About Pyrographic Tools

[Rezbar]

I have just started wood-burning. I bought a very cheap pyrographer with a set of different tips (blade, round, pointed, etc.). At the same time I saw a video where the artist uses a wood-burning tools (Razertip) with a tip like a bent-on wire (actually, there many different tips of this kind). In your expert opinion, what's the difference between the two tools? What is better for a beginner?
thank for your answers. Dino

[AlArchie]

Those pyrographic "stations" are a huge improvement over the "hobby burners", the big clunky pens, and if you are serious aout burning, I'd recommend one of the better models..Razertip, Colwood, Burnmaster, etc, but expect to pay a lot more for the initial units and then the additional tips.

Then again, I've seen some work by pyrographers who use ONLY the hobby type, Walnut Hollow and the like, and those works would rival any done with the more expensive sets. I was amazed that those burns could have been done with the hobby pens.

You might work with your set for a while and see where your level develops. Maybe you can find a friend or club that would let you try one of the better sets for comparison.

Al

[mpounders]

I wouldn't consider my opinion an expert one! I used the old hobby style single-temperature pen when I first started years ago. It was/is large and clunky, but you can get some nice results depending on the skill of the user. Despite trying different tips, and filing them down, and using a dimmer to try and control the temperature, it was still clunky and uncomfortable to use. I tried everything to make the less expensive one work better and wasted a bit more time and money. I finally bought a Colwood Detailer and a handpiece with replaceable tips and feel like it was money ($125) well spent! It was like going from using crayons to a fine tipped pen! The control over the temperature, the smaller and finer tips, and the comfortable smaller handpiece make a huge difference. You can get your fingers much closer to the tip for better control and your hands don't get uncomfortable from the heat.

[D Wolf]

Hi Rezbar;
I am still somewhat new to pyrography myself but I am finding that even with my more expensive burner, that I am still using my el cheapo burner( it is a single temp hobby burner) much more than I thought that I would.It just seems to work better for some things than the other one,especially when I need a darker burn or am working on gourds. so in my way of thinking both have there uses and I would not be as happy with only one of them to choose from. I would venture to say that if I could only have one that I would definitely go with the more expensive unit with its wire tipped pens.

Wolf