[markken5889]

Hi. I've been carving for a few years now, mostly odds n' ends and a few "smoothie" decoys. I've just started doing a little burning details in a few songbirds' feathers (the carvings, that is), but find the ole' craft woodburning iron awfully awkward and ineffective. What are people using for kits and tips" i.e. Colwood, Razortip etc??? Any input is greatly appreciated.

Many thanks!

-Mark

[BobD]

Mark,
Each burner has it's own pros and cons. If you pick one of the big names (Colwood, Razertip, etc.) you shouldn't have any problems...

Bob Duncan
Technical Editor

[markken5889]

Thanks Bob. Like with any tool, I don't want to put a big cash investment into one that I'm not going to use or find satisfying. Some of the detail work I've seen done at regional shows is just amazing in terms of feathering, and so I'm hoping to give it a shot!

-Mark

[Dangee's Pyrography]

Hi Mark!

I agree with Bob...stick to the big names and you can't go wrong. I use an Optima burner and pens...but I also use Razertip pens and I have one Colewood pen I use. I had to purchase a special cord for my optima burner in order for it to accept pens from other brands, but it works great!

One thing I would advise (and this is just from my experience) is to be sure to get solid point pens...by this I mean that the tips are welded onto the pens as all one unit. They have the best heat conduction. Good luck on your new venture with burning...I'll bet you get hooked! "Keep burning and learning"...Danette

[markken5889]

Thanks for the tip,Danette! (Okay - pun intended!)...Much appreciated.

-Mark

[Pyrographer]

Mark, what Dannie is referring to is fixed tip pens versus interchangeable tips. Most of the companies make both options but the interchangeable tips are best suited for intermittent burning. If you intend to do longer term burning you are better off with fixed tip pens. Easier to use/change, better heat distribution and last longer.

Nedra

[markken5889]

Thanks Nedra,

How many tips to people typically use? From the little bit of on-line research I've been looking into, it seems that for my purposes two or three seem to suffice. Is that about average for a carver?

-Mark

[BobD]

I know Nedra uses just one for most of her work...I can't remember what it's called, but...

I think of a skew as a general purpose tip, and I like a tight round tip for most other things...

Like most tools, I think people end up getting more tools than they'll ever use, but unless you can spend an hour at a booth putting a tip through every possible use, you've got to get a small variety of tips.

I've got to disagree with Nedra, though...for me, the interchangable tips are very useful. I got hooked on the interchangable tips because I learned to burn from Alfie Fishgap (www.fishgap.com) and that's what he uses. I've never had a problem with a poor fitting connection. The interchangable tips allow me to afford a greater variety of tips than if I bought the whole pen.

That said, I've got a tight round and skew fixed tip pen; those handle a good portion of the work I do. I don't do a lot of pyrography per se...I use the woodburner to add texture to a carving, or darken an area on a natural carving. We've got an article in the upcoming issue by Carole Jean Boyd on woodburning an eye of a carving...that's more of what I do

Bob Duncan
Technical Editor

[Nancy_G]

I don't use my Colwood burner to do the fantastic carvings like birds (oh, how I wish I did!) but I love my much used interchangable tips.
I do buy just 2 tips to use steadily (but I buy several - oops ~ many~ to "play" with)

[BobD]

No..Nancy...you put your woodburner to good use on those stunning Santa beards!!! I don't know exactly how you do it (Still love to get an article on it), but the concept of how you do it has inspired me to see what I can do with the woodburner as a carving tool.

Bob