A Burning Question

[Tucson Bill]

I try to ask at least one dumb question a day, so here goes.

I have seen several people on the board mention that hey use a wood burner to outline areas of their carvings. The intent is to keep paint from bleeding from one area to the next. The question (finally) is, when you do this do you use low heat and a quick hand? I would assume that you would not want to leave a dark burned line on the carving.

[Kenny_S]

If you look at Lynn's blog you will see that it is basicly low to medium heat. It does burn/darkens the wood. But you don't want to deep burn the wood. It also helps in giving his carvings a shadlowing effect.

[Thomp]

While the burning dose eliminate most bleeding, it also makes crisp detail lines where there not normally noticeable,
it removes crumbs flakes and fuzzes,
but Limit the burning don't run out all the details, as this makes a horrible looking carving,

after i got my optma1 i went nuts and burned every detail even the beard whiskers and such,,, take it from me the little feller looked like he had been fighting a forest fire until i totally repainted the carving with a flat white paint ( jesso )then started with the repainting ...

somehow burning the wood stops it from absorbing the paint. so it dose eliminate creep or bleed over into areas where you don't want it.
just be reserve.

[AlArchie]

Another use for "The Burn". When carving detail in hard wood walking sticks (not necessarily hardwood), burn your stop cuts hot and fast with a fine tip. This is far easier and more accurate that using a knife for the stops, as you can guide the burner tip without the associated slips of making curved stop cuts on a cylidrical surface with a knife.

This also helps keep any paint or stain you use from bleeding over.....makes for nice clean detail lines.

Al