
Localised dilation, slightly recessed mark with brown outline.
Bamboo
Particularly contrasted mark on a light golden ground.
Rubber and some plastics
At low temperature, preliminary test recommended.
Typical applications
Cabinet-making and signature lutherie
Sound box, drawer interior, back of signed furniture.
Leather craft and saddlery
Wallets, belts, suitcases, bags, cases, horse saddles.
Cork — bottles and accessories
Custom corks for winemakers, coasters, branded acoustic panels.
Bamboo and eco materials
Kitchen utensils, compostable packaging, sustainable editions.
Premium coffers and packaging
Corporate gifts, limited editions, wine tasting boxes.
Three mechanics available
ALK electric iron (made in Germany)
Electric resistance heating, ideal for continuous workshop use. Power 125 W (ALK standard) or 300 W (ALK4 for plates up to 90 × 20 mm). Power supply 220 V / 50 Hz, 120 cm cable, working temperature +/- 450 °C, heating time 10 min. Interchangeable engraved plates (ref ALK1 / ALK4) — one handle serves several marks.
Thermo-regulated press
For identical marking series or delicate applications : fixed press with precision thermostat, positioning repeatable to the millimetre. Recommended for leather (where marking is a brunissage and temperature control avoids burns) and for sensitive materials — as an alternative to the electric iron with voltage regulator.
Manual branding iron
Tool without electric supply, flame-heated — blowtorch, cooking burner, gas stove. Brass matrix mounted on M10 stainless steel rod about 40 cm long, with wooden handle at the end for heat protection. Portable, usable anywhere, no electrical constraint. Standard dimensions : 20 × 15 mm rectangular, 20 × 20 mm square, Ø 15 mm round — custom formats on request. Use recommended with heat-protective glove.
The Bon à graver : consultation with Antoine
- Quote form — send us a drawing, an idea, a reference.
- Bon à graver — within 4 days, Antoine will present you the engraving project.
- Payment — the confirmation to launch the engraving.
- Making — Antoine production 3-6 days + Rima Fonti import and quality control 1-2 weeks.
Dimensions
Any format or dimension on request. Round, rectangular, custom shapes — no technical limit. The final format is agreed on the Bon à graver.
Additional information
| Weight | 0,4 kg |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 10 × 10 × 15 cm |
