Great job Laura! I’m old enough to remember my grandmother using one of those irons and the trick is you don’t leave it plugged in. She would allow it it heat up and test it wit a drop of water to see if it was hot, then unplug it to do her ironing only re-heating it when the going got too hard. The mass of the iron hold heat for a long time. Cheers

In the IG stories it was difficult to see how truly old that iron is... those irons were originally plugged in until it got to temperature then unplugged and used. Saw old ones like that that my grandmother used! It works so great! The brands look awesome! Yes, GENIUS!

“Can’t stop smiling” - loved that part. Well the whole video, but especially when she can’t stop smiling.

Your creativity, imagination and talent is incredible but your genuine joy stands out. 👌🏽

Love this format of video where you talk and explain. The usual "music and small infos" is awesome as well but that's a good change. And now I need an iron !

I just can’t get over the way she draws her lines. I can’t. They’re perfect.

A) This is incredibly helpful, practical, and creative; and. B) I love every video that brings out your terrific smile. Thanks, Laura for knocking it out of the park with one of those simple ideas that never would occur to most of us! #peace

There is always a fine line between "genius" and "batshit crazy" :D I'm stunned with the results you got, particularly on leather. Be a great way of adding finishing touches to things you make.

Laura - The best part of this is your surprised elation at how well it worked. It's fun when you have an idea and it just works. So often things kind of work ... then it takes a lot of tweaking to improve.

Hi Laura, great video! Small note of warning with old electric irons: they can contain asbestos! Also the old power cords can contain asbestos fibers. So never cut those open without protection. Mostly models from before the 80s I think. The mica layer you removed is a safe material, but should be replaced with a new insulation layer. It also would keep the handle a bit cooler I think.

I suspected something after the podcast...Amazing how well it works!! And perfect that you can change the plates as well!

Dieses unbeschreibliche Gefühl, wenn etwas noch besser wurde als man es sich erträumt hätte. Da bekommt man ja Gänsehaut so überwältigend strahlst Du. Tolle Videos, tolle Projekte macht großen spaß zuzuschauen und nachzumachen.👌😊👍👍👍

Das beste ist Deine Freude über den coolen Versuch. Richtig gute Idee und super Ergebnisse.

This was detailed in a U.N. publication about micro enterprise shoemaking. It has very good instructions for making several tools from repurposed materials. Very nice to see it being used! Great job!

Brilliant idea! Cannot believe the heat out of these old irons. Hand carving into the brass is so authentic and cool! 👍🏻😀

hahaha i love this idea! so cool! best part: the smiles & how happy you are!

This has to be one of my favorite builds! The designs are endless with this!

That worked so well! Looks amazing on the leather. Stickers are so 2019, leather patches are where it's at now! Btw, no need for a new handle, just wear a welding glove ;)

I love your excitement at how it worked out! And yes...that little iron is SUPER cute!

That worked so well!!! I've not seen the electric ones, just the older ones that you sit by the fire to heat up!

The real flex here is that Laura remembered to carve the words backwards first time around

Really enjoyed the project and slightly different format of the video! The broken up format of the video really took us along the discovery process with you. Thanks for sharing!

When you are looking for Kampf fans, you will only need to look around for the people who are wearing heat-embossed leatherwork and have their right hands wrapped up in bandages.

I think that once the iron gets hot enough, one will unplug the plug-tail from the iron and then iron the clothes...once it started to cool down, they would plug it back again to reheat. This prevents from the iron getting superhot🔥 that the handle cannot be touched because there's no heat setting knob to regulate the heat...I think that's how they iron their clothes on the old days...same concept as the first irons that were place ontop a stove or fire to heat and those handles where made of wood. Awesome project!! Love your videos and your Beatiful Smile...we all do!!😊👍

Hello Laura Kampf. Thank you very much for the idea. We used these irons even without electricity by heating them with the fires. we used to put them on the burning charcoal, and ironed the clothes with them. So we can apply this method to heat the brand plate if we don't have electricity or for other reasons.

"This weeks idea is either..." I lean way more towards that it's genius. Or at least very very clever.

Love it from the very beginning...such a humble way to introduce a vídeo

it is wonderful we are using this from years for branding on pu foam. we also use external thermostat for maintaining temperature.

None of your ideas are dum... Good job! And I do have a tiny little travel iron from the 50s and I love it as I enjoy your crazy ideas ! Keep on smiling 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👍🏼

Love this format with you talking over the project and to the camera ❤️

Good work, nice idea of using the iron for a heating element. A couple of suggestions: 1) When heating the brass up, at least the first time (because the color will stay), when the color changes to that reddish, almost gold color, it's ready to brand with. In fact, that's a pretty good way to tell. 2) Do a thicker piece of brass and it will hold heat longer, so you can unplug the iron and not burn your hand. Others have mentioned the heat issue, listen to them. 3) Do your patterns so that the part you want to brand is the raised part. So your letters are actually the part you're keeping high, the background gets lowered. It helps make your patterns stand out. 4) Your first wood brand was on too long, that's why it has that background halo of burn. That can actually be sanded lightly and lessened. You had a great first experience, kind of like mine when I started doing this stuff. It's incredibly rewarding to see such instant results at something you've never done before. And now you have something you can use for years. How cool is THAT? Great work!

I'm sure this has occurred to you but, a higher (deeper) stamp edge will avoid over-burn on the edges, I would think. Fantastic job! I have my grandfather's old iron but it has one of those old power cables made from asbestos.

Nice to see you enjoying making videos again.

Nice idea. Seen people make desoldering pots with old irons, so pretty natural progression to branding.

Neat project. We had an iron much like that in our holiday caravan (trailer for the 'Merican audience) - don't know why we didn't have a full sized domestic one except Dad liked gadgets. When it got to be "hot enough" (flick some water - or spit - on it) you unplugged it and used it. I remember my mother getting very upset when it was put down on the Formica laminate work top!

It may have gotten really hot because of something that was taken out when it was taken apart but you are a very good crafts person and you’re awesome

The branding irons are beautiful and work awesome! There are tons of objects around us that were well designed and fabricated with really good materials for the time they were conceived. Those objects were made to last. It's a wonderful idea to work around the "flaws" of the technology of the time those things were created and put them to work again. I think the message here is: Do you really need to buy it new? Try to use what's around you and create something that's useful and beautiful. Yes, it takes time and work but it's totally worth it! I support that 100%!

Awesome video. Your enthusiasm and joy for the result is infectious. FYI -- from an electrical point of view, it is actually not really very dangerous. The device is a purely resistive load, like an incandescent lamp, and the only failure mode is a short circuit from hot to neutral/ground. That would trip the breaker, so the device is already protected. There isn't any way for the body of the iron to get electrically energized without tripping the breaker. Electric lamps with incandescent bulbs are made the same way. You need not worry about it being inherently unsafe. The handle getting hot enough to fry your hand is another thing. Keep doing what you do. You are awesome.

Hola Laura, escribo desde Chile 🇨🇱, hace más de 20 años realicé el mismo proyecto y desde entonces he obtenido el mismo resultado. Le sugiero que considere reemplazar el mango por un soporte más rígido y le dé más separación con la base, yo le aisle con corcho el mango pero hoy en día existen aisladores de silicona que ofrecen mejores resultados. Al igual que usted yo tuve la misma sonrisa cuando vi el resultado inicial (claro que su sonrisa es más linda que la mía). Un gusto ver su trabajo y me recuerda usted mucho a alguien que conocí cuando yo era joven, es realmente grande el parecido pero ella ya no está en este mundo, un saludo cordial desde Chile 🇨🇱, felicidades

Alle haben gesagt, dass klappt nie... da kam Laura, die wusste das nicht und hat es einfach gemacht. Coooooles Projekt. Danke fürs Zeigen Gruß Sascha

I really enjoyed your enthusiasm with the results!

Watched this being tested on insta. Was v excited for the vid. Great upcycling

Beautiful iron, beautiful project and beautiful you, thanks for teaching so much, greetings from Chile.

The Iron didn't come with a regulator like modern ones, you simply Unpluged it when it got excessively hot, that's the reason it has a detachable cord.... WOW! This is an Awesome Usage Idea....

I like the bandaid on the finger. Very clever project.

That's one of those ideas "why didn't I think of this before". Outstanding, so glad you had this idea and that you shared it with us

I couldn't help but smile myself when you removed the iron from the cardboard and it had burned a perfect image. Great idea on this one Laura!

I really appreciate your energy! I'm searching for an accessible and rather cheap homemade way to carve my logo on wood, and I feel inspired now! But mostly, what I really like are the messages you pass through in a very creative way! I'm a maker, and I indeed Love Equality! Keep up the good work!!👊🏻

yowzer what a great thought.. I am buying up irons now.. what a fantastic idea gal.. I am gonna have to check out more of your stuff..

Beautiful Laura if you get those silicone pan handel protectors and install it in your new iron you won't suffer any burns, please be safe and thanks for sharing this awesome video...!!! 😍

Laura you are a natural presenter.. Much love to you....

What a great idea. I have an old travel iron that I have been too scared to use on my clothes, so with your help i'll turn it into a leather branding iron. Thank you for sharing. God Bless.

Absolutely brilliant. I’ll have to start shopping the flea markets for one of these irons. Just an idea get yourself an infrared temp gun and test at a variety of different temperatures then work backwards from there to see how long you need to leave it plugged in before it reaches the ideal temperature. I might be wrong but I think these irons were intended to be plugged in and brought to temperature then unplugged for use. I think they’re so heavy so they hold the heat while unplugged. Again, you’re brilliant! Yep up the great work.

YES YES YES!! So awesome to see the tape dispenser properly again! :) Thank you for listening to me all those weeks ago and bringing it out.

Seeing your enthusiasm is so inspiring - I sit with a BIG grin!

Seeing your genuine joy as you tested the system 💜💜💜

That's awesome! I actually did this same thing with an iron similar to yours! I use it for doing stamps on my leather work. I had never seen anyone else do this before so I was happy to see that you made it! Now all I need is that little hand held CNC thing!

It's genius! The style of the iron is cool, and the brands look great.

Buen trabajo, ese estilo que estas presentando lo utilizamos en el trabajo para grabar cueros con una maquina... pero vos fuiste a la técnica que usamos, de grabar el bronce y después traducirlo en el material... obviamente usamos parágrafos y el diseño lo hago en la pc para poder hacerlo muy bien. Pero muy buen trabajo.

What an invention 🙌🏼 but the fact I felt so chuffed with your findings knowing ya sore with joy,, that’s happiness and enjoyment x

Great idea, liked this. I can't stop smiling too

Smiling along with you in Halifax, NS, Canada great project.

Es ist sehr schön dich vor lauter Begeisterung so lächeln zu seh'n. Tolles Projekt! 🥰

You likely won't need the Antique but one of the cheap, good modern irons that everyone has one or two of. I should try it.

Whole new meaning to branding iron. Love it

That is brilliant Laura just pure brilliance!!!!

Dude...I love you so much for this!!!! My grandmother used to have one of those old irons....but yeah. for sure i need to try this - on cardboard and leather!!! DANKE so very much!! GENIUS, LAURA!!!

The best of this project is Laura's smiling face!! 😊😊

I love the enthusiasm you put in it.

Nice job.Using a bakelite handle and wiring a thermostat switch will definitely make it more useful

Wow, einfach genial die Idee und das es noch so alte Bügeleisen gibt. Grandios

Great project. Thanks for sharing. The result on leather is outstanding. Your enthusiasm makes that many people will want to try this.

Laura, you really do bring us so much joy. Thank you for sharing with us.

Your joy of success is infectious! Another great video! I imagine you could easily add a thermocouple and temperature controller so that you could leave it plugged in and on without overheating. It’s fairly simple, adds some functionality, and keeps it safer to use, especially if you want to brand many items in a row.

Interesting topic, but hoping to see more of the horse camper soon, too (When you fix the handle, perhaps add a timer in the handle so after you figure out how much time for leather and wood; you can then know when the right amount of time/heat has been applied for future uses)

Beautiful camerawork, excellent screen presence, and overall a bang up job all around. I love it!

I love how excited you are in this video. Had me smiling the whole way.

Enjoy watching your hands work. Great Job, need to build one myself!

“It’s so hot, it’s too hot to touch” *continues to touch it without any sort of gloves*

Your excitement makes me want to try this even more!!! Thanks for the smiles and lessons!!

Really cool! I enjoyed seeing your joy of creation. Not every project has that feeling, but when it happens it's awesome!

A quick note: you could use some CPU thermal paste between the iron foot and the brand, because screws don't necessary make the brand touch the foot equally on the whole surface. Just a thought.

Those irons were supposed to be used like a flat iron. Heat on stove. Test temperature with water/spit on the sole. Take off the heat and iron. They retained heat for ages. My great grandmother used two in rotation. One heating, while she ironed with the other. As soon as the one was too cold, she swapped. Great project, has given me an idea.

Wonderful - I liked your excitement at this discovery as much as the branding iron! Thanks for sharing!

love your publications, you are an inspiration, I admire your work, your entrepreneurial spirit and above all the good vibes that are always focused on each of your works. Congratulations

I love how happy you are, and how surprised and excited you are in every step! So enjoyable to watch. Great video!! And great project!!

Great idea - ok its on my todo-list - thanks and greatings from the middle to the west!

Suggestion:Permanently attach a meat themometer (or one from a discarded gas grill) and test for optimum heat. Of course each material being branded would be a different temp. Record heat settings on a tag attached to cord for future use. Additionally, a reostat switch would allow dialing in settings for optimum consistency when burning multiple, same material, items. Truly enjoy your curiosity, imagination and skillful execution in your projects. The joy you display is contagious. Thank you so much for sharing projects and repurposing the toil and resourses of days gone by.

Using a iron for a branding iron. 👍🤣 awesome. I've been making branding iron to sell. And it's always so satisfying to see the 1st time you brand with it. I was surprised to see how much detail you can actually get.

Awesome job! Love your out of the box thinking. The only issues I see you running into is getting accurate alignment and dialing in your dwell time. Especially on finished leather goods. The last thing you want to do is finish a leather project then put your mark on crooked or even scorch it. This would be perfect for leather patch making though. You don't have to be accurate when making patches, just make sure to cut it out straight.

It is fun to see the joy this brings you. Keep Creating.

Well done Laura! Hand carving brass branding irons is so much fun. We use round brass stock and thread rod for the stem/handle. I think a modern iron would get hot enough. I’ve definitely burned edge banding in the past.

Oh good god, you're so cute! The joy in you is infectious ❤️

Now this is awesome. Your joy is infectious!

Incredible idea Laura and it works. Consider the oveglove or some other form of a pot holder

How inventive and practical, such a sweet way to carry yesterdays technology into tomorrow. Thanks for sharing!

Love the look on the leather

You have magic in your hand. God bless you ...😉😉

Off course its going to work . Fresh idea and execution . Thank you Laura !

"flying around in the house" is SO German - and I love it. 🤩 Nice project by the way.