North Central US | tmrand - 2/3/2026 07:38
So does anyone know how many watts these electric irons use?
Just wondering since I'm a little ways from electricity and would have to run a pretty long extension cord.
We've always just used a propane torch for heating irons, but they have trouble keeping up at times.........especially when it's windy.
I suppose along those lines...........if you're in and out of the shoot every couple of minutes...........will the electric irons keep enough heat up?
Watts: depends on the brand design and size. 500 to 1500. Our brand is two letters, about the size of your hand for calves, it says 750 I believe, but I'd have to look. The Universal Iron takes a lot more, and the neighbor's larger, more complicated brand takes 1450.
We run 10 or 12 gauge 50 foot extension cords. Channel lock used to make(or brand) a cord with a locking end so then there was no concern about unplugging when we used to wrestle the calves.
When we get back into rhythm, with the table we are under a minute all said and done(brand, horns, 3 shots, fly tag, band), so yes an electric iron will easily keep up. It was probably the best thing about it we didn't realize at the time was the iron is always ready and you get noticeably better brands as a result.
The down side is you lose the "cowboy" feel without the fire or furnace roaring away and the team going back and forth between the furnace and the calves.
They do make "long stick" versions if you still wrestle and don't want to get on the ground. |
Electric branding iron
