Also know that you can purchase precut squares of wood, like this piece pack on Amazon. Pyrography , also known as wood burning, among other colloquialisms, is the art of creating designs on wood with a hot implement , a technique that dates back to the early 17th century and has continued to endure till this day. Before the modern amenities of today, wood burning would be accomplished by heating a metal poker to the desired temperature.
As one can imagine, this was a lengthy process due to the constant need for reheating the poking implement. However, technology has come a long way since then, and while some still like to practice the old poker work style of wood burning, we do have the invention of the soldering iron. Without the pioneering technology of the soldering iron, artists would still be using hot needles.
Pyrography is alive and well today and is enjoyed by many. As an Amazon Associate, TactileHobby. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies.
Skip to content. Soldering Iron vs. Wood Burning Iron for Pyrography. By Rich in Pyrography. How to Use a Soldering Iron for Wood Burning Experimenting with pyrography by using a soldering iron can give you a start, but keep in mind that you should expect less than ideal results from using it. If you do intend on using a soldering iron for the purposes of creating wood burning art, then consider following these quick tips before you fire it up: Find the pointiest tip you can : Like a pyrography pen, soldering irons have interchangeable tips.
Using sharp and pointy soldering tips will give you the most control and range of effects depending on what you are attempting. Make sure your iron is hot enough : Not every soldering iron heats up to the same temperature, meaning that if you have a particularly low wattage iron, it will take quite a bit longer for you to make any visible marks, so be prepared to wait or find something more ideal. Cleaning the tip with a steel brush will alleviate this.
Test your technique on scrap wood : Using a soldering iron as a wood-burning tool will inherently give you less control of the shape of your lines, so it is best to test things on scrap wood first. Replace the tip when soldering : If you do end up using a soldering iron for your pyrography project, you will want to replace the tip if you intend on doing any soldering with it, as the tip will oxidize and become incapable of wetting with solder. A soldering iron is, as you may have guessed, designed for soldering and not for burning wood.
Wood and solder burn differently. This is an important distinction because solder melts at a lower temperature than wood burns, making the majority of soldering irons less ideal for pyrography. I decided I liked it running at a heat where it burns just barely touching the wood. That way it makes nice dark burn lines without too much spill-over from heating the wood to the sides. Second pic you can see the fat back edge of the knife with the catalyst glowing.
Hot exhaust blows out of that hole. I usually turn it off when I'm not actively soldering for more than 30 seconds. Ah yes, the actual burning, the fun part!
I did it on my stove with the fan on so as not to set off the alarm. Hold the iron like a pencil, pretty much as if you were soldering. This was tons of fun. It's like art, but for men! Not that men haven't made plenty of art No "interpretation" required, this just requires good fine motor control and a love for smoke and the smell of charred wood.
There are no erasers, so don't make mistakes! You touch that iron down anywhere you don't want to, you're stuck with it. Well, you can try to cover it up, which is why my A looks so crappy. I hit a hard spot on the wood on the downstroke, wobbled, and had to make the downstroke twice as wide to cover it. I would recommend warming up with a few practice strokes on the back so that you don't mess up your first letter.
I should have. I also found pulling is MUCH easier than pushing the blade of the knife. Pushing tends to either dig in and burn a spot, or skitter about. If you're careful, you can roll the tip a little in your hand and pull or push it sideways to make a taper that's how I did the curved bits at the end of the straights, the H came out pretty well I think Clean the tip whenever you see char building up on it or if it seems to be burning kind of weak.
That char is an insulator and really reduces the heat getting to the wood. Note that if you are holding the iron for awhile not in contact with the wood it will heat up and try to burn really fast when you first touch it down. I avoided this by gently poking the cleaning sponge after any prolonged delay holding it above the wood to cool the iron down a bit. The E's were probably the hardest.
Straight lines are much easier to burn. Next time I make a sign, it'll be in an Old English kind of font, with lots of straight lines. Erase those guide lines and any pencil that you didn't burn over. Stain or varnish would make this cheap wood pine? For the record, this was my first shot at woodburning of any sort, so you should be able to do at least as well as me! The sign looks pretty good when you look at it from a few feet away, it's harder to notice some of the wonky lines and blobs.
Tip 1 year ago on Introduction. Traffic maybe try thickening your letters I thought it works better for me and looked better also. Reply 1 year ago.
Here's a random comment: I used to make those soldering irons! I was looking for exactly this — engraving with a soldering iron, came across your post, and was pleasantly surprised to see a pic of the soldering irons I used to make in a factory in Ireland one summer! Glad you like it. Hello, I did a support plates.. I tried with a cheap iron, and one one step up from cheap.
A soldering iron is a tool generally used for melting solder and applying it to metals that are to be joined. There are various types of soldering irons made for specific jobs, such as soldering electronics or joining sheet metal. A simple soldering iron or soldering pencil will work best for wood-burning, as it will provide you with the most control and smallest tip size.
The primary adjustment you will need to make to your soldering iron to use it for wood burning will be the tip. Basic soldering iron tips are made of copper or iron and are not designed with the shape or edge needed for detailed lettering or drawing.
Many soldering irons come with alternate tips that can be switched out easily. A hot knife tip works best for wood burning. The sharp edge provides you with the most precision and focused heat, giving you accurate control when burning. If your soldering iron did not come with a hot knife tip, you could buy one from nearly any home improvement retailer, or you can make one yourself.
If you cannot buy or make a hot knife tip, most soldering irons come with alternate tips that will work reasonably well. However, you may run into a few issues, such as:. Having your soldering iron prepped and ready is the first step to a successful wood burning. With some trial and error, you will find the soldering iron tip that works best for you and your project requirements. Because soldering irons are not inherently designed for wood burning, it is unlikely your tool will include instructions on how to best use it for a wood burning project.
Use these simple tips to set yourself up for wood burning success with your soldering iron:. If you find yourself taking on many wood burning projects or being drawn to the art of wood-burning as a hobby, you may want to invest in alternate tools designed specifically for the craft. Join my weekly newsletter and receive helpful tips, tools, and theories about welding and joining. Please confirm the subscription Email in your inbox.
The link is only valid for 60 minutes. There are tools designed specifically for wood burning. If you are a beginner or have a one-off project, there is no need to purchase a specific wood burning tool to get the job done. But if you plan to make wood-burning a permanent hobby or integrate the craft into your work, you may consider purchasing a wood-burning, or pyrography, pen. The main downside, or con, to using a wood-burning pen is that it requires you to purchase a new tool with a limited range of use.
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