Burning Into Wood With Intention
Pyrography is the art of burning designs into wood using a heated pen or wire tip. The core skill is temperature control matched to wood density and the effect you want. Basswood and birch are the standard beginner choices because they are pale, fine-grained, and consistent. Avoid pine for detailed work as it has hard resin pockets that burn unevenly.
5to 10 Watts
Set Up Your Workspace Safely
Always burn in a well-ventilated space or directly under an exhaust fan.
Set Up Your Workspace Safely
Always burn in a well-ventilated space or directly under an exhaust fan. Wood smoke contains particulates that accumulate in the lungs over time. Keep a small fan blowing smoke away from your face, not across the work surface. Wear a basic respirator if
Temperature, Wood, and Tip Type
Wire nib burners heat and cool quickly and give you fine control.
Temperature, Wood, and Tip Type
Wire nib burners heat and cool quickly and give you fine control. Solid tip burners stay hot longer and suit broader shading. Start at a medium temperature and test on scrap from the same board. A universal writing tip works for lines. A shader tip
Shading Technique for Depth
Move the tip in small circular motions for smooth gradients rather than
Shading Technique for Depth
Move the tip in small circular motions for smooth gradients rather than back-and-forth lines. Build shade in layers rather than burning dark in one pass. You can always go darker but you cannot go lighter once burned. Leave the palest areas untouched and
Transfer Your Design Without Graphite Contamination Graphite pencil lines burn into the wood and become permanent. Use a water-soluble pen or transfer paper made for pyrography instead. Alternatively, tape a printed design face-down and trace over it with a ballpoint pen to transfer without graphite. Erase any remaining marks with a white eraser before you begin burning.