I now insulate all of the handles that hold my woodburning tips. This allows me to burn for a
long time, at high temperatures. The handles DO NOT get to hot to hold.
I have found that the best insulation solution is one layer of "Amazon 4 inch Self Adhesive
Bandage Wrap" over one layer of "McMaster Blue Mesh Sleeve".
I purchased a RoMech (brand) Hot Knife a couple of years ago when I needed an easy way to
cleanly cut the canvas for a skin on frame kayak I was building. It did not take long for me to try
burning wood with it. It makes a great wood burner!
It is light weight and easy to use. You just pull the trigger and the tip quickly heats up to
red hot. It is great for straight lines. You can also burn curved lines, if the curve is not real
tight. The $100+ price is reasonable. Continue reading Hot Knife Wood Burner
Long ago I learned to make my own woodburning tips from Graeme Priddle. I cut off a piece of
Nichrome wire and bend into the shape I want with small pliers.
I purchased 6 spools of different size (gauge) Nichrome wire from McMaster-Carr. I have
been using it up slowly over many years.
If I had to do it again today, I would probably purchase it from Amazon with free Prime
shipping, to avoid McMaster shipping charges. Continue reading Nichrome Wire for DIY Woodburning Tips
I am putting this blog append here in one common place. So, I can reference it from other blog entries.
I would like to state that I DO NOT think you can make a Graeme Priddle style Wood Vaporizer
(Wood Burner) out of a MODERN automotive battery charger. Continue reading Battery Charger Wood Vaporizer (Burner) is NO LONGER Feasible
Here is an old trick. I don’t remember who I learned it from. If you use Acoustic Guitar Wire Burners to friction burn lines with the lathe running they work better than Piano Wire.
The Piano Wire burners sold by “KC Wire Burners” and others are a single strand of piano wire. Acoustic Guitar Wire is a single strand of wire wrapped by a second strand of wire. See close up photo of acoustic guitar wire. The wound wire creates a lot more friction. Thus you can burn a line faster and easier.
I have never seen Guitar String Wire Burners for sale. You have to make your own.
Continue reading Guitar String Wire Burners
Here is my response to an e-mail asking about woodburners.
I currently own and use a Detail Master Excalibre (the silver one with 2 ports) with lots of different Fixed Tip Detail Master Vented pens (the silver aluminum ones). I also have a couple of Razertip Tips sets that I mount in a Razertip interchangeable tip pen.
If I was buying a new system today I would purchase a Burnmaster Eagle (the red one with 2 ports) with Burnmaster Replaceable Tip Pen and Tips. The 10 tips available from Burnmaster are good for beginners. In the long run you can add more tips by purchasing sets of tips from Razertip.
Continue reading Woodburners & Pyrography
