freeze branding with nnitrogen ......

[Freddy]

NEED some advise not getting a desired take an have heard all kinds of different times to keep it on ........

 

[SFASUshowman]

well the key is to have the iron COLD...we dont use nitrogen because of the expense...we use dry ice and denaturing alcohol...work just as goo you just have to let the iron sit in the mix a little longer than you do the liquid nitrogen...the key is when you put the iron in, wheter its the dry ice mix or nitrogen, when you first put the iron in its going to bubble because of the difference in temperature...when it stops bubbling the iron is cooling...we wait for the frost to start climbing the iron above the liquid, this signifies the iron is cold...while we are waiting we clip the hair down to the hide with a surgical blade and clean the area good with alcohol, and make sure the area is wet with alcohol before applying the iron...we also put some alcohol in a spray bottle and spray the iron while its on the calf to keep it wet, this will also help keep the iron cold while its on the calf...we leave the iron on the hide for 60 seconds and dont apply much pressure...pressure is not whats key its the length of time the iron is on the calf...if the calf jumps we pull the iron off and then match it up with the area and reapply...we stop the timer if we pull the iron off and restart as soon as it make contact again.
Hope this helps!

 

[Freddy]

FIRST THING thanks to  showman for this  advise ......do you use alcohol with the nitrogen  ,an i can get nitrogen cheaper than alcohol an dry ice ......WE
hadn;t used alchol with the nitrogen .......

 

[tfdono]

jamie,  we have always used denatured alcohol and have gotten along well. shave the area, blow the dirt off , spray w/ alcohol, then hold the brand on for 30  sec. every cow on the farm is done like that and have had good luck. we have an old semen tank with the top cut off to hold all of the irons and dump nitrogen in as needed. good luck

 

[jbw]

we use dry ice, in our experience the nitrogen can turn inyo a 'hot' brand, not very forgiving, we had it on for 30 sec. and I think that was to long.  GOOD LUCK!

 

[combine54]

Does the branding iron make a difference if it is iron or brass?  doesn't it take different times depending on hide color? thanks

 

[squirt71]

We use a brass iron for freeze branding.  We have both black and red hided animals, and use nitrogen for branding.  We shave, blow off the dirt and hair, spray alcohol on the hide, and then hold the brand for 30-45 seconds.

 

[chambero]

You don't use a solvent with liquid nitrogen.  For those that use dry ice - especially when it's humid - acetone makes a great solvent that's also safe and doesn't evaporate.

 

[Freddy]

WE do have two sets of brass irons .....A great thanks to every ones help ....