The Best Wood Burning Kit For Pyrography 2022

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I like to fancy myself as the Bob Ross of pyrography, not because I’m so good at it but because the 60W Stage 2 Detailer by TRUArt makes it THAT effortless. If pricing is able to stretch then I highly recommend it, the temperature control and the fact that the wire tips don’t snag onto the wood surface make it so that now when people are looking at my pyrography art they don’t ask me if I have Parkinson’s. See the best wood burning kit for pyrography here!

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Why you should trust us

Although woodburning and woodcarving are separate hobbies, they still compliment each other with transferable knowledge about wood and how to handle it. After woodcarving for a while, I found other ways to improve my art pieces and found that using the best wood burning tools brings quite the decorative creation to life. Once you begin this hobby, it is VERY easy to tell the difference between a woodburning kit from hobby lobby, and a quality made one that gives you results that are incomparable. Read on to discover more to help you choose the best wood burning kit and best wood burning tools for your experience level.

Best Wood Burning Tools

Wood burning requires a heat transfer pen (pyrography pen), and attachable tips to modify its effect on the wood. Having those options provides new depths of expression that can’t be done without them.

TRUart offers incredible control over every aspect of the pyrography process to give you the best tool to express your vision!

The 60W wood burner brings consistent and precise power to all your wood burning projects. Digital voltage control means that you can get the exact temperature you want with really responsive heat adjustments.

The tips take just seconds to heat up to your specified temperature, so that you can spend less time waiting and more time creating. The level of heat is displayed in volts, rather than degrees, so getting used to reading it may take some practice; but once you’re accustomed to what different settings mean the reliability of this digital control will eliminate much of the guesswork of pyrography, meaning you won’t go in unexpectedly hot and end up with a dark scorch mark that you didn’t plan for. The precision of the temperature control also makes this pyrography pen suitable for use on other materials like leather or gourds.

While TRUArt’s best wood burning kit is a bit higher up in price than some other options on the market, this really is a professional wood burning kit and if you’re serious enough about wood burning to make the investment, this detailer is the best wood burning tools you can buy.

Pyrography Pen Design

TRUArt’s best wood burning tools is lightweight and relatively small, to give you easy control as you work. It’s also ergonomically designed, for a safe, comfortable grip. While the kit is available in a single pen option, we highly recommend TRUArt dual pen option. A second pen may SEEM unnecessary, if you’re someone who does a lot of wood burning you’ll be grateful for this option.

Some advantages of having 2 pens is relatively quick and straightforward, changing tips is always going to present a bit of a break in your workflow. Having an extra pen is particularly useful if you’re working on a project that has you switching back and forth between two tips a lot. Rather than wait for your pen to cool down, removing the tip, selecting and putting in the new one over and over again, you can just have each tip preloaded onto a pen. When it’s time to switch you simply unplug the pen you’re using and plug in the pen with the new tip.

Pyrography Shading

TRUArt also includes shading tips, one of the most valuable additions to any pyrographer’s arsenal. These tips have a large flat surface, which will allow you to scorch your material without cutting into it. They let you burn a larger surface area and can be used to give your work dimension and depth.

Detail work in Pryrography

For more free-flowing lines you can turn to the rounded tips, which don’t dig in to the surface of your material as much and give you a more fluid feel. They give you somewhat heavier lines than the razor tips and can be used for outlining, bolder details, or even writing. Though, if you want to put some style into your lettering, TRUARt also includes a couple different rounded tips specifically for writing and even a calligraphy tip.

Pyrography Patterns

TRUArt also offers tips specialized for helping you to create different patterns. This wide assortment allows you to easily get started with tricky patterns like scales, feathers, quills, or fine parallel stripes. This diversity of tip types, along with the easily maneuverable pen, make the TRUArt wood burner perhaps the best wood burning kit for fine detailing. The common 18-20 gauge capacity of the TRUArt pen’s collets also give you a lot of options for expanding beyond the twenty tips included here. Altogether TRUart offers a “true” wood burning art kit to get you started right out of the box! Truly one of the best wood burning kits on the market.

The 50W TEKCHIC electric wood burning kit adopts the same method of design as TRUArt, but at a lower cost, and with different features. It offers a temperature control feature that reacts faster than any other options, arguably, as well as 21 tips for alternative burning techniques. Additional accessories are added with this kit for getting started, like pen stands, wood, etc.

Pen design for the TEKCHIC is really comfortable. It feels really light to use, and the handles fit well while making it easier to draw. It’s pretty easy to maintain a grip of the pen. Most cheap options I’ve used don’t offer nearly enough hand comfortability like actual pens do, so, with the TEKCHIC, I’m sure that it is expected, but even compared to TRUArt’s pen, the TEKCHIC handle is still better.

Play around with the tips in order to get acclimated to how they effect the wood. The sturdy wire nibs are different than the metal attachments that screw right in, but they heat up and cool down just the same, if not quicker. Nibs with this kit have a mixed bag of shapes in all different degrees, some are very fine, and other are rounded. These all help with being able to draw straight lines, shade, detail, and other techniques. Additionally, the ball tips are included that are work great for experimental endeavors. They’re capable of some truly remarkable designs. None of will be possible to do, unless you get familiar with how your tool handles.

Walnut Hollow, a company that has a firm foot in the pyrography world, has a wire tip alternative that is priced just as well as their pens. The professional wood burning kit offers an affordable option to anyone who wants to try the wire tip way of burning wood, but doesn’t want to spend an arm and a leg to do it. Though the kit isn’t as dressed up as TRUArt or TEKCHIK, but the reduced price means not being able to receive all the bells and whistles.

Functionally, the Walnut Hallow is in the same caliber as the high ticket options. The temperature range is from 600 degree to 1000 degree Fahrenheit, and responds to adjustments quickly. Having accurate control over the temperature improves burn depth and line color to your drawings.

It comes with 4 tips: a drawing point, general shading point, ball point, and rounded shading point. Collectively, they provide the right variety of tips for artistic freedom. Replace each tip with the specialized tweeters that are included in order to avoid tool damage and injuries.

The 30W wood burning kit by Chandler Tool is a a pleasantly robust tool for this craft. The kit itself comes with all the essential add-ons necessary to tackle any project, and does so with unexpected grace. The heating mechanism delivers consistent high power (570 to 700 degrees Fahrenheit) that makes it easy for working on more than just wood. Additionally, it can also be used on leather, soft & hard plastics, synthetic fibers, natural fabrics, wax, cork, paper, ceramics, foam, etc.

The lightweight burner is exceptionally easy to use, and the 8 solid brad tips (made with metal precision heating element) all help make it a perfect for wood burning tool for beginners. The brass tips vary in shape, but they all come pretty finely pointed at different angles.

Handling the pen feels fairly natural, although, when drawing, having your hand closer to the fine point at the end of a utensil is great for accuracy. The extra room of metal that conducts heat is in the way. The handle is made of hard plastic, and is really resistant to long periods of usage. 

An alternative pen for pyrography, known for its affordability and excellent thermal efficiency, is the Walnut Hollow Woodburner. If the Chandler pen wasn’t for you, then this is a good alternative.

Walnut Hollow is known for making some of the best wood engraving tools for crafters and beginners, and the Creative Versa-Tool is an excellent addition to their line-up. At less than $40 it offers high quality at an extremely reasonable price. The Creative Versa-Tool comes with 11 interchangeable points: universal, flow, tapered, calligraphy, shading, transfer, hot knife, solder, and three hot stamp points. This makes it suitable for a wide range of crafting and artistic projects.

Clear, accessible instructions and a straightforward set-up make this perhaps the best wood burning kit for beginners. The tool is extremely easy to use – just plug it in and adjust the temperature using the dial on the cord. It is small, lightweight, and is made with a comfort-grip and heat shield. These safety features mean that it can even be safely used by children in their crafting projects – under correct supervision of course. It not only works on wood but can be adjusted for leather, card, canvas, soft plastic, and a number of other materials. The packaging comes with an easy-to-read guide explaining which settings are best for different materials.

Buyers should note that while the Creative Versa-Tool does offer great quality for an introductory tool, it doesn’t really compare to a professional-grade kit. The best wood burning kit for professionals would offer greater precision in temperature, which requires a heftier external transformer than the Creative Versa-Tool offers. The Creative Versa-Tool’s smaller, simpler system has a temperature indicator which lets you adjust to different ranges of heat, but doesn’t give you the precise voltage or degree that you’re operating at. This means that using it may require a bit more trial and error than the best pyrography kit for professionals.

Nonetheless, its low price and straightforward design make the Creative Versa-Tool and easy and fun way for those just getting into pyrography, or for those who don’t feel the need to invest a lot of money in getting greater precision. With this best wood burning tools, Walnut Hollow offer high quality at a low price, making it perhaps the best wood burning kit to start out with.

110 pieces of accessories for the best wood burning kit might seem like an overkill, however if it’s your first time burning wood with the best pyrography pen then it is pretty easy to quickly underestimate just how much guidance it requires. At its core, it is drawing and PETUOL’s wood burning pen makes it feel like you are doing exactly that. Besides its stencil-like comfortability, temperature control allows various degrees of intensity to make your art stand out.

While the 200-450 degree Celsius temperature control option is practically a necessary feature, what’s even more convenient is its easy replaceability. The iron tip and protective tube which help transfer the heat to the wood are a cheap fix if in case need be. It also sports a 60W heated ceramic tech that heats up the best pyrography pen to your desired temperature in 15 seconds.

How to use:

1. Pick one of the 37 tips provided then install it to the pen
2. Let the device heat up and wait 3-5 minutes
3. Begin illustrating on the surface of the wood
4. Begin burning your designated design to the surface of the wood

The device is applicable across a range of materials so it is not just for wood. Additionally, you may also apply the best pyrography pen to leather. Its artistic abilities spread over various designs like image transfer, formwork cutting, welding, hot stamping, and textile embossing.  Its usefulness is so often unmatched among products of similar price tags.

The amount of burning tips is honestly what easily intrigues people about this, myself included. Partially because of the amount that come with this best wood burning pen, but mostly because of their unorthodox shapes which really have the potential to make interesting designs.

 

A Professional Wood Burning Kit 

Winllyat is a full fledged kit for more than just making designs, but making patterns too. The 60W pyrography pen is simple and straightforward to use, and comes with plenty of tip shapes for any wood burning methods to be replicated. The shape of the tips can be pretty odd and are a little unconventional from what you have used, or haven’t. Regardless, there’s no better teacher than experience, so fool around with it to see what each one does.

What is especially helpful from this kit is the assortment of tools that are included. Most setups only let you practice with different tips, but Winllyat helps design on all types of wood, cut stencil, soldering, paper craft, hot stamping, emboss fabric, and carve on wood or leather. This very comprehensive and diverse wood burning tool set puts it onto our list as one of the best wood burning kits.

This should go without saying, but wear gloves while using, and keep tools away from kids. They get way too hot, and some are much too sharp to be within reach. It requires a 110V power outlet and takes about 3 to 5 minutes for it to heat up.

Catnes’ kit offers everything and more for a fraction of the cost. The tool works great, although not as well as the professional pens, but it gets the job done while you’re able to focus more time of getting down basic wood illurstrations. In total, 97 pieces come packaged in this kit that allow you to do things like cut stencil, image transfer, hot stamp, emboss fabric, etc.

It’s the best wood burning kit for beginners. A lot of other options we have recommended only have the essentials to start wood burning. The quality of those products cater to artistic detail, but lack providing direction to a first time wood burner. Everything about the wood burning process is taken into account with Catnes’ kit. If you aren’t able to think of an idea to draw, they literally give you outlines to trace for the meantime.

Once you have an outline, experimenting with the attachments is next. There’s only a few you will use for the majority of the work, so many of them are specialized tools meant for specific effects. There’s a lot of mixes between pointed, flat, and rounded ends with this kit, so I recommend testing them out.

TRUArt sports the classic pen design which can be a lot easier to use because of its tapered handle. As a beginner, or novice for that fact, having a comfortable and fixed grip of your drawing utensil allows you to have better control over your movements. This may seem like a minor benefit, but it’s actually quite a big deal, because it is that attention to product detail that let’s artistic accuracy to take over. No accidental slip ups, or unintentional burns that could potentially ruin a whole drawing.

The pen functions well with a quick heat response, although it only goes up to 30W, so there’s some techniques you might not be able to replicate. The 15W setting is for any kind of work you might want to do on leather. A razor blade and soldering tip are included with the 35 options of tips to choose from. All of which are screw-in nibs to a stainless steel tube that encases the heating element and thread.

Due to the effect that high heat has on brass (it soften, and pressure causes it to bend or break), TRUArt has offered to replace the pen and tip with no additional costs. All you have to do is contact them with a picture of your broken tools included, and they will contact you about replacing it!

A solid, inexpensive, and reliable wood burning pen by INTLMATE is a great option for those just dipping their toes in the water. The 60W pen is easy to use, is fast acting, and comes with plenty of resources to start drawing right away. I think what is interesting about this particular set is not so much that their equipment is better than others I’ve used, but the stencil options are pretty extensive. It certainly offers a wide variety of images to incorporate into your drawings or to simply just practice.

The pen is light and ergonomically designed to use it in weird angles. Its inner-heated ceramic tech heats up fast (45 seconds), which is a lot faster than worked with that require several minutes before it gets hot.

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Buying Guide

Pyrography has been practiced for centuries, if you really want to get back to basics it can be done with any heated device or even a magnifying glass! Today, however, there are a wide variety of sophisticated tools on the market that can elevate this art form to new heights. With an overwhelming about of choices, there are a few things to consider when finding the best wood burning tools for yourself.

Budget is always going to be one of the most important factors when making any purchase. While it’s fairly easy to pick up an entry-level pyrography pen for $20-$50, these generally won’t offer as much control of temperature as the best pyrography tools further up in the price bracket. If you decide to move up to a more professional-grade set-up there’s a quick jump in price, but you’re rewarded with greater control, consistency, and reliability. The good news is that a quality pyrography kit will generally hold-up well over a number of years, meaning that you get a lot of use out of your money.

Temperature Control is a feature included for higher ticket items. The cheapest and most straightforward wood burners will only offer one temperature setting. They run hot and are great for projects where all you need is a fairly broad, dark burn; however, having only one temperature places obvious constraints on what you can achieve with this tool. While all the best pyrography kits can be used for different materials, the best wood burning tools won’t necessarily be the one that’s most suitable for your needs if you’re working with different materials. For detailing or working with more delicate materials it might be best to make sure that whatever best wood burning kit you buy offers very precise and reliable temperature control.

You can find variable temperature burners at a reasonable price fairly easily, and these really do give you a step up in terms of what you can do with the pen. The simplest form of variable temperature controller comes with a small temperature attached to the cord, but top of the line professional wood burning tool models have a large external transformer to give you greater control over the temperature of your pen. Good temperature control is perhaps the most important aspect in selecting the best wood burning kit, particularly for detailing. The more control you have, the greater subtlety and dimension you can get in your work. So my advice is to buy a kit with an adjustable temperature switch.

Power (Watts): When browsing for the best pyrography kit, you’ll notice that different models feature higher or lower wattage. For the most part, you actually don’t need to worry about this too much. While some models will boast over 100 watts, heating a pyrography pen usually only requires 50 watts or less. One thing you may want to keep in mind, however, is the difference between two and three volt systems. Two volt systems generally take a finer tip than three volt systems, making them capable of finer detailing. The difference is a subtle one, but worth keeping in mind if you have an idea of what your needs will be.

Pen Tips: Most models will come with interchangeable tips, and having this as an option greatly expands the kind of work you can do. Tips will generally either be nickel chromium wire, copper, or brass. Wire tips tend to be preferred by professionals as they offer finer detailing capabilities and
better heat conductivity. However, copper and brass tips are somewhat more durable, and some people find that they have a better feel, closer to a traditional pen.

Comfort: Pyrography takes patience and concentration. You’ll be spending a lot of time holding the pen so its important to make sure that you’re comfortable with it. Here there is another difference between single and variable temperature pens. Single temperature pens tend to be larger and heavier, while most variable control models are fairly small and lightweight, not too different from a regular pen. Some even have foam or cork grips for optimal comfort. However, you generally won’t have to hold on to a single temperature pen as long because they tend to burn quicker than a variable temperature model. If possible you should ask if you can try holding the pen before you purchase. Whichever kit you pick you should make sure it’s one you’re comfortable using.

With a little research it should be easy to find the best pyrography kit for your needs!

What is the best wood for pyrography?

Short answer: Anything unfinished.

Long answer: The most widely accepted best wood for pyrography is basswood. People tend to go with this wood because wood burning shows up real well on the light grain. Hardwoods tend to take more time and higher temperatures for wood burning, it mainly depends on what the design requires.

Although basswood is the most popular, there are many maples that work just as well. Going to a craft store, such as Michael’s, can reveal some great cheap options like pine which will also work well. Just be sure to sand down your wood a lot before wood burning.

Free handing versus transferring images

Of course you can free hand your wood burning designs but if you are looking to carve a more complicated design without any problems or mistakes there is a few ways you can do that.

The easy way to do this is to use carbon paper. You will need to take the carbon paper with the blue and black side facing down towards your wood and align it on to the wood exactly how you want it, then you will be able to trace your desired design with a pen. Your design will then be traced on the wood so you can carve the design you want.

Another basic way to do this is to color the back of tracing paper with a pencil as dark as possible then you will begin to do the same as you would with the carbon paper method.

A more advanced way to do this is using a transfer pen. The best pyrography pen for this method is the Razertip transfer pen. This pen comes with iron like tips that will easily transfer your image that you have photocopied or that you have laser printed on to your wood. If you use an inkjet printer for this method it will not work.

Of course, you can always use on of the many free wood burning kits stencils available online or bundled with some pyrography kits.

Proper Maintenance

Cleaning and taking proper care of the best pyrography pen is very important. You are going to want to make sure you are always cleaning the tips of your pen. If you fail to clean them it could result in your pen not working the right way due to the build up of the carbon.

One of the results from not cleaning you best wood burning tool is the heat will rise up the pen handle which causes the pen to be too hot for you to use, this will also result in taking away the heat from the tip making it difficult to burn your wood.

Another result from not cleaning the tip of the best wood burning pen is that it could cause lines or smudges on your work which could end up ruining everything.

So how can you avoid these issues?

A good way to get the carbon off your tip is to use a sharp object, sand paper or even a tea strainer to scrap it off. There are many other options to scrap off the carbon with but those are a few of the best ways. Many people decide to turn the temperature all the way up on their tool to burn the carbon off but that option may end up ruining the tip of your pen and make the pen tip wear out very quickly. You do not want to ruin your best pyrography tools. The way most people clean the wood burning pen tip is using aluminum oxide.

Safety 

Pyrography is not the safest activity to participate in so you are going to need to know all the safety precautions before you start. First of all you are going to want to do your best research on the type of wood you are working with. Certain types of woods have higher toxicity levels which is dangerous to breathe into your lungs. Keeping a window open or having a fan on is a smart choice while you are doing your wood burning. If the wood has already been used before such as plywood the smartest thing to do is to just not use it. Buying new wood is better than breathing in the toxic chemicals that the used wood would be giving off.

Another safety tip to follow is to always sand your wood outside. By sanding your wood outside you don’t risk inhaling the saw dust. While you are sanding your wood for extra protection you could wear a mask to keep the dust out of your face as well. If you are sensitive to some woods you may want to stop working with that type or try using gloves.

The number one hazard of pyrography is the heat involved, NEVER leave your pen unsupervised.

For your own safety always be aware of the placement of your hands or where the tool is. Keep in mind that heat does cause fires, you do not want to have the tool sitting around while it is on for a long period of time.

 

Looking for Wood Burning Ideas and Inspiration? (Video)

This video of a fine wood burning artist at the Youtube “How-To” channel creates a beautiful piece of pyrography art with a wood burning pen. Don’t expect to be at this level as a beginner, but with patient practice, it certainly is within reach. 

The 50W TEKCHIC electric wood burning kit adopts the same method of design as TRUArt, but at a lower cost, and with different features. It offers a temperature control feature that reacts faster than any other options, arguably, as well as 21 tips for alternative burning techniques. Additional accessories are added with this kit for getting started, like pen stands, wood, etc.

Pen design for the TEKCHIC is really comfortable. It feels really light to use, and the handles fit well while making it easier to draw. It’s pretty easy to maintain a grip of the pen. Most cheap options I’ve used don’t offer nearly enough hand comfortability like actual pens do, so, with the TEKCHIC, I’m sure that it is expected, but even compared to TRUArt’s pen, the TEKCHIC handle is still better.

Play around with the tips in order to get acclimated to how they effect the wood. The sturdy wire nibs are different than the metal attachments that screw right in, but they heat up and cool down just the same, if not quicker. Nibs with this kit have a mixed bag of shapes in all different degrees, some are very fine, and other are rounded. These all help with being able to draw straight lines, shade, detail, and other techniques. Additionally, the ball tips are included that are work great for experimental endeavors. They’re capable of some truly remarkable designs. None of will be possible to do, unless you get familiar with how your tool handles.

Walnut Hollow, a company that has a firm foot in the pyrography world, has a wire tip alternative that is priced just as well as their pens. The professional wood burning kit offers an affordable option to anyone who wants to try the wire tip way of burning wood, but doesn’t want to spend an arm and a leg to do it. Though the kit isn’t as dressed up as TRUArt or TEKCHIK, but the reduced price means not being able to receive all the bells and whistles.

Functionally, the Walnut Hallow is in the same caliber as the high ticket options. The temperature range is from 600 degree to 1000 degree Fahrenheit, and responds to adjustments quickly. Having accurate control over the temperature improves burn depth and line color to your drawings.

It comes with 4 tips: a drawing point, general shading point, ball point, and rounded shading point. Collectively, they provide the right variety of tips for artistic freedom. Replace each tip with the specialized tweeters that are included in order to avoid tool damage and injuries.

The 30W wood burning kit by Chandler Tool is a a pleasantly robust tool for this craft. The kit itself comes with all the essential add-ons necessary to tackle any project, and does so with unexpected grace. The heating mechanism delivers consistent high power (570 to 700 degrees Fahrenheit) that makes it easy for working on more than just wood. Additionally, it can also be used on leather, soft & hard plastics, synthetic fibers, natural fabrics, wax, cork, paper, ceramics, foam, etc.

The lightweight burner is exceptionally easy to use, and the 8 solid brad tips (made with metal precision heating element) all help make it a perfect for wood burning tool for beginners. The brass tips vary in shape, but they all come pretty finely pointed at different angles.

Handling the pen feels fairly natural, although, when drawing, having your hand closer to the fine point at the end of a utensil is great for accuracy. The extra room of metal that conducts heat is in the way. The handle is made of hard plastic, and is really resistant to long periods of usage. 

An alternative pen for pyrography, known for its affordability and excellent thermal efficiency, is the Walnut Hollow Woodburner. If the Chandler pen wasn’t for you, then this is a good alternative.

Walnut Hollow is known for making some of the best wood engraving tools for crafters and beginners, and the Creative Versa-Tool is an excellent addition to their line-up. At less than $40 it offers high quality at an extremely reasonable price. The Creative Versa-Tool comes with 11 interchangeable points: universal, flow, tapered, calligraphy, shading, transfer, hot knife, solder, and three hot stamp points. This makes it suitable for a wide range of crafting and artistic projects.

Clear, accessible instructions and a straightforward set-up make this perhaps the best wood burning kit for beginners. The tool is extremely easy to use – just plug it in and adjust the temperature using the dial on the cord. It is small, lightweight, and is made with a comfort-grip and heat shield. These safety features mean that it can even be safely used by children in their crafting projects – under correct supervision of course. It not only works on wood but can be adjusted for leather, card, canvas, soft plastic, and a number of other materials. The packaging comes with an easy-to-read guide explaining which settings are best for different materials.

Buyers should note that while the Creative Versa-Tool does offer great quality for an introductory tool, it doesn’t really compare to a professional-grade kit. The best wood burning kit for professionals would offer greater precision in temperature, which requires a heftier external transformer than the Creative Versa-Tool offers. The Creative Versa-Tool’s smaller, simpler system has a temperature indicator which lets you adjust to different ranges of heat, but doesn’t give you the precise voltage or degree that you’re operating at. This means that using it may require a bit more trial and error than the best pyrography kit for professionals.

Nonetheless, its low price and straightforward design make the Creative Versa-Tool and easy and fun way for those just getting into pyrography, or for those who don’t feel the need to invest a lot of money in getting greater precision. With this best wood burning tools, Walnut Hollow offer high quality at a low price, making it perhaps the best wood burning kit to start out with.

110 pieces of accessories for the best wood burning kit might seem like an overkill, however if it’s your first time burning wood with the best pyrography pen then it is pretty easy to quickly underestimate just how much guidance it requires. At its core, it is drawing and PETUOL’s wood burning pen makes it feel like you are doing exactly that. Besides its stencil-like comfortability, temperature control allows various degrees of intensity to make your art stand out.

While the 200-450 degree Celsius temperature control option is practically a necessary feature, what’s even more convenient is its easy replaceability. The iron tip and protective tube which help transfer the heat to the wood are a cheap fix if in case need be. It also sports a 60W heated ceramic tech that heats up the best pyrography pen to your desired temperature in 15 seconds.

How to use:

1. Pick one of the 37 tips provided then install it to the pen
2. Let the device heat up and wait 3-5 minutes
3. Begin illustrating on the surface of the wood
4. Begin burning your designated design to the surface of the wood

The device is applicable across a range of materials so it is not just for wood. Additionally, you may also apply the best pyrography pen to leather. Its artistic abilities spread over various designs like image transfer, formwork cutting, welding, hot stamping, and textile embossing.  Its usefulness is so often unmatched among products of similar price tags.

The amount of burning tips is honestly what easily intrigues people about this, myself included. Partially because of the amount that come with this best wood burning pen, but mostly because of their unorthodox shapes which really have the potential to make interesting designs.

 

A Professional Wood Burning Kit 

Winllyat is a full fledged kit for more than just making designs, but making patterns too. The 60W pyrography pen is simple and straightforward to use, and comes with plenty of tip shapes for any wood burning methods to be replicated. The shape of the tips can be pretty odd and are a little unconventional from what you have used, or haven’t. Regardless, there’s no better teacher than experience, so fool around with it to see what each one does.

What is especially helpful from this kit is the assortment of tools that are included. Most setups only let you practice with different tips, but Winllyat helps design on all types of wood, cut stencil, soldering, paper craft, hot stamping, emboss fabric, and carve on wood or leather. This very comprehensive and diverse wood burning tool set puts it onto our list as one of the best wood burning kits.

This should go without saying, but wear gloves while using, and keep tools away from kids. They get way too hot, and some are much too sharp to be within reach. It requires a 110V power outlet and takes about 3 to 5 minutes for it to heat up.

Catnes’ kit offers everything and more for a fraction of the cost. The tool works great, although not as well as the professional pens, but it gets the job done while you’re able to focus more time of getting down basic wood illurstrations. In total, 97 pieces come packaged in this kit that allow you to do things like cut stencil, image transfer, hot stamp, emboss fabric, etc.

It’s the best wood burning kit for beginners. A lot of other options we have recommended only have the essentials to start wood burning. The quality of those products cater to artistic detail, but lack providing direction to a first time wood burner. Everything about the wood burning process is taken into account with Catnes’ kit. If you aren’t able to think of an idea to draw, they literally give you outlines to trace for the meantime.

Once you have an outline, experimenting with the attachments is next. There’s only a few you will use for the majority of the work, so many of them are specialized tools meant for specific effects. There’s a lot of mixes between pointed, flat, and rounded ends with this kit, so I recommend testing them out.

TRUArt sports the classic pen design which can be a lot easier to use because of its tapered handle. As a beginner, or novice for that fact, having a comfortable and fixed grip of your drawing utensil allows you to have better control over your movements. This may seem like a minor benefit, but it’s actually quite a big deal, because it is that attention to product detail that let’s artistic accuracy to take over. No accidental slip ups, or unintentional burns that could potentially ruin a whole drawing.

The pen functions well with a quick heat response, although it only goes up to 30W, so there’s some techniques you might not be able to replicate. The 15W setting is for any kind of work you might want to do on leather. A razor blade and soldering tip are included with the 35 options of tips to choose from. All of which are screw-in nibs to a stainless steel tube that encases the heating element and thread.

Due to the effect that high heat has on brass (it soften, and pressure causes it to bend or break), TRUArt has offered to replace the pen and tip with no additional costs. All you have to do is contact them with a picture of your broken tools included, and they will contact you about replacing it!

A solid, inexpensive, and reliable wood burning pen by INTLMATE is a great option for those just dipping their toes in the water. The 60W pen is easy to use, is fast acting, and comes with plenty of resources to start drawing right away. I think what is interesting about this particular set is not so much that their equipment is better than others I’ve used, but the stencil options are pretty extensive. It certainly offers a wide variety of images to incorporate into your drawings or to simply just practice.

The pen is light and ergonomically designed to use it in weird angles. Its inner-heated ceramic tech heats up fast (45 seconds), which is a lot faster than worked with that require several minutes before it gets hot.

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Buying Guide

Pyrography has been practiced for centuries, if you really want to get back to basics it can be done with any heated device or even a magnifying glass! Today, however, there are a wide variety of sophisticated tools on the market that can elevate this art form to new heights. With an overwhelming about of choices, there are a few things to consider when finding the best wood burning tools for yourself.

Budget is always going to be one of the most important factors when making any purchase. While it’s fairly easy to pick up an entry-level pyrography pen for $20-$50, these generally won’t offer as much control of temperature as the best pyrography tools further up in the price bracket. If you decide to move up to a more professional-grade set-up there’s a quick jump in price, but you’re rewarded with greater control, consistency, and reliability. The good news is that a quality pyrography kit will generally hold-up well over a number of years, meaning that you get a lot of use out of your money.

Temperature Control is a feature included for higher ticket items. The cheapest and most straightforward wood burners will only offer one temperature setting. They run hot and are great for projects where all you need is a fairly broad, dark burn; however, having only one temperature places obvious constraints on what you can achieve with this tool. While all the best pyrography kits can be used for different materials, the best wood burning tools won’t necessarily be the one that’s most suitable for your needs if you’re working with different materials. For detailing or working with more delicate materials it might be best to make sure that whatever best wood burning kit you buy offers very precise and reliable temperature control.

You can find variable temperature burners at a reasonable price fairly easily, and these really do give you a step up in terms of what you can do with the pen. The simplest form of variable temperature controller comes with a small temperature attached to the cord, but top of the line professional wood burning tool models have a large external transformer to give you greater control over the temperature of your pen. Good temperature control is perhaps the most important aspect in selecting the best wood burning kit, particularly for detailing. The more control you have, the greater subtlety and dimension you can get in your work. So my advice is to buy a kit with an adjustable temperature switch.

Power (Watts): When browsing for the best pyrography kit, you’ll notice that different models feature higher or lower wattage. For the most part, you actually don’t need to worry about this too much. While some models will boast over 100 watts, heating a pyrography pen usually only requires 50 watts or less. One thing you may want to keep in mind, however, is the difference between two and three volt systems. Two volt systems generally take a finer tip than three volt systems, making them capable of finer detailing. The difference is a subtle one, but worth keeping in mind if you have an idea of what your needs will be.

Pen Tips: Most models will come with interchangeable tips, and having this as an option greatly expands the kind of work you can do. Tips will generally either be nickel chromium wire, copper, or brass. Wire tips tend to be preferred by professionals as they offer finer detailing capabilities and
better heat conductivity. However, copper and brass tips are somewhat more durable, and some people find that they have a better feel, closer to a traditional pen.

Comfort: Pyrography takes patience and concentration. You’ll be spending a lot of time holding the pen so its important to make sure that you’re comfortable with it. Here there is another difference between single and variable temperature pens. Single temperature pens tend to be larger and heavier, while most variable control models are fairly small and lightweight, not too different from a regular pen. Some even have foam or cork grips for optimal comfort. However, you generally won’t have to hold on to a single temperature pen as long because they tend to burn quicker than a variable temperature model. If possible you should ask if you can try holding the pen before you purchase. Whichever kit you pick you should make sure it’s one you’re comfortable using.

With a little research it should be easy to find the best pyrography kit for your needs!

What is the best wood for pyrography?

Short answer: Anything unfinished.

Long answer: The most widely accepted best wood for pyrography is basswood. People tend to go with this wood because wood burning shows up real well on the light grain. Hardwoods tend to take more time and higher temperatures for wood burning, it mainly depends on what the design requires.

Although basswood is the most popular, there are many maples that work just as well. Going to a craft store, such as Michael’s, can reveal some great cheap options like pine which will also work well. Just be sure to sand down your wood a lot before wood burning.

Free handing versus transferring images

Of course you can free hand your wood burning designs but if you are looking to carve a more complicated design without any problems or mistakes there is a few ways you can do that.

The easy way to do this is to use carbon paper. You will need to take the carbon paper with the blue and black side facing down towards your wood and align it on to the wood exactly how you want it, then you will be able to trace your desired design with a pen. Your design will then be traced on the wood so you can carve the design you want.

Another basic way to do this is to color the back of tracing paper with a pencil as dark as possible then you will begin to do the same as you would with the carbon paper method.

A more advanced way to do this is using a transfer pen. The best pyrography pen for this method is the Razertip transfer pen. This pen comes with iron like tips that will easily transfer your image that you have photocopied or that you have laser printed on to your wood. If you use an inkjet printer for this method it will not work.

Of course, you can always use on of the many free wood burning kits stencils available online or bundled with some pyrography kits.

Proper Maintenance

Cleaning and taking proper care of the best pyrography pen is very important. You are going to want to make sure you are always cleaning the tips of your pen. If you fail to clean them it could result in your pen not working the right way due to the build up of the carbon.

One of the results from not cleaning you best wood burning tool is the heat will rise up the pen handle which causes the pen to be too hot for you to use, this will also result in taking away the heat from the tip making it difficult to burn your wood.

Another result from not cleaning the tip of the best wood burning pen is that it could cause lines or smudges on your work which could end up ruining everything.

So how can you avoid these issues?

A good way to get the carbon off your tip is to use a sharp object, sand paper or even a tea strainer to scrap it off. There are many other options to scrap off the carbon with but those are a few of the best ways. Many people decide to turn the temperature all the way up on their tool to burn the carbon off but that option may end up ruining the tip of your pen and make the pen tip wear out very quickly. You do not want to ruin your best pyrography tools. The way most people clean the wood burning pen tip is using aluminum oxide.

Safety 

Pyrography is not the safest activity to participate in so you are going to need to know all the safety precautions before you start. First of all you are going to want to do your best research on the type of wood you are working with. Certain types of woods have higher toxicity levels which is dangerous to breathe into your lungs. Keeping a window open or having a fan on is a smart choice while you are doing your wood burning. If the wood has already been used before such as plywood the smartest thing to do is to just not use it. Buying new wood is better than breathing in the toxic chemicals that the used wood would be giving off.

Another safety tip to follow is to always sand your wood outside. By sanding your wood outside you don’t risk inhaling the saw dust. While you are sanding your wood for extra protection you could wear a mask to keep the dust out of your face as well. If you are sensitive to some woods you may want to stop working with that type or try using gloves.

The number one hazard of pyrography is the heat involved, NEVER leave your pen unsupervised.

For your own safety always be aware of the placement of your hands or where the tool is. Keep in mind that heat does cause fires, you do not want to have the tool sitting around while it is on for a long period of time.

 

Looking for Wood Burning Ideas and Inspiration? (Video)

This video of a fine wood burning artist at the Youtube “How-To” channel creates a beautiful piece of pyrography art with a wood burning pen. Don’t expect to be at this level as a beginner, but with patient practice, it certainly is within reach.