Pyrography Pen VS Soldering Iron, Which is Best?

A question we see a lot is, as the title of this post suggests, Which is best? Pyrography Pens or a Soldering Iron? Before we answer that question we need to look at the significance each tool had on the industry. The invention and first mass production of the soldering iron in 1921 was a huge breakthrough for pyrography. Before that, artists had to manually heat a tool in a fire and reheat it frequently during work, so creating art was a lengthy and slow process. For a definitive guide please read our post here.

Pyrography Pen VS Soldering Iron

So naturally, when the first mechanical tools were created, it made doing pyrography a lot more enjoyable for artists and gave new life to the art. Since the invention of the soldering iron, a huge number of machines have been created for pyrography and continue to be refined and upgraded today.

The Humble Soldering Iron

By oomlout via Wikimedia Commons

A soldering iron itself is not designed for doing pyrography; they’re made for melting solder and connecting different things together. Soldering irons tend to have iron or copper tips and they aren’t pointed like proper woodburning pens are.

When it comes to doing pyrography with a soldering iron, it is possible, but not as simple as using a proper pyrography pen. Solid-point burners and craft-style pens are the woodburning relatives of the soldering iron.

They have brass tips and, like the soldering iron, they have a set temperature and can take a little while to heat up and a bit longer to cool down again.

For doing detailed and intricate work, they aren’t suitable. Their set temperature and nibs mean it’s very difficult to get a range of effects from them, and so for the most part craft-style pens are limited to doing outlines and writing words.

Wire-nib Burners and their Ability to Achieve

Pyrography pens nowadays are made with nichrome wire tips; while there is a whole lot of science-y words and explanations why, basically it’s because nichrome doesn’t deteriorate from the heat like many other conductive metals, meaning your tips will last alot longer.

The wire-nib burner is an incredibly versatile piece of equipment. They’re designed so you can switch between tips as you go with ease, and the machines have a range of temperatures you can adjust for whatever it is you’re working with.

With a wire-nib burner, a pyrographer can get all manners of lines and detailed shading. The machines only take seconds to heat up and cool down and the pens are much more comfortable to hold than soldering iron-style pens in general.

Because pyrography is so open to individual styles and a huge range of materials it can be done on, having a versatile tool like a wire-nib burner can be a huge advantage.

You, as the Consumer

In the end, which you decide to use is entirely up to you. Depending on what you want to do with pyrography, you might choose either tool.

Generally speaking it’s not a bad idea to invest in a wire-nib burner even if you don’t intend to be doing a lot of intricate work, since they’re more comfortable to use and heat up and cool down a lot faster.

But if you’re wanting a solid and simple tool you can use to create bold and long-lasting lines with, then you may find you prefer the idea of a solid-point pen.  

 

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Pyrography 101: Everything You Need to Know About Wood Burning

Pyrography 101: You may know as wood-burning or pokerwork – is the art of using a heated tool, like a metal poker, to burn images or words into the surface of wood or other materials.

It has a range of uses, such as sign-making and decoration, and by using different tools many varied effects can be created. Pyrography has been around for thousands of years, used as a means to decorate and inscribe names into wooden objects like instruments.

Pyrography 101: What Pyrography Actually Is

It’s also a fun and creative way to up-scale old wooden objects or furnishings around the home. Since the invention of the soldering iron in the early 20th century, lots of different types of pyrography tools have been invented and it’s relatively cheap even for a beginner to jump in and give the craft a go.

The Tools, the Materials, and the Know-How

There are lots of tools used for practicing pyrography: from new, modern wood-burning tools, to older methods including metal pokers heated in a fire or even sunlight concentrated through a lens.

Pyrography designs are most commonly burnt into wood and leather, and incredibly in-depth pieces of art can be created. Some artists even use clay or gourds to do pyrography on.

The Tools

Simple and traditional pyrography can be done using almost any heated instrument and wood. However, there are lots of modern tools designed specifically for wood-burning that make the process a lot easier and allow for a greater range of affects.

These can all mostly be divided into three categories:

• Wire-nib burners
• Solid-point burners
• Laser cutters

Wire-nib burners are like metal pens, and have a variable temperature for working on different materials and getting different shades.

Solid-point burners have a brass tip that is heated to a fixed temperature and are very simple to learn to use.

Laser cutters can be expensive but they’re accurate, and while they’re usually set to cutting wood completely through, the settings can be adjusted to make them just burn the wood.

The Materials

image credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ntxpeach68/15297062787

Most pyrography is worked on either wood or leather, and a skilled wood-burner with good equipment can make vivid art, with clear lines and delicate shading.

All types of wood can be categorized into either hardwood or softwood. Softwood burns faster than hardwood and also doesn’t require the tool to be as hot, meaning softwood is generally better for beginners.

Care must be taken when selecting the right wood or leather. Both are sometimes treated with chemicals that can be toxic when burned, so it’s important to know what you’re using.

But What Actually Is It Useful For?

With a little practice, a pyrographer can create something beautiful from almost any plain wooden item they find, be it an old table, a picture frame, or even salt and pepper shakers. Up-scaling is something any pyrographer could turn their hand to.

Pyrography is also perfect for making signs for shops or around the home – no one likes mixing up the container of salt with the container of sugar.

Along with that, like many so many crafts, pyrography is simply enjoyable in itself, and doesn’t require a lot to begin. A bit of caution, some practice, and a steady hand, and you could be turning out beautifully scorched creations in no time.

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What Is Pyrography? (aka wood burning)

A very common question often asked, what is pyrography?. It generally results in a “ummmm” or “errrrr” response, followed by a vague answer. But here at PyrographyPros.com we will give you the answer you’re looking for.

So What Is Pyrography?

If we look at the definition of the word according to wikipedia:

Pyrography or pyrogravure is the art of decorating wood or other materials with burn marks resulting from the controlled application of a heated object such as a poker. It is also known as pokerwork or wood burning.”

Read the full article here

The term means “writing with fire” and actually dates back to the 17th century.

A Glimpse at the History

image credit: commons.wikimedia.org

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

The Tools Of The Master

Traditional woodcraft would just consist of heating a pointed metal object in a fire. With modern knowledge and the invention of electric pyrography tools, the process has become quite sophisticated. Ultimately the range of tools can be broken down into three main types:

Solid Point Burners

When we refer to solid tip burners we mean tools similar to soldering irons. I remember learning woodburning at school and using a solid tip burner.

This kind of tool requires heat from a heat pad or element that is electrically powered. The heat generated is generally static.

This category of tool doesnt really lend itself to delicate, detailed work like its other companions.

Laser Cutters

This tool creates its affect by scorching the material opposed to cutting through it like a solid-point burner.

This tool is probably the most sophisticated of all three categories. Modern advancement enables machines like this to import pictures and transfer them wood.

Given the delicate accuracy of this kind of tool, it can also be used on paper and card!

Wire-Nib Burners

This tool is able to perform great detailing because of the finer point. It also has temperature control and the heat source is attached directly by an electrical current.

These tools also have interchangeble tips / nibs to add more diversity to a hobbiest’s technique.

The Artists Canvas

When we look at woodburning its pretty fair to make the assumption that the medium is… well wood! Fair call I say!

But we are not just limited to wood at all. Due to the modern advancements in pyrographic tools, we can now create art on more delicate materials (as long as its not toxic of course).

These include but not limited to:

• Leather
• Canvas
• Natural Fibers (paper, bamboo, cloth)
• Natures Ivory (Tagua nuts)
• Gourds

There are some precautions when using any materials and it all comes down to toxic reactions caused by the heating process. This is especially important if you have allergies. Thorough research is advised prior to using any new materials.

Different Types of Wood Stock

Wood, wood, beautiful wood! We have a lot of choices here. Some materials are better suited to beginners, and others more relevant to experienced pyrographers.

This post wont be a definitive guide on pyrography wood stock, but we will touch briefly on the different types recommended.

Note: Even though some of the woods listed below are known to be “safe” to burn, you still need to be considerate of your own sensitivities and the sensitivity of others around you.

These include but not limited to:

• Maple
• Basswood
• Birch
• Poplar

When ever you are looking at using different materials, it is always advisable to consult a professional. This means someone who is educated in toxicity levels (of the specific material) and production. Your school art teacher is not a professional. Neither is wheezy Bob down the road.

Safety First

Due to the nature of this hobby, there are some safety measures that you MUST take. These are a minimum requirement and non-negotiable!

Here are some measures to protect yourself

Make sure your work area is well ventilated
Use a dust collector like an industrial vacuum
Change out of any clothing you have been woodcrafting in
Always use protective equipment like:

• Safety Approved Googles
• Protective cream on your exposed skin
• Respirator
• Dust Mask

Pyrography Tips & Tricks

We have a huge range of resources here to teach you everything you need to know about woodcraft. Whether you are inexperienced or a veteran woodburner, you will find something here for you.

The post What Is Pyrography? (aka wood burning) appeared first on Pyrography Pros.

Buying Pyrography Tools & Other WoodBurning Gear

This can be overwhelming so we will do our best to keep it straight forward and simple. Its not a matter of just buying a tool that is the most expensive or scanning for one with the highest wattage. In this post we aim to give you some guidance when it comes to buying Pyrography tools.

Tools can be very different from each other and depending on the instrument itself and how it is used, will produce very different results.

See Our Best Pyrography Tools Here

What To Look For When Buying Pyrography Tools:

• What is my budget
• What kind of work are you going to be doing
• What is the manufacturers reputation and how do they deal with customer issues

What Am I Prepared To Spend on a Tool?

When looking at purchasing your next tool you need to decide on how much you are willing to spend. Can you afford to buy a tool that won’t need upgrading in the future?

If you are new then I would look at a low to mid range tool. This way you are not investing too much into a hobby you may not stick with. We all know those parents who’s children tried every hobby and played every sport. Their garages and closets filled with items from a time forgotten!

On the other hand, if you have been wood-burning for a decent amount of time, and you have a few projects under your belt, then you probably know by now that you are a pyrographic artist for life! In this case your tools are your lively-hood and you know you pay for what you get.

What Kind Of WoodBurning Will I Be Doing?

The tool you grab should match the job. The best way to describe this is trying to put a thumbtack into a wall with a sledgehammer!

If you’re just wanting to do some casual crafting then the tool you need will be very different from someone who is producing art with great detail and definition.

Pyrography takes time and patience. There is no such thing as producing quality work at speed. A masterpiece takes time to come to life. Like when a caterpillar turns into a butterfly, things of beauty take time, but are well worth the wait.

What Is The Reputation Of The Company?

Another thing to consider is the reputation of the company. What do the other pyrographers have to say about the product? Are there any negative reviews? How does the company deal with negative reviews or issues?

You want to know that the gear you are buying is worth the money you’re paying. As consumers we like to know that the company cares about us and will stand by their product, especially when there are issues. We feel this is what makes or breaks a companies reputation.

The post Buying Pyrography Tools & Other WoodBurning Gear appeared first on Pyrography Pros.

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Colouring Book Art

Coastal Colour

A little colouring tonight, courtesy of my amazingly talented and artistic sister K of Fog and Swell http://www.fogandswell.com/ . She recently released an online pdf colouring book and shared it with me and my boys.

See the full article here…

Speed art, painting, drawing, time lapse complicated colouring for adult, Zentangle

The Difference Between Art and Craft

ART vs CRAFT

For me that means well-made “craft” becomes “art” when it’s appreciated as such, and poorly executed “art” can be relegated to “craft” if it fails to emotionally resonate. Art is in the eye of the beholder and a great work of art can show little in terms of technical expertise, like the great abstract expressionist works of Jackson Pollack often criticized as paintings “anyone” could make, or a work of exemplary craft like a simple glass and steel office building that no one finds particularly inspiring but that will stand for millennia, and functions perfectly as designed.

Read the full article here…