Branding Iron Frequently Asked Questions

Do Gearheart Industry Branding Irons have a warranty?

We sure do--the best in the industry. Life can be unpredictable, but your trusty iron shouldn't be a source of worry. At Gearheart Industry, we understand that accidents happen, and we're here to keep your tools in top-notch shape every step of the way.

With our exclusive "Good as New Guarantee," you can rest assured that your iron will always be in peak condition, no matter what bumps in the road you encounter. At Gearheart, we're maker-founded and customer-focused, and that's why we're the only marketing company on the market with this kind of support. Here's how it works:

At Gearheart Industry, we pride ourselves on providing top-notch service to our valued customers. We offer unbeatable repairs for our branding irons, ensuring they remain in excellent condition and deliver consistent results. For just $19.99, our expert technicians will inspect, repair, and fine-tune your branding iron, guaranteeing its optimal performance.

Your Mark Matters: We know how important your work is to you, and we're committed to helping you maintain your standards of excellence. Trust in Gearheart Industry to keep your tools as sharp as your skills.

Grow with Confidence: As you grow in your craft, we'll be right by your side, ensuring your equipment never holds you back. With the "Good as New Guarantee," you can focus on what you do best, knowing your gear is in expert hands.

Don't let equipment setbacks slow you down – join the Gearheart Industry family today and experience the peace of mind that comes with our "Good as New Guarantee." Your journey to success starts here.

Limits and Restrictions: The Good As New Guarantee covers you against defects in material and workmanship. This does not include damage or wear resulting from misuse. Branding plates may be replaced or repaired with the original design only. Please be aware that disassembly of electric products will void the warranty. If your iron requires service, contact us. If your iron is damaged in a way that isn't covered under the warranty, we can usually repair or replace the damaged components at a reasonable cost.

Do you offer branding iron design services?

At this time we do not offer design services.  If you already have a finished graphic or design file, we are happy to make that into your iron. Graphics must be sent to us exactly as they need to brand, in all black on a white or transparent background and have a minimum resolution of 600.

For design files, we ask that they are all black text and designs on a white/transparent background, vector-based or high-res (minimum resolution of 600 dpi) saved as one of these preferred formats: pdf, jpg, png, or ai/eps saved for CS5. If you’re using Illustrator, please outline or embed all fonts. All color and grayscale shading should be removed from the image.

Lastly, we also offer a free branding iron design generator which you are welcome to use yourself to create your own design.

How long will it take you to make my branding iron?

For standard-sized torch-heated irons and standard-sized electric irons, it'll take us 5 business days to make your iron and get it ready to ship. Oversized irons may take a bit longer than our standard lead times due to increased production time.

Once it's cut, we'll proof it out and send you a picture. Provided you approve, we'll get it in the mail ASAP. (Please be aware that if you would like design changes made to the logo once it’s been proofed, there is a $30 fee ($60 for XL irons) to re-cut your branding plate.) We do offer a Rush Upgrade for a fee, with approval, but you should contact us in advance to discuss your timeline.

What is your shipping and return policy?

Your shipping cost is calculated based on the weight of the product you order, your location, and the carrier and speed you select. The price that is calculated during checkout is the price that you pay--we will NOT increase your shipping cost after you check out.

Returns for warranty service should be accompanied by a note describing the trouble, and we strongly recommend emailing us prior to shipping your iron. Since your iron is completely made-to-order and unique, we do not offer refunds. We reserve the right, under rare circumstances, to offer store credit for products that are returned unused in the original packaging. The purchaser is responsible for all shipping costs associated with returns and warranty service, irrespective of circumstance.

Do you deliver internationally?

Yes. We ship Torch Heated Irons all over the globe except for the EU countries, and our branding irons are used on every continent in the world (except Antarctica).

Please note our Electric Irons are only sold within North America.

What’s the difference between torch-heated and electric irons?

Torch-heated brands are good for small-scale production or one-offs. They yield the same results as an electric iron, but they require just a bit more practice to figure out optimal heating time. Also, they require reheating after a few minutes, which doesn't take a terribly long time, but it can get tedious if you're doing a lot of pieces. Electric brands are easy to use, but they cost more.

If you're doing a number of brands at once and you just want something that'll be consistent and easy to use, we'd recommend electric. If you don't mind occasional slight variations, and the moderate learning curve associated with a torch-heated iron, then go with that.

Please note that we can only guarantee your iron itself will be a mirror image of your design. It may not brand clearly on food or rough and uneven surfaces as they were designed for flat and smooth surfaces. You must brand prior to finishing any type of wood as the heat will cause any finish to bubble or burn. Our irons are 100% custom and made to order so they are non-refundable.

How do branding irons heat up?

For torch-heated irons, most folks use a plumber's torch, but you can just as easily use a gas cooktop or propane grill; anything with a hot, clean-burning flame. We don't recommend using a wood-burning fire, primarily because it's difficult to control the heat, and they tend to crud up your iron with soot (that is unless you’re going with a brass head).

For electric irons, simply plug it in. It'll get up to branding temperature in 15-20 minutes. Essentially zero reheat time between impressions--it's got more than enough power to do long production runs. At operating temperature, you should be able to make a good, dark impression in 2-4 seconds.

We'll include a "Use and Care" sheet with your iron that has directions and tips.

I’m not sure if my design will work and/or I don’t know what size iron I want. What should I do?

We encourage all of our clients to contact us via the contact form on our website prior to placing an order. This gives us a chance to determine how well your design will brand. Remember, this is a completely custom piece created to fit your needs.

Please be aware that anything larger than 9in² is considered an XL iron. They can be heavy and cumbersome to use. It can also be difficult to get an even branding result due to the sheer size of the iron itself. We are very upfront about this as our irons are 100% custom and non-refundable. Again, please contact us via the Contact Form before ordering to confirm the details.

For design files, we ask that they are black on white, vector-based or high-res (at least 600+dpi) saved as one of these preferred formats: ai, psd, pdf, eps, or jpg.

What's the difference between brass vs. aluminum branding irons?

We make our branding plates out of Aluminum or Brass. As a rule of thumb, aluminum is best for occasional use, and brass is the best choice for professional environments. Both yield identical results as far as sharpness and detail. Aluminum is, obviously, less expensive, and it’s considered safe for food contact. At high temperatures, aluminum is a bit softer than brass, and if heated incorrectly it can sustain damage. Brass is essentially impossible to destroy with high heat, and it withstands non-ideal conditions substantially better, like branding dirty, rough, or painted surfaces. When properly cared for, a brass branding plate will last for a lifetime.

Can I brand food with your irons?

Yes! When branding food, you have to use a deep cut aluminum iron as brass is not safe for direct food contact.

You will need to be careful with aluminum though as at high temperatures, aluminum is a bit soft and if heated incorrectly it can sustain damage which is not covered under Warranty. (ex: you cannot leave an electric iron plugged in when not in use or overheat a torch-heated iron, or the plate can melt.)

It is IMPERATIVE that you follow the detailed instructions for both heating and usage that accompany the iron for both safety and longevity.

Note: We can only guarantee your iron itself will be a mirror image of your design. It may not brand clearly on food due to the softness of the surface. Our irons are 100% custom and made to order so they are non-refundable.

What can I brand? Can I brand food/leather/my cattle?

When it comes to branding, the possibilities are endless. Wood, leather, suede, yoga mats (made of thermoplastic elastomer), cork, card, denim, paper, canvas, food…whatever your business or hobby, whether you make tables or clothes, you’re a chef or a fitness instructor, you can brand.

When branding leather with an electric iron, we recommend a deep cut plate and that you use a Temperature Controller as leather requires a low heat.

Also note that some plastics brand and some do not. We cannot guarantee it will work on your specific plastic, so please contact us via the contact form for additional information.

We do not intend our brands to be used on living creatures for any reason, nor will we knowingly manufacture a brand for that purpose. There are other sources for livestock brands.

Will you make a brand of my favorite college/pro sports team logo or other well-known logo?

Nope. You need to own the rights to whatever you want made, or it needs to be in the public domain. We will not knowingly violate someone's copyright or trademark, even if you say please.