Start wood burning
Pyrography is wood burning: you draw with a hot metal pen and the design browns right into the wood. Here's the video that hooks everyone, and everything you need for your first burned sign.
Space neededA corner of the kitchen table
First projectA burned sign in an afternoon
Skill levelBeginner-friendly
Good forQuiet, seated, small spaces
The video that hooks everyone
Wood burning for beginners: how to get started
A plain beginner's guide to pyrography: the burning pen, the wood and how to get started on your first piece. Press play and see how little it takes to begin.
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Tool list
What you need to start
Everything you need for your first project, and nothing you don't.
Starter kit
01Wood burning pen kitA pen with a heat dial, a stand and a few screw-in tips.
02Basswood roundsPale, soft wood with even grain. The classic wood to learn on.
03Basswood scrapsFor practice lines and testing your heat.
04Sandpaper, 220 gritA smooth surface burns smooth lines.
05Graphite transfer paperTraces your design onto the wood.
06Pencil + eraserSketch first, burn second.
07Needle-nose pliersSwap tips without touching hot metal.
08Small fanBlows the smoke away from your face.
09Clear wipe-on finishSeals the wood once your sign is done.
The manual tells you what to look for when you buy each one.
- 1Burning the wrong woodNever burn treated wood, MDF, or painted or varnished wood. The fumes are toxic. Stick to raw, untreated wood like basswood.
- 2Pressing too hardLet the heat do the work. Pressing digs grooves and makes lines wobble. Use a light touch and go slow.
- 3Stopping on the woodEvery pause leaves a dark blob. Start moving before the tip touches, and lift off while you're still moving.
