Wood Burning or "Pyrography" Tools
Picking the Right Wood Burning Tools
Temperature:
Most
burners will tell you on the box, what their temperature range or
setting is for that particular tool. The better quality burners
will generally have a temperature dial that lets you adjust from
500 to 900 degrees. Lower quality pyrographic tools, typically have
a one temperature setting around 600 degrees. Which do you want?
Well if you see yourself pursuing this hobby to a rather advanced
level, always chose a burner that lets you pick a temperature. This
will allow for shading.
Lower temperature ranges and specially designed wood
burning pens are used for fine lining and on softwoods like
basswood. Higher temperatures are needed to do a good woodburning
job of heavy duty burning on harder woods like ash or oak. With
a temperature dial, you have full control, in all these situations.
If all you want to do is play and not really sure whether this is
the hobby for you, buy cheap. You'll upgrade later if you love it.
Two Pen or One:
Again
it is a choice based on expected use. Some pyrography tools are
built to accept only on cable plug in (ie. one pen, as in the smaller
razertip burner pictured on the right). More expensive models accept
one cable on each side of the box.
If you intent is to burn for an hour at a time, then the advantage
of having two pens attached to one wood burner is that if one gets
too hot you can switch.. or have a different bit on each pen and
easily and quickly move from one bit to the next, without waiting
for the pen to cool.
Cables:
Depending on the manufacture, the cables connecting the pen to the
control unit may or maynot be sold independently. ..... and often
with a choice between heavy duty and regular.
Heavy duty is necessary if you intend to use any heavy duty pens
ie. like shaders, but ...you can use a light duty pen with a heavy
duty cable...no problem.
The regular duty cables will be slightly more flexible and lighter
then the heavy duty... some people that burn for long periods of
time will find this significant. For the casual burner the heavy
duty cable is a better choice because it allows you to use regular
or heavy duty pens, with the same cable.
Good quality cables will have great flexibility, with a small cord
size, and reliable fittings.
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