When to burn signature?

I sign mine as you suggested- just prior to the finish. Instead of a branding iron, I use a sharpie sign and date the piece with the month and year.

-- Lew- Time traveler. Purveyor of the Universe's finest custom rolling pins.

Between sanding and finishing is my choice here too. I do not sign everything, but all of my Christmas gifts get signatures just in case the people who get them need a reminder.

-- -- Rob Hix, King George, VA

All my Christmas presents will be signed this year and I “inlay” a penny in the base of each project with year of the project on it.

-- Only the Shadow knows....................

The Penny is an AWSOME idea…unique and clever! I sign my pieces with a black Pilot G2-05, extra fine gel pen. You get a very black, thin line that goes on wood well. It looks really clean. I also sign just before finishing…which does not bother the ink at all. You do have to let it dry for about 30 sec or it can smear.

-- "Hey, you dang woodchucks! Quit chuckin' my wood!"

I sign mine before the final finish.

I write it with a pencil, & then go over it with my vibrating engraving tool.

-- -** 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

Burn baby burn!

I burn almost all of my stuff and attach a business card to it. I love the penny idea, BTW. You are correct, in that after you sand, before you finish. NEVER burn through a finish. Bad ju-ju.

-- christopheralan

Thanks everyone for all the ideas. I too am intrigued by the penny idea, so I might have to experiment with that when I get home.

RobH, you nailed my exact motivation for thinking about this

On my furniture pieces i sign the back after sanding but before putting the finish on. I sign my name, date it, and will number it if it’s a piece I’ve built more than once. On my utensils I use a wood burner to burn my initials in the handle after I’ve done the final sanding but before i put on the finish. I don’t number the utensils, I just put my initials.

-- Joey, Magee, Ms http://woodnwaresms.com

I use my dremel tool to sign and date it. I also like to hide little time capsules inside my work that wont likely be discovered until i’m long gone.

-- "The way to make a small fortune in woodworking- start with a large one"

I’ve been insetting the pennies for over 15 years now and everyone loves them . You can see some of them on my posted projects here.

-- I'm absolutely positive that I couldn't be more uncertain!

I made a small branding iron, I use a propane torch to heat it up. First I sand the entire prodject, then brand it, then sand over the branded are lightly to crispin the lettering up some, then stain and finish.

I use a Sharpie with name, month, year and logo. I am considering a branding iron. I hate the cost of a branding iron, maybe myy wife will read this (hint)!!