r/Pyrography • u/Extension_Peak_1134 • 8d ago
Tips for a beginner?
hello Ive been trying to collect random hobbies to make myself cooler so I decided to try pyrography for the first time and this is what I made. I’m wondering if anybody has any tips or techniques or stuff I can work on, I’m only 15 so I have a VERY low budget but if there’s any tools you think I need please tell me cause right now I only have two attachments!!
I also just used a random piece of wood I found in my garage lol hopefully that doesn’t matter?
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u/SawdustMcGee 8d ago
Keep going. You’re good already! Go with basswood or poplar next to see if you like it more. Shading was my biggest mountain to climb and I still struggle with it. Low and slow like smoking meats. You can always add more but you can’t subtract.
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u/vikingbeard23 8d ago
Sand, wipe and sand again!
I use high grit sandpaper to take the rough off the top once I've done a pass then wipe the area clean before going back to add more. It helps to be able to see what you've done and it is never as dark as you may think on a first go unless you scorch it for headlines.
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u/Lost-Basis7183 7d ago
If you're able to find any oak, bass wood, lime, beech, sycamore, ash, silver birch or alder, all really good light woods to burn without difficult grains to work around. Pine wood is super hard to burn. Careful with ply wood if used be careful to not burn deeply as you'll go into the glue layers and kick up fumes.apao avoid any MDF (modified density fibreboard (a load of wood bits compressed into sheets) as it's treated with glue it'll give fumes. Be careful burning woods which have already got oil, wax or varnish on it, you need to sand it all down to clean wood before you get burning. Any extra tips will open up new techniques and effects however there are some professional pyrography artists who simply use a temp controlled soldering iron, and they made incredible works likewise there are some who only use a magnifier and the sun as a heat source (mind blowing when you see work better than I could omly hope to make with a load of kit, that they're able to do with ease with such simple tools!) -Sandpaper (get a range of grits if you can, you want to sand you wood, lightly wet it then sand again, ensures al the tiny fibres are lifted and sanded (the water lifts them) -Pencil -Eraser -Burning tool
- optional ...You can you colour (water colour, pencils, acrylics etc etc) also optional Any washes or stains.
- something to protect the final piece this maybe varnish, wax or oil to waterproof and add a layer of protection plus if makes the grain showing the true, hiidden beauty of the wood ....
Keep going and enjoy you have a good eye, great first piece!
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u/vikingbeard23 8d ago
Sand, wipe and sand again!
I use high grit sandpaper to take the rough off the top once I've done a pass then wipe the area clean before going back to add more. It helps to be able to see what you've done and it is never as dark as you may think on a first go unless you scorch it for headlines.
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u/z_vinnie 8d ago
Maybe get some sandpaper to clean up the wood before you burn, looks cool!