Getting started with wood burning
Getting started with wood burning is easier than you might think and does not require a lot of expensive equipment. A basic wood burning tool and different tips are the perfect way to get started. If you decide this is the craft for you then you can invest in more tips, alphabets, and professional-grade equipment. But don’t worry about all that right now; let’s just focus on the basics and getting comfortable with the tool.
Selecting the right wood-burning tool
Selecting the right wood-burning tool is not that difficult. There are 3 very similar entry-level tools on the market that are available in most big box stores and they are less than $20. I have them all and my favorite is the Walnut Hollow Versa Tool. It is probably my favorite because I have had it for about 6 years and I tend to go with what is most familiar.
On a side note, you can also use the wood-burning tools to emboss on leather. I have tried it with pretty good results and when you use the tips on leather it is referred to as branding.
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Supplies to get started with wood burning:
- Wood burning tools like the Versa Tool, Creative Wood Burner, Creativity Set,
- Wood slices, slabs, shapes, boxes, containers
- Carbon Tracing paper, pencil and tape (tape holds the tracing paper in place)
- Command strips if you are going to hang your work
- Additional tips, alphabets, numbers
- Pliers to change tips when hot – they hold heat for a long time
- Container for hot tips – mini cast iron skillet – You don’t have to use this but it is super cute!
The Walnut Hollow Tool has been updated since I last bought one. The new version, the Versa Tool with Versa-Temp, has temperature control which is really helpful as it gives you more control. Plus the tool comes with 11 tips for a few more dollars. I’d go with the tool with the Versa Temp since you have more creative options on how to burn wood with all the different tips. But if your budget is tight and your really not sure you want to go all out get the Creative Tool. Better yet…purchase it with a coupon.
About wood
Soft wood burns at lower temperatures and hardwood burns at higher temps. When you see smoke you are likely burning at too high a temperature for your wood type. That is why the technical name for wood burning is Pyrography. The origin of Pyrography dates back to the 17th century and is literally translated as “writing with fire” and writing with fire is pretty cool.
Safety tips for wood burning:
You will also want to cover your work surface and I suggest you wear long pants just to be safe. I wear fireproof gloves and a leather apron. It might be overkill but I tend to be a klutz and prefer to err on the side of caution. My small cast-iron skillet holds my hot tips and I work in a well-ventilated area. I set the smoke detectors off in my home on multiple occasions from the aromatic smoke. The detectors going off is something my family is all too familiar with because I also like to experiment in the kitchen. So, don’t work too close to a smoke detector.
Starter tips for wood burning:
Learning the points
The basic wood-burning tool comes with 4 tips the flow point, cone point, shading point, and the universal point. There are many things you can create with the four basic tips. Once you decide you like the craft you can invest in more tips and better equipment.
Practice wood-burning
To get acquainted with how the different points feel on the wood and what you can do with them practice on some scraps. Woodcraft sticks work great for practice and can be found in the kid craft section. Below are some samples of the different ways you can use each tip. There are many more wood burning patterns you can create with the tips.
When working on the burning wood; go slow! You can always layer to create depth and deeper colors. The shading point creates smooth, even shading in subtle gradations of dark, bold shading. Use different pressure, speed and movement for contrasting looks. Leaf shapes are easy to stamp using the shape of the point.
Use a cone point to burn fine lines, dots, and curves into the wood surface. The Universal point is used for light shading. For point burns curves and fine details try the flow point. I love to use it for big dots. It also works well for cursive writing and dots shading techniques.
To burn nice straight lines try using a metal ruler or a metal edge ruler with the Universal tip.
Samples of wood-burning projects:
I made homemade gifts for everyone and they are shown below.
Bacon Ranch Parmesan seasoned crackers gift in a jar pyrography
Jen Goode has a woodburning video and does such a great job with the video. The place setting created is so lovely and the hand drawings are always so pretty. When you combine the illustrating skills with a woodburning tool, the results are fantastic.
Thanks for this I cant wait to use my new tool love the wooden spoons hope I do a good job
cant wait to start
Thank you for putting out all that info on wood burning for beginners. That’s just what I needed to get me started.
I love getting feedback and I would love to see what you do. Take your time and have fun. Niki
I’m a beginner in this craft and am loving it. I have an outline of my great grandsons head and want to fill it in. Which tip works best for that? Thank you
Hi there,
I would try the shading point first. Practice with it on scrap wood and once you get the hang of it, try it on your project.
What type of wood would you recommend to burn a saying or poem?
If you are purchasing from a craft store any type will work. Basswood, birch, oak, pine all work well.