Reviews & Articles

BRANDING IRONS - TYPES OF BRANDS - HOW TO USE - REPAIR OF YOUR BRANDING IRON

What size should I make my branding iron?

First of all, if you are in a state or providence that requires you to have a certain size brand then you will have to abide by the laws of your local brand office. If you have an option to change sizes that will be useful depending upon your branding needs. Typically, the size of the brand determined by the age of the animals you are branding, location of your brand on the animal and also the brand design itself. All must be taken into consideration when ordering a brand. Remember, that a brand will grow as the animal grows.
(THIS STATEMENT APPLIES TO LIVESTOCK BRANDING IRONS - PLEASE CHECK WITH YOUR LOCAL BRAND OFFICE FOR REQUIREMENTS IN YOUR STATE OR PROVIDENCE BEFORE ORDERING ANY LIVESTOCK BRANDING IRONS!)

What type of brand should I use to brand my animals?

The type of brand used is determined be your needs. If you are looking to identify your animals in a timely, effective and inexpensive manner, then an Electric brand may work the best for you. If you want to identify your pleasure or workhorses or even dogs, you may want to go to a Freeze branding iron. This type of brand when done properly, will turn the effected hair white or colorless in the shape of your brand. This process is more time consuming and costly then the others, however because the brand design will standout and be easily seen, it has become the choice for many horse people around the world. Of course we continue to offer a complete line of fire heated branding irons for use where power is not available.

Where do I get the coolant for Freeze branding?

With freeze branding you will need to cool the irons down to a temperature that will allow you to achieve a clean consistent brand. The coolants that are used to perform this task are either liquid nitrogen or dry ice and alcohol. You should be able to pickup the coolants at any welding supply company or artificial inseminators carry the liquid nitrogen for use in storage of their semen.

How long does it take to get a branding iron made?

The length of time to produce a branding iron depends upon the type of brand you require. On average, an Electric brand takes 3-4 days to produce, the same can be said for a Stainless Steel Fire brand. When ordering a Freeze brand, because of the process that they go through to be made they may take approximately 2-3 week to manufacture. If you need an iron on a certain date we will do are best to see that you needs are met.

Can you repair an electric branding iron?

Yes, all electric brands can be repaired. In a worst-case scenario, the element would have to be replaced and the cost to do so would be $65.00 plus return shipping. A savings of over $30.00 compared to a new iron.

Can a brand be changed once it has been manufactured?

Yes, however this is not a desirable option. Minor changes can sometimes be made to an electric iron but Freeze and Fire irons cannot be modified without completely remanufacturing the iron.

Is it possible to make a new iron like and existing iron without sending in a drawing?

Yes, if you have a BBQ BAZAAR.com branding iron, all that we require to make another brand is the serial number on the handle of the iron. We have kept drawings of all the electric brands that we have manufactured from the very first one. Simply write down the serial number from your iron, give us a call or fill out our online order form and we can duplicate the iron for you. If you wish to change the size or design of the brand we can do it at this time.

Can I choose the wattage of my electric branding iron?

No, The wattage on an electric brand is determined by how much element is needed to make the iron, thus, the larger and more complicated the iron is the higher the wattage is going to be. Please remember that wattage alone does not determine how hot a branding iron will get.

I feel a shock when I brand my animals, why is this happening?

As with any electrical appliance, there is a chance of electrical shock if the iron is not properly cared for or the iron is not used on a circuit that is properly grounded. If the iron should fail during use and your circuits are all grounded, the chance of an accident happening are very slim. If you have noticed the animal acting differently or you feel a shock when branding, discontinue use of the iron. Always use a 3 wire grounded circuit.

How do I pay for the iron?

We currently accept personal checks in advance, we can send the iron COD for an additional $5.00 or you can put your purchase on a credit card.

Why isn't my electric branding iron heating at all?

There may be several reasons that your iron is not heating. First, check to see that your connections are secure and that your electrical plugs are in good order. Check to see if the iron will heat when plugged into another outlet. If the iron continues not to heat up, the problem maybe in the element of the branding iron. You will need to take the iron to an electrician or send the iron to us for diagnosis and repair.

Why isn't my iron heating hot enough to produce a clear brand?

The problem is one of two things. First, the power supply you are using is inadequate. Using extension cords that are not large enough in gauge to allow for the distance that you are away from your power supply pole could cause this. The longer the distance is the large gauge of extension cord that is needed. See cord length chart. Secondly, the element in the iron is shorting out and causing the iron to not heat properly.

Can others repair my electric iron?

No, we have only one manufacturing facility that is equipped to make and repair electric branding irons.

Gas Grill Safety Tips

  Grilling Season is here, which means many backyard chefs, including myself, will be dusting off their gas or charcoal grills for some spectacular barbecuing events. By taking a few precious minutes to perform some basic maintenance on your grill, you will be able to enjoy many hours of safe and hassle-free outdoor cooking the entire grilling season.

For you charcoal grilling buffs, the CPSC recommends being aware of carbon monoxide, which is a colorless and odorless by-product of charcoal grilling. For this reason, the CPSC says to “never burn charcoal inside of homes, vehicles, tents, or campers.” Storing charcoal grills indoors with recently used charcoal can also be a hazard, as carbon monoxide is emitted until the charcoal is completely extinguished (cpsc.gov).

BBQ BAZAAR.com wants our customers to experience the best things outdoor cooking offers. By using some common sense and following your grill-manufacturer’s instructions, your backyard get-togethers should be nothing but wonderful. Feel free to call us at 864-882-8185 to find out more.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission offers a few tips concerning grilling safety (www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PREREL/PRHTML97/97128.html) such as checking gas supply lines for blockages, checking hoses for cracks and leaks, and keeping hoses as far away as possible from sources of heat (like your burner!).

Source: The Consumer Product Safety Commission, www.cpsc.gov


  1. When you are barbequeing, only open the propane tank valve ½ turn. This supplies enough gas to the burners, and makes emergency shut off very fast, should you ever need to close the valve.
  2. The proper sequence for starting a grill is (1) Open the grill lid, (2) turn on the gas supply, (3) turn the ignition burner to high, (4) light the ignition, (5) turn on the second burner if needed. By following this sequence, excess gas will not accumulate inside the grill before it is ignited, preventing an explosion that could damage your grill and even cause personal injury.
  3. Perform routine maintenance such as inspection and cleaning of venturi tubes for insects or grease.
  4. Check gas hoses for wear such as cracking, brittleness or leaks. Be sure there are no sharp bends.
  5. Keep gas hoses away from hot surfaces or install a heat shield to protect them.
  6. Replace scratched or damaged connectors which could leak gas.
  7. Following your manufacturer's instructions, check for gas leaks. You should not smell gas. If you do, immediately turn off the gas until the leak is fixed.
  8. Keep lighted cigarettes, matches, candles or any open flame away from a leaking grill.
  9. Never use a grill indoors. It must be at least 10 feet away from any building. It should not be used in the garage, breezeway, carport, porch or under any surface that could catch fire.
  10. Never try to repair the tank valve or the grill by yourself. See a qualified LP gas dealer or repair person.
  11. Always follow your manufacturer's instructions that came with your grill.
  12. Propane tank tips:
  • Always keep containers upright
  • Never store a spare gas container under or near the grill or indoors
  • Never store or use flammable liquids, like gasoline near the grill
  • Always transport LP gas containers in a secure, upright position
  • Never keep a filled container in a hot car or car trunk. Heat causes the gas pressure to rise, which could open the relief valve and allow gas to escape.
  • Always use extreme caution and carefully follow your manufacturer's instructions when connecting or disconnecting your LP container.