[Irish]

Hey guys!

Finally I am going to get to my work table today. I tried yesterday and got about 15 minutes of fun done only to be called back to 'other duties as assigned' ... sigh!

Pippin, you might be right about the typo, I'll check.

As I already have RazorTip's dual system I just wanted something small with the Colwood to try out so part of my decision was storage space in the studio.

When I bought my Razor Tip I KNEW that I was hooked on wood burning and that the investment, just a little over $250 with my extra tips, would be well worth it. So, yea!, I got a dual system that handles two pens at one time, several fixed tip pens and a replaceable tip pen plus an assortment of interchangeable tips. I knew I wasn't spending money on something I might only use a few times ... I KNEW I am addicted to the smell of wood burning smoke

Trying the small unit, the Colwood Detailer, has let me try out a system that I think newbies who are not yet convinced that a variable temp system is affordable just seemed perfect. And I have tried to approach this WIP with the same idea by using just a very few pen tips. So the Colwood set up that I am using would cost a new burner about half of what I invested in my RazorTip ... a very affordable experiment into variable temp tool!

We do the same thing with our carving tool sets on our site. Mike and I carry inexpensive nice quality carving tools that let a newbie give wood carving a good try and a chance to carve before they begin laying out larger sums of money for high end quality tools.

I'm not going to sell you a $50 carving tool when you still don't know the difference between a bench knife and a skew. And I'm not going to 'test' a wood burner that is so far out of reach in price for very new to the craft pyrographers! Just not my style.

So, before we begin burning today I want to apologize for being AWOL. There is a long, sad tale behind my disappearance that is worth telling one day but not here on the forum ... Sigh! Hopefully I am getting this one done today!!!!!!!

Susan

Edit Notes: Well, it looks like I left off at Step #71 so I'm off to edit images and should be back in about an hour ... if the creek don't rise!

Edit Notes: I have had several requests for some pricing ideas. The pricing below was obtained directly from each manufacturer's website on Nov. 13, 2007. Please go directly to the manufacturer's for current prices as what is posted below is just one day's comparision.

I checked for a single pen burning system with one standard writing pen between the two manufacturers. Also included is the price of individual fixed pens, interchangeable tip holder pens and interchangeable tips.

Colwood Detailer with the standard 18 gauge cord $73.95 USD - $70.76 CAD
Fixed Tips $17.95 USD - $17.17 CAD
Replaceable Tip Handle $14.95 USD - $14.30CAD
Replaceable Tips $13.95 USD - $13.35 CAD

RazerTip SK Burner w/ 18 gauge cord plus one standard writing pen $164.08 USD - $156.95 CAD/
Fixed Pens $28.75 USD - @27.50 CAD -
Interchangeable Tip Handle $32.92 USD - $31.50 CAD
Interchangeable Tip Wires $5.25 USD - $5.00 CAD
Interchangeable Wire Tips $5.25 USD - $5.00 CAD

So on Nov.12, 2007:
Colwood Detailer plus one standard writing tip = $74 + $18 = $92 USD
Razortip which includeds one standard writing tip + $164 USD

But PLEASE check the manufacturer's websites directly for your own comparission for pricing!!!!

[Irish]

I have worked on three stages during this burning time. The first was a chance to try the heavy power cord, the 16 gauge, versus the standard 18 gauge cord that comes with the Detailer. The second was to begin detailing our mouse puppy with more shadowing and fur lines. The third was to begin defining each area by adjusting the surrounding tonal values. So let's begin.

Step 72: This is where we left off in the burning.

Step 73: This is where we are headed next.

If you are following the WIP as a project the next series of steps begins on post #147.

Susan

[Irish]

Originally Posted by Pippin

Hi, Susan--

You meant "KR" (as indicated on the photo) rather than "KB" (as you typed in the text), correct?

Looking forward to the mouse fur step. Very generous of you to devote all of this time to these lessons.

Can you tell us why you chose the Detailer model from the Colwood lineup, and are you still happy that's the model you chose?

Yes, Pippin ... it's the KR!

Susan

[Irish]

Step 74: The new 16 gauge power cord arrived with an interchangeable pen and a couple of interchangeable tip styles. So let's see if there is any difference between the 18 gauge cord that came with the burner and the 'heavy duty' 16 gauge power cord. Please remember here that I am no electrical techno geek ...

There are two screws on the back which connect the cord tot he unit. Easy
enough!

Step 75: There is a plastic cord holder on the side that also needs to be
removed, again something this non-geek can do.

Step 76: And, all I have to do is put on the new cord and tighten down the
connector screws and replace the plastic cord holder ... not bad.

Susan

[Irish]

Step 77: The interchangeable pen snaps in easily. Now being a non-geek I had marked two zip lock plastic bags with a note for each power cord ... one for the 18 gauge and one for the 16 gauge ... so I would remember which was which. But when I plugged in the new pen I did note that the standard, 18 gauge cord has a blue colored sleeve at the connector point where the 16 gauger's sleeve is black. That's very nice but as I will never remember which color is which I am still going to use the zip locks with the numbers written on the bag.

Step 78: The interchangeable tip snaps in with two heavy wire connectors. There is a guide nub on the side of the tip that matches a trough inside the pen's opening so you can't get the tip in wrong.

Now, as this is also a test of the Colwood I will note here that I really, really like the way the interchangeable tip connect to the pen shaft. I think I have noted here that I have broken two RazorTip pens. Both were the interchangeable pens. RazorTip uses a screw system much like the back of the Colwood power cord connection. One screw receptacle is sodered to each side of the pen. These screws are loosened, the wire ends of the tip slide under the screws and then the screws are tightened down for a positive connection.

I have managed, twice, to break the solder connection of the screws on the pen making the pen totally useless. As I understand RazorTip would/will help you if you have this problem. I do not nor can not say this is a problem on RazorTip side as I may well-probably-could have over tightened those screws and forceably snapped them ...

But, being a non-geek with a track record of snapping sodering connections I like Colwood's method of interchangeable tips.

Susan

OK ... My spell checker is not telling me if I am spelling gauge or soder correctly, maybe someone can let me know.

[BobD]

Gauge is correct...but it's solder <GRIN>

Editor to the rescue (see me in my green sweater with a bit "E" cut out of paper stapled to it)

Bob??? Need you mean BIG E??? - Susan

[Irish]

Dumb, Susan!!!! Dumb, dumb, dumb!

Step 79: Oh Whosits!!!!! I did something very stupid!!! Does anyone know where you can buy Idjit Insurance against setting your studio on fire!!!!

So I turned the burner unit on it's face to change out the power cord. Then I plugged in the new interchangeable pen, added the new pen tip and ... turned on the burner without checking to see where the temp setting was.
Well, yea, the temp setting had gotten moved up to 10 so when I turned the burner on I had instant high heat. That pen tip went from cold to white hot in under 2 seconds ... AHHHH!

Dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb .... and still dumb, Susan!

Susan

[Irish]

Step 80: I am using the "J" tip which is a flattened spoon shaped shader, it's an interchangeable tip and I am doing a quick test burn before I go to my project. I am pulling the side of the shader with the grain in long even
timed strokes. The temp setting of 5 gave me a light medium tone and the temp setting of 7 gave me a medium dark tone.

At temp setting 7 my tool tip was beginning to turn cherry red. With the 18 gauge cord I didn't get this cherry red tip until temp setting 9 ... whoa!

Step 81: The test burn was done includes three new squares. The top square is with the 16 gauge cord at temp setting 5. The middle square is 16 gauge at temp setting 7 and the bottom is with the 18 gauge at temp setting 7!

I can really see a difference between the two temp setting 7 burns just because of the cord gauge change. In fact it looks to me that I am getting two tonal values higher burning with the 16 gauge cord then the 18 gauge
cord. The top square, 16 gauge temp 5, appears equal in tonal value, to me, as the 18 gauge temp 7 bottom square.

Step 82: I really wanted to double check this so I cut and pasted the new test burn onto the grid burn we did at the very beginning of this WIP. What I see is that with the 16 gauge cord at temp setting 7 I am getting a darker
burn then I did with the 18 gauge temp setting 9. So!!!!

I am going back to the 18 gauge power cord because I will just mess up all of my temp setting instructions for this WIP if I do use the 16 gauge cord. There is far too much burning power difference between the two cords to
change now. Maybe later I will have a chance to try the 16 gauge cord for an entire burning ... but if someone out there wants to super-charge their burner I now know how to do it - go 16 gauge!

Susan

Edit notes: OK, Other Duties as Assigned is calling so I have to go do a little shop work. But I do have about 25 more photos to edit for you toady. So, please, check back after lunch.

[Irish]

Originally Posted by BobD

Gauge is correct...but it's solder <GRIN>

Editor to the rescue (see me in my green sweater with a bit "E" cut out of paper stapled to it)

Bob

I want a photo I can paste over my computer!!!!

And I want it now!!!

Susan

[BobD]

But that may reveal my secret identity!!! I have to take off my glasses! And there is no phone booth handy here in the office. You can't expect me to change into my super hero outfit in a common restroom!

Bob