Branding advice (Full Version)

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mastersayed -> Branding advice (5/27/2006 4:32:06 PM)

I've decided to brand my slave and I need all the advice I can get about branding. I dont know where to get the brands or how to brand or whats the best spot for a brand. Advice and links are welcomed.




perverseangelic -> RE: Branding advice (5/27/2006 4:35:41 PM)

Get it done by a professional body artist at a studio.

I know it doesn't sound nearly as romantic, but it's much safer and much much more likely to end up with a lasting brand that looks like you want it to look. There are lots of studios that do brands, just do a little looking around in your area.

If you -really- want to do it yourself, find a professional who will teach you. From my experience with those apprenticed to body artists, it can take quite a long time to learn how to do this, so expect this method to be much more time consuming.

(Appologies if you already knew all this, just reading your post it sounded as if you wanted to do this yourself.)




NastyDaddy -> RE: Branding advice (5/27/2006 4:59:21 PM)

Does your slave know how much you know?

Do it yourself branding kits aren't broadly available but I haven't checked ebay.

If you go trial and error, do it on yourself until you get it right... besides ownership, artistic value is desired and no need to muck up the canvas before learning how to paint.

On a serious note, think about covering your ass... just in case in the middle of you branding her ass she don't change her mind and file assault charges against guess who... that pervert over there with the smoking branding iron.

Practice on your neighbor's pesky dog first, or anything else my gawd, and take up woodburning... seriously, to help you better understand the nature of the beast, and it's results. 





JohnWarren -> RE: Branding advice (5/27/2006 5:28:55 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: perverseangelic

Get it done by a professional body artist at a studio.

I know it doesn't sound nearly as romantic, but it's much safer and much much more likely to end up with a lasting brand that looks like you want it to look. There are lots of studios that do brands, just do a little looking around in your area.

If you -really- want to do it yourself, find a professional who will teach you. From my experience with those apprenticed to body artists, it can take quite a long time to learn how to do this, so expect this method to be much more time consuming.

(Appologies if you already knew all this, just reading your post it sounded as if you wanted to do this yourself.)



I'll second that.  Branding is a complex psychomotor task that really has to be learned in a face to face environment.  I put a section on branding in The Loving Dominant but it was for people to know how it works rather than try to teach it to them.

A second on professionals too.  A lot of them are kinky and a lot more are kink-aware.  It's not hard to find someone who will fit his or her branding into your scene letting you get a good brand without wrecking the dominant/submissive energy.




slavejali -> RE: Branding advice (5/27/2006 5:48:16 PM)

I think I branded myself on our iron fireplace the other day...if the sensation was anything like being branded, the branding iron itself would be so hot it would hardly hurt after the immediate initial contact...( really burned myself badly, right down thru the skin layers). Anyways thought I would share that from a sensation point of view.




nighthawk3569 -> RE: Branding advice (5/27/2006 5:56:08 PM)

Use stainless wire to form the 'branding iron'. Make it a simple design. Don't have too many overlapping joints...if joints are necessary, don't let the wires touch. Make a little bend in the top wire, so that it don't touch. Touching creates a 'hot-spot' that can blur the design and/or cause more of a burn. Also, dry-ice can be used instead of heat. Another thing, if heat is used, it's not necessary for the 'iron' to be red-hot.
That's a dangerous fallacy. I suggest you heat a piece of the wire you're going to use and touch it to your arm, etc....see what it does...what kind of mark it leaves. Then you'll be able to judge better. It only needs to be hot enough to make a scar...not leave a deep burn. 
                                                                     'hawk




proudsub -> RE: Branding advice (5/27/2006 6:36:36 PM)

In addition to what the others have said, whether you do it yourself or have a professional do it, be sure you tend it properly afterwards to prevent infection. Since my only experience is with branding cattle i can't help much.

If you do a search on "branding" here there are numerous threads on it. Go to "search" at the top, put in "branding" and change the options to topics and subjects.




BrutalAntipathy -> RE: Branding advice (5/27/2006 6:59:25 PM)

The fellow i've used in the past is a body mod artist. He prefers working with stainless steel. Like nighthawk mentioned above, this guy advises avoiding joints as much as possible, as junctures tend to cause a clumped look to the brand and deforms the pattern. He tends to do it a bit at a time, shaping different pieces of wire in advance and applying them in such a way as to complete the desired pattern.
 
Most importantly after the branding is to keep the site clean. A combination of silvadene cream and polysporin antibiotic powder has prevented any infection in the ones that I have had done. If a dressing is applied, use sterile gauze that will breath rather than absorbent telfa pads, and change the dressing every time drainage is noticed. Healing time is about two weeks if everything goes smoothly. If the wound is still having drainage or is not healing well by this time, seek medical care as an infection has likely set in, and antibiotic therapy will probably be needed.




CrappyDom -> RE: Branding advice (5/27/2006 9:24:12 PM)

I taught a friend to do branding and I am sure you could learn the same way.  I used the technique mentioned above to to create a home made iron.  We used an ancient symbol of a long vertical line crossed at the bottom by a shorter perpendicular non intersecting line.  I then had him practice on his leg and arm till he got good enough to try it on his forehead.  Let me know when you get that far and I will let you know the rest of the technique then.




Archer -> RE: Branding advice (5/27/2006 11:50:14 PM)

If you really are dead set on doing it yourself then by all means go to a professional and apprentice under them for whatever period of time is nessisary.

I'll never understand how anyone with half a brain would expect that the information they could expect to get from online people, on a very advanced technique might evne in their wildest dreams substitute for learning face to face hands on from someone who is actually flippin qualified to do the technique.

In Leather

Archer




MstrTiger -> RE: Branding advice (5/27/2006 11:55:43 PM)


I agree with everyone who says you should seek out a professional, it sounds like the sort of thing that if it were to go wrong it would go spectacularly wrong I think with no practical knowledge or training you would be risking doing some serious damage. I think you would at least need to learn exactly where all the major surface artery’s veins and nerves are, you need to look at it more as a medical procedure than as a garage project.




Wildfleurs -> RE: Branding advice (5/28/2006 11:04:57 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: mastersayed

I've decided to brand my slave and I need all the advice I can get about branding. I dont know where to get the brands or how to brand or whats the best spot for a brand. Advice and links are welcomed.


All I can do is echo what everyone else has said.  My owner made a very particular decision that he was going to do the brand, it was very important to both of us.  But then he also took a few years to learn how to do it.  But I would never ever suggest learning how to do it online, look at your local body mod shops as well as experienced people in your local scene who may have done it who would be willing to teach you over time how to do it.

C~




ADomDoc -> RE: Branding advice (5/28/2006 12:47:59 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: BrutalAntipathy
The fellow i've used ... He tends to do it a bit at a time, shaping different pieces of wire in advance and applying them in such a way as to complete the desired pattern.
 
Most importantly after the branding is to keep the site clean. A combination of silvadene cream and polysporin antibiotic powder has prevented any infection in the ones that I have had done. If a dressing is applied, use sterile gauze that will breath rather than absorbent telfa pads, and change the dressing every time drainage is noticed. Healing time is about two weeks if everything goes smoothly. If the wound is still having drainage or is not healing well by this time, seek medical care as an infection has likely set in, and antibiotic therapy will probably be needed.

Excellent advice ... as is the advice about not taking advice from folks online ... and seeking out a professional  AND treating it as a medical procedure.

Different parts of body have different types of skin that heal at different rates AND closeness to joints or bones will make a big difference in blood supply & complications.  Burning thru to a fat layer can greatly slow healing.  There is a lot more to a good brand than you are gonna learn online.

Silvadene contains silver and is very good for preventing infections in burns or other large skin injures.  If that doesn't work & you still get an infection ... you are in deep shit.  While a breathable dressing is important to speed healing (if any dressing is used at all) ... but a NON-STICK dressing will be much more comfortable to change.  OTOH, IF it's not a very deep brand, then it might heal over w/ minimal scarring ... and therefore become a pretty feeble/wimpy brand.  This is not a problem w/ people who form keloids ... but can be for those who don't.  If you don't scar up satisfactorily, then removing the scab multiple times will promote a larger scar to form.

Another point I haven't seen mentioned is the importance of
1) having a level branding iron ... if it's bent wire ... it might have an uneven contact (or bend when warmed & pressed on the skin) & cause deep burning in one area but no contact in others (if extremely bent). 
2) you should be careful not to have any completely enclosed part in the brand ... i.e. closed circles, triangles, squares, etc that are too small will cut off the blood supply to the skin in the center ... and could cause the whole chunk to fall off ... it'll heal eventually ... w/ a big glob of scar in the center.

Trying for too much detail will be lost when branding w/ an iron (and also cause the centers of circles to slough off).  Suggest you use a woodburner or virgin soldering iron to create a pointilist design if you want super detail.  This is especially good for masos who like repeated pain ... a pointilist design can be dragged out for a long time.  And when done w/ such scarification ... the raised scars can even have color tattooed into them.  So if you fancy yourself a reincarnation of Cezanne ... go for it!

As was correctly mentioned ... a burn that is deep enough is not painful ... after it's burned through the nerve endings in the skin.  And a hot enough iron can accomplish this pretty quickly.  Important that the sub/slave stays still & either doesn't (or can't) jump ... or it'll smear the brand ... or cause a double imprint. 

IF you have to form a closed circle to make the correct brand ... do not close the circle at a single branding ... just do 2 or 3 sides ... and come back later after it's healed & finish the brand.

Consider registering your brand & having a real branding iron made.  You can google it ... but here are some sites
www.texasbrandingiron.com
or
www.ctlr.org/member_ap.html
or
www.thecattlemanmagazine.com/issues/2001/08-01/re-record.asp

Finally ... want to test the sub/slave first?  Explain s/he's going to be branded ... show him/her the iron heating on the stove (such as the gas flame on the stove or charcoal BBQ) ... make sure s/he can smell the obvious heating going on.  Maybe demonstrate by showing him/her the application of the hot brand to a wet sponge ... to hear the sizzle.  Then tie him/her down blindfolded ... clean the site w/ alcohol ... give it a slap (a confusion technique) ... then immediately apply a FROZEN brand for a brief second.  With the proper psychological preparation & expectations ... it WILL feel like a brand. 

I knew an abuser who planned to brand his sub ... and convinced him to do this first to 'test' her.  Not only did it fool her ... it saved her from a real brand ... (she dumped his abusive ass within a couple of weeks -- and doesn't have a nasty scar to remind her of him forever). 

Hope this is helpful to some of you,
ADomDoc
San Antonio




MistressSassy66 -> RE: Branding advice (5/28/2006 1:17:54 PM)

I have a technique that isnt what most consider safe....but if you want a temp one that gives a idea of pain a paperclip well burned so the coating is removed first,then shape into a letter steilize with alcohol both clip and skin heat clip for count to 10 in lighter flame,then hold frim and steady on skin for about the same time.
Most times the pin is attached to the skin and leaves a nice brand,regular burn care and they have all healed up fine.When I say all I mean 7 of them.
***But dont take this as professional advice its only MY OWN EXPERMENTATION.***




Daddysredhead -> RE: Branding advice (5/28/2006 11:04:27 PM)

I am branded near the underside of my left butt cheek.  Master did this as part of my collaring ceremony.  He has done this before and was taught by someone who was very much "in the know" and who made sure that Master was trained properly.  What the others here have said is great advice, especially re: sterilization and aftercare of the wound.  My brand started looking better and healing within the first week.  Make sure to use something like Neosporin to aid in the healing process, and a fragrance free moisturizer to help reduce itching at the brand site as the scabbing is going away.  There is also something that I found that I really liked in the process of my brand's healing.  It is a cream called Scarzone that reduces topical scarring and contains green tea extract.  I have used it several times on the brand site to reduce the purple appearance of the scar.  Now, just under a month of being branded, I have a lovely brand, my Master's mark, and the skin is soft and flat, not lumpy or raised...  just a natural part of me.

Best of luck to you and your sub.  Many years of happiness to you both.




DsBound -> RE: Branding advice (5/29/2006 3:51:53 AM)

If you plan on doing the brand yourself (which really does increase the bond) practice, practice and practice some more.  You can use a pork roast until you perfect your even-ness, pressure and timing.  Obviously she would need to be trained to hold very still during such things and a moderate count, which doesn't take at all... a few seconds.  If you're not wanting to do it yourself, by all means there are many studios that will do branding and of course I'm referring to a branding iron... not peice branding.  texasbrandingiron.com is actually pretty afordable and their brands are good quality.

Best of luck to you...




stef -> RE: Branding advice (5/29/2006 10:15:12 AM)

Thank you for showing just how bad it is to take the advice of randoms on the internet.  A branding iron designed for use on livestock is the last thing you want to use to brand humans and anyone who would suggest the use of such an object is a dangerous fool. 

To the OP:  While the thought of performing this brand yourself must be highly attractive, it's not something a layperson should attempt.  Talk with someone who does this for a living and at the very least, get their input on the matter.  They might be willing to mentor you or participate in the event with you.  

If your property is valuable enough to you to mark in this manner, it's valuable enough to have it done properly. 

~stef




perverseangelic -> RE: Branding advice (5/29/2006 12:53:09 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: DsBound

If you plan on doing the brand yourself (which really does increase the bond) practice, practice and practice some more.  You can use a pork roast until you perfect your even-ness, pressure and timing.  Obviously she would need to be trained to hold very still during such things and a moderate count, which doesn't take at all... a few seconds.  If you're not wanting to do it yourself, by all means there are many studios that will do branding and of course I'm referring to a branding iron... not peice branding.  texasbrandingiron.com is actually pretty afordable and their brands are good quality.

Best of luck to you...


Ok, so according to all the body artists I know this is a really really relaly bad idea. That is, using a animal branding iron on humans. They say the skin is simply too different for it to be safe at all.

I guess I don't get how the bond is deeper doing it one'sself. I guess to me having a clear, good looking mark that didn't screw up the properties health creates a much deeper bond than holding the iron. At all the body artist's places I've been too, you're encoraged to bring people with you, and some artist even allow the watcher to be invoveld.




Najakcharmer -> RE: Branding advice (5/29/2006 1:33:24 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: DsBound

If you plan on doing the brand yourself (which really does increase the bond) practice, practice and practice some more.  You can use a pork roast until you perfect your even-ness, pressure and timing.  Obviously she would need to be trained to hold very still during such things and a moderate count, which doesn't take at all... a few seconds.  If you're not wanting to do it yourself, by all means there are many studios that will do branding and of course I'm referring to a branding iron... not peice branding.  texasbrandingiron.com is actually pretty afordable and their brands are good quality.


WARNING: Using a standard horse or cattle branding iron on human skin will result in severe and permanent deficit to underlying muscle tissues.  This is grossly unsafe advice, and the person who foolishly and recklessly posted it should be made to take it for himself. 







Wildfleurs -> RE: Branding advice (5/29/2006 5:48:05 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: stef

Thank you for showing just how bad it is to take the advice of randoms on the internet.  A branding iron designed for use on livestock is the last thing you want to use to brand humans and anyone who would suggest the use of such an object is a dangerous fool. 



I agree completely.  I'm personally avoiding giving *any* practical advice on how to do a brand because I don't want to remotely sound like I'm encouraging learning how to do one online.

But using branding irons designed for cattle is a very bad idea, indeed.

C~




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