Welcome to Wood Burning for Beginners. This post will be more of a reference point for anyone who is interested in woodburning, or anything related to this amazing craft.
Even though this page is targeted towards wood burning newbies, intermediate and advanced wood crafter’s can still benefit from what we hope to be, an extensive resource.
Take your time and browse through our site. You can navigate your way around either by using the menu on the right-hand side or by clicking any of the links throughout the content.
Enjoy!
A Beginners Guide to Woodburning
Before we go much further, I believe a brief explanation of what pyrography actually is. In our post published here we touch lightly on its history:
A Glimpse at the History
It has been practiced by different cultures throughout the times including Egypt and Africa. In China, during the Han Dynasty, it was known as “fire needle embroidery”.
It wasnt until the Victorian era, where the invention of pyrography machines came about, that the term ‘pyrography” was coined. Prior to that it was known as “Pokerwork”.
During the 19th century, a Melbourne architect known as Alfred Smart (clever fellow!), found that he could achieve a greater range of color and tints if he applied hot, water-based paint to the wood.
This was a huge break-through for woodcrafters!
It wasn’t until the 20th century that electric pyrographic equipment started to be developed which helped towards making the entire process more user friendly and somewhat automated.
Pyrography is considered a traditional form of art with some fine examples coming from Europe
As you may or may not be aware, fire needle embroidery has been around for a very long time and as technology improved, so did the quality of workmanship.
This craft has many different names associated with it. It is not limited to wood burning either, with some people creating magnificent works of art on a range of different materials including and not limited to:
- Wood
- Gourds
- Leather
- Paper / Card
There are some amazing pieces of art burnt into a range of different items including:
- Guitars
- Coasters
- Coffee Tables
- Piano’s
The options we have to create breathtaking works of art are truly amazing. You are only limited by your imagination, and it is our goal, to help you unlock your potential.
How To: Woodburning 101, Getting Started
Before you go out and buy a tool that resembles a soldering iron with the intention of creating a masterpiece, you really need to get an idea of the tools involved, their uses and what equipment suits your level of skill.
In our article below we talk about what kind of gear is out there, the differences between and how they relate to the art your produce:
Woodburning Pens for Beginners
If you’re just starting out and not sure if this is for you then it makes sense not to spend too much money on your gear.
On the other hand if you’re the type of person who likes to buy (gear) once so you don’t have to buy again then you might want to look at the more experienced section.
If you’re only going to be doing the odd bit of crafting here and there. Then you really don’t need to purchase the most expensive pen.
The craft style pens are a cheap alternative. Similar to a soldering iron, they can produce some awesome results.
The negatives would be that you wont be able to achieve the detail that the more expensive pens can. Typically, they are larger than the other styles.
Mainly because the part that heats the pen is contained within the pen itself, opposed to the more expensive style pens that have an external machine that heats the pen.
Most of these pens come with interchangeable tips which help you produce different results.
Woodburning Tools & Tips For Beginners
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to mortgage the house, sell one of your children, or donate blood to make a start with pyrography. The main thing is that you shop within your budget, get all the basics you need, and take action.
You can have the most expensive kit on the shelf, but will it make you better? Eventually, once you master the techniques, then the answer would be yes, but for most beginner woodburning hobbyists, a mid-range kit would be fine.
We have reviewed many different pens, tools, tips and machines and we have come up with the best suggestions for all skill levels. Read this article here.
Woodburning Patterns for Beginners
If you aren’t already an accomplished artist who can freehand your drawings yet, then it’s a good idea to look at purchasing some patterns for you to follow.
Even with extensive experience, you can still benefit from using patterns. Lettering, for instance, can be very tricky. The letters all must be of the same scale and format to look great. Having premade patterns to follow will make this exercise simple and enjoyable.
For more information on the different kinds of patterns for both beginners and professionals, check out this post here.