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    Little Book of Pyrography: Techniques, Exercises, Designs, and Patterns
    Little Book of Pyrography: Techniques, Exercises, Designs, and Patterns
    Little Book of Pyrography: Techniques, Exercises, Designs, and Patterns
    Ebook273 pages55 minutes

    Little Book of Pyrography: Techniques, Exercises, Designs, and Patterns

    By Lora S. Irish

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    About this ebook

    This handsome hardcover gift book makes woodburning easy by walking beginners through all the basics of materials, tools, and techniques. Seven skill-building pyrography projects provide step-by-step exercises in using temperature, time, layering, and texturing to create artistic tonal values.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherFox Chapel Publishing
    Release dateAug 14, 2018
    ISBN9781607659396
    Little Book of Pyrography: Techniques, Exercises, Designs, and Patterns
    Author

    Lora S. Irish

    Lora S. Irish is an internationally known artist and author, whose acclaimed books include Great Book of Carving Patterns, Great Book of Celtic Patterns, Great Book of Dragon Patterns, Great Book of Tattoo Designs, The Official Vampire Artist's Handbook, Relief Carving Wood Spirits, World Wildlife Patterns for the Scroll Saw, and many more. Fox Chapel Publishing has sold more than 500,000 copies of Irish's books. Lora is also a frequent contributor to Woodcarving Illustrated and to Scroll Saw Woodworking and Crafts magazines.

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      Book preview

      Little Book of Pyrography - Lora S. Irish

      Introduction

      Whether you’ve never tried pyrography before or you’ve simply used it for small projects and want to refresh yourself on the techniques, this booklet will show you how to create beautiful pieces with only a pyrographic tool. Today’s pyrographic equipment can be both inexpensive and readily available, so getting started is easy to do.

      Although it is often referred to as woodburning, the art of pyrography can be worked on just about any natural surface, which gives you a wide variety of possibilities on which to explore this craft. Wooden box tops, gourd bluebird houses, watercolor paper that’s suitable for framing, and even leather belts are used as working surfaces for burned designs. For this booklet, I worked the finished samples on several different species of wood, such as birch plywood and basswood; however, the techniques and instructions do apply to other materials, such as leather, paper, and gourds.

      As you work your way through the booklet, we will explore what materials and tools you will need for your woodburning kit and how to practice creating and controlling woodburned tonal values through the use of textures and layers. The booklet ends with a section of exercises and accompanying projects, giving you the opportunity to apply what you have learned. With the basic instructions in this book and a little practice, you will soon be able to woodburn any project with confidence and expertise.

      Illustration

      Pyrography Systems

      There are two types of pyrography systems—the one-temperature unit and the variable-temperature system.

      One-temperature tools heat to a preset temperature and create tonal value by controlling your texture or burn strokes and by the speed of your burning stroke.

      Variable-temperature tools allow you to adjust the temperature of the tips from a very cool setting to extremely hot.

      The number of distinct tonal values that can easily be created increases with the variable temperature tool because you control how cool or hot the tip is during the work.

      One-Temperature Tools

      Once plugged into an electrical outlet, the tool gradually reaches an even but high temperature, so the textures you make, the strokes that you use, and the speed of the stroke control the tonal value work in your project.

      Using a light pressure to the tip against the wood and moving the tool tip quickly through the burn stroke creates very pale tonal values. Medium pressure and slower motion bring darker tones. One-temperature burning tools are inexpensive, readily available at your local craft or hobby store, and excellent for first-time pyrographers to give the craft a try.

      Illustration

      Options. From single- to variable-temperature units, pyrographers can choose from many options. Your skill level, your goals as an artist or craftsman, and your budget are among the factors that will influence your decision.

      Illustration

      Temperature control. The single-temperature burner on the left takes time to heat up but holds its temperature well. The variable-temperature burner on the right heats up—and cools—quickly.

      Variable-Temperature Burners

      Variable-temperature systems have a dial thermostat that allows you to control how cool or hot your tip is. You can adjust the temperature setting quickly, making it easy to control your tonal values in your project. This style has two types of pens—the fixed-tip pen, where the tip is permanently set in the handgrip, and the interchangeable pen, where different wire tips can be used with the handgrip. There are many excellent burning systems available to the hobbyist. Which manufacturer you choose depends on your budget, your pen style preferences, and what is available to you locally or online.

      Illustration

      Pen types. Pens with tips allow you to increase your inventory of tip shapes without spending a lot of money. Fixed-tip pens (blue grip above) eliminate any heat or energy loss where the tip connects with the unit.

      Dual-pen system. With a dual-pen system, plug two pens, each with a different tip, into the unit during any burning session. A selector switch allows the user to change from one pen to the other, and a thermostat controls the temperature setting for whichever tip is in use.

      The pens for this unit are slim and lightweight, making it comfortable for long sessions of burning. The handgrip area may be covered with foam wrap or cork to reduce the heat that reaches the hand.

      Illustration

      Handpiece wires. Most woodburners use an RCA plug (top photo) to connect the burning pen to the handpiece wire. Some units (bottom photo) use a ¼" (0.5cm)-diameter phone jack for the connection.

      Single-pen unit. Many single-pen units have a range of temperature settings. Changing fixed pens or changing tips on the interchangeable pens is quick and easy. The temperature dial system is very reliable for quick tonal value changes. This particular unit can reach very hot temperatures, and working to the extreme black tones is simply a matter of turning up the heat.

      The cork handles are very comfortable and dramatically reduce the heat transfer from the tip to your hand. This style uses a positive, tight connector at the front of the pen for the interchangeable-tip pen, making the exchange of tips easy.

      Illustration

      Pen grips. The thick blue foam on the pen above insulates the user’s fingers from the heat of the pen. Vents and distance on the pen below move the user’s fingers back from the hottest part of the pen.

      Illustration

      Adaptability. Most manufacturers sell adapters that allow you to use other manufacturers’ pens with their control units. Some units come with a full set of adapters.

      Pyrography Tips

      Tips come in many shapes and bends, from the tight bend used in the standard writing tip to half circles that can create fish scales and even square tubes that make a textured pattern on your board. Three basic pen tips are used throughout this book—the standard writing tip, the micro writing tip, and a small flat spoon shader.

      Illustration

      Standard writing tip pen. For wide line shading and texture work, try the standard writing tip. By holding the pen in an upright position, 90° from the working surface, fine detail lines can be pulled. To create wider lines in your texturing, drop your grip to about 45° from the wood. The angle change allows the side of the wire to touch the board giving you more metal-to-wood contact.

      Illustration

      Standard tip sample. The standard tip pen creates a strong, wide line perfect for both outlining and shading.

      Illustration

      Micro writing tip pen. The micro writing tool is manufactured using thinner wire and a tighter bend at the tip than the standard writing tool. The tip’s shape allows little metal to come into direct contact with

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