The woodburning tool is used to engrave
designs into the wood. To get more comfortable with it you should
practice burning designs on a scrap piece of wood before starting
any real projects.
When you are ready to start your project
make sure to purchase all the necessary
things on the shopping list mentioned
below.
Make sure the wood you have chosen to work with is clean and free
of any rough edges. Sand it lightly with the 100 and then 200 grit
sandpaper. Dust off the board and you are good to go!
Shopping List
- Woodburning iron and tips (The iron
should have a listed wattage of about
21 watts)
- Pliers (to remove tips)
- Pen or pencil
- Eraser (white)
- Wood (basswood, sugar pine, butternut ect.)
- Fine grade sandpaper
- Wood sealer (optional)
- Finish; acrylic (polyurethane) satin finish
- Brushes
- Graphite paper
- Masking tape
- Oil colored pencils (optional)
- Pattern
Preparing a Work Space
Find a place in the house or garage where you can set up your
materials in safety. (Remember the burner will get very hot and
can be a danger to children).
- Place a tile or another non burning material to set your wood
burner on top of. You should make sure that your work space is
free of any materials that might get in your way.
- You should invest in a stand to rest the burner on when not
in use. One is usually provided with the burning tool but can
be a little flimsy.
- Set down your tips for easy access.
The burning tip will usually heat
up to somewhere between 600 and 900 degrees
so be very careful when handling it. Once
you begin to burn you will notice a residue
build up on the tip, this can be removed
by simply pulling the tip over a piece
of fine grit sand paper. This build up
is a result of carbon residue and is very
normal. If it isn’t wiped away it
could make your design or picture look
messy so it’s important to get rid
up of any carbon residue as you notice
it starting to form.
Woodburner Tip Functions
- The tip has many functions and can be used for different purposes.
- The sharp chiseled edge of the tip can be used to make fine
light lines.
- The tip’s point is great for making dotted patterns and
textures.
- The side is used mainly for shading areas.
Changing Tips
Caution should be used when changing one tip for another. Brass
tips soften when heated up and threading can be damaged if removed
when the tip is still hot. Allow the tip to completely cool down
before removing at all times!
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