Walnut Hollow Versa-Tool

[Irish]

I would really hesitate to suggest that you add cork over the pen hold of any burning pen. All pen, including this one, get extremely hot as that is their one and only purpose. And if your pen is working properly I believe you are destined for an instant fire .....

The pen area, the brass barrel and pen tip, is longer than the more expensive burning pens and as I have small hands I do sometimes find myself reaching or stretching to burn a line. But at those times I find that by simply adjusting how I am holding the work can really change the reach.

For my grip on any pen I hold the pen as if it were an ink pen then I extend my little finger on the holding hand to place that finger tip onto the wood. That little finger tip is where I am securing my working hand. Stretching or bending that little finger moves my pen either farther away or closer to the work.

For this pyro scene I had the board in my lap and the pen hand then was supported by my wrist and small finger over my thigh. It would be about the same position for one of my carvings.

OK ... Go up to Burning your Carvings and then go to Lynn's reply for the link to his video on burning. It's a great video and you will see that Lynn is in a position to move and adjust BOTH his carving and his burning pen. Lynn's video shows some great hand positions ... Thank you Lynn!

Now oddly I answered a question similar to this on Pyrography Online, our sister forum for wood burning, and stated that where I would be using my new Versa-Tool that I was sure it was destined to end up in my wood carving kit for cleaning up joint lines, adding textures, and doing small depth changes.

I guess how I want to answer here is that it depends on what tool you learned to handle as what tool you are comfortable in using. I learned on a Walnut Hollow, way back then that was all there was unless you used a sodering pen. So for me its was like coming home to something I have done for eons.


Susan

OK ... from the tip of my middle finger to the base of my palm measures 7" ... so it fits a 7" hand.

[AlArchie]

Susan, I want to thank you for a solid evaluation of those Walnut Hollow burners. Those and similar "hobby pens" have been getting a bad rap since the fancy burners have come into existance and it was nice to see a good review of the old standbys.

I've seen numerous inquiries by hopeful pyrographers asking about the simple pens and whenever I suggest they try the hobby pens before going full tilt into an expensive set, I quite often are pulled up short by otheres saying not to waste money on the hobby pens. My position is that for 15 bucks or so a beginner can get a feel for the hobby and if they then want to go further into the craft, fine, go ahead then and look for a high end unit.

And I have to wonder how many beginners are simply turned off by the initail expense of a high end burner and just give up on the hobby altogether. I still have and use one of my first Walnut Hollow pens and two others of the same type. I also have a pair of professional models...no brand mentioned and I love them, but still on occasion fall back on the old hobby burners for some specific uses.

Think I'll go out and get one of those new WH units.

Al

[Nomad]

Really a fantastic review! Thanks so much for posting it! I have looked for this tool online but can't find it. Walnut Hollow has a versa tool listed but it does not have the variable temperature control and they did not have it listed under their new products. Is this available yet?

[Irish]

Terry, the Versa-tool shown on their home page is the one that I just showed you here. The photo is a bit hard to see as the thermostat is folded over on the cord ... but that's the one ... and today they have a 20% off the Versa-Tool note on their home page.

Al .. I so Very Much agree with you! I also believe that a newbie, whether a carver or a burner, should invest in a nice but inexpensive tool or tool set first. That way they can really give the hobby a try before they become discouraged because of the high initial costs. If they love it as we do then adding new, higher quality or specialty tools can be done as they truly need them.

Besides, even with two high end burners I still use my one temperature setting Walnut Hollow on a regular bases.

Susan

[Nomad]

Originally Posted by Irish

Terry, the Versa-tool shown on their home page is the one that I just showed you here. The photo is a bit hard to see as the thermostat is folded over on the cord ... but that's the one ... and today they have a 20% off the Versa-Tool note on their home page.

Susan

Alrighty. Thanks! What confuses me is that when you look at the product description, it says it has an on/off switch but nothing about the thermostat.

[Irish]

You are very right, Terri! That is an on-off switch!!!

... so ... I would email Walnut Hollow and ask what the SKU number is for the "Creative Versa-Tool featuring Versa-Temp Temperature Control" ... that's the wording at the top of the box.

I heard about the one I got when I was on the phone ordering wood plaques and blanks ... so ... give them a call or email before you click the Buy Now button.

Susan

[Nomad]

Originally Posted by Irish

You are very right, Terri! That is an on-off switch!!!

... so ... I would email Walnut Hollow and ask what the SKU number is for the "Creative Versa-Tool featuring Versa-Temp Temperature Control" ... that's the wording at the top of the box.

I heard about the one I got when I was on the phone ordering wood plaques and blanks ... so ... give them a call or email before you click the Buy Now button.

Susan

I called Walnut Hollow up and they said it wasn't available.

[Midnight Carver]

Glad you caught that Terry, I was looking at the wrong one. Gotta keep my eyes out for one

Eric

[Irish]

Checking back over my notes ... I was ordering a huge batch of wood for my next book ... it looks like the Versa-Tool will be released the 1st of November in Michaels.

Chris, the gal helping me, mentioned the tool when I told her who I was. So maybe that's why I got mine early.

So Sorry for the confusion here.

Susan