Many people assume that one must have previous experience in Pyrography to create a good masterpiece. But the truth is wood burning is an art you can learn as you go. And as long as you know how to use wood burning tools correctly, it should be easy for you to start and progress over time. The goal of this guide is to help you learn how to do wood burning the right way.
The first thing you want to do is to understand your tools. According to Arts of Manliness, this is usually the first step to getting started. You cannot work on any project before you know and master the tools. It won’t be possible.
Learn About Pyrography Tools
A woodburning pen is a very simple tool. It’s a pen-like device with a metal end through which heat is transferred to a removable tip. All but the cheapest models are variable temperature tools. With any kit, you’ll get 4-7 different tips for various methods of burning: straight lines, rounded lines, shading, etc. You’ll also get a metal safety stand for the pen so it’s never just sitting on a table or workbench.
Learning about the tools means knowing how to handle the tips. Understand when to burn while the pen is hot. And, when to use the pen when it has cooled down.
Once you understand the tools, the next thing will be to choose a pattern. Instructables recommends having several patterns. The reason for having several patterns is so you can learn to burn different styles as you continue to learn.
Determine Your Pattern
For my burning example I decided to burn the Wolfpack’s logo into a birch coaster. You can find these birch slices in crafts stores but you can also find all different wood in all different shapes and sizes on Etsy. Good to support the small businesses!
With smaller projects like this you take your paper with multiple sizes of the same logo or letter and hold it and the coaster up to the light until you find the right size for your project.
You will need PowerPoint to create a great pattern. You can decide to think outside the box. Or, you can Google stuff on the internet to see patterns that you can emulate as a beginner.
You need to understand the concept of sanding, even before you start burning your first wood. According to Pyrography World, nothing sucks like working on a rough wood. It just makes the whole thing boring.
Understand the Concept of Sanding
If you choose to do it after your burning is done the sanding will remove some of the finer details of your work. This can also be a good thing because if you make a small light mistake with your pen or wood burning tool just give the area a light sanding. The sandpaper is now your eraser, don’t be afraid to use it! In most cases we recommend using a sanding block to ensure all areas are sanded evenly. We wouldn’t want an uneven surface or a dip in the middle of your artwork. Wrap your sandpaper around a small block of wood to ensure this doesn’t happen.
At the end of the day, it makes a lot of sense to have a final product that’s smooth. That gentle touch does matter quite a lot.
Conclusion
Once you understand these three concept, and you have the right wood to get you started with wood burning, it should be easy for you to get down to learning.