So you are new to pyrography. WELCOME!
We are so glad you are here. Wood burning is such a versatile, relaxing, useful and wonderful hobby, and we’re so excited for you to discover it all.
The first step to learning about challenges, events, community news and anything happening in the pyro world is to sign up for out Free Burn Club Newsletter.
Keep reading to learn about the basics to get you started. We wanted to put together a place where you can go to get all sorts of great information in one spot.
Safety:
PLEASE start with the Safety Guide. It’s a guide on how to practice safe habits when wood burning. Really, don’t skip this. It is important for yourself and those around you and there is a free printable you can refer too and it also acts as a good reminder!
Tools and Accessories:
The Wood Burn Box - A box with tools and accessories we recommend beginners to start with, all in one place! We’ve put the essential (and some odd but helpful) tools together with some wood slices and complete with instructions and everything else you need to easily start this relaxing hobby, right when you open the box!
If you want to customize the box, check out the DIY Wood Burning Kit. It is basically a list (with direct links) of everything in The Wood Burn Box but with options (i.e. variety of recommended tools, variety of wood companies and odd tools you can choose or skip if you already have them at home).
Research your own tools. Click here for a guide on What Woodburning Tool is Right for Me?
Our Classes:
Check the Online Classes page for video tutorials, recordings to masterclasses and some pretty cool. unique pyrography events, as well as mini freebie blog posts with project ideas and instructions on how to wood burn.
Prefer to learn at your own pace? Check out the online Wood Burning Toolkit. The Toolkit is self-guided and taught by us and other fantastic pyrographers in our community. It is a massive collection of pyro information in one spot. You can work at your own pace, on your own time, at your own speed, and in your own order. There are audio lessons (transcripts included), written lessons, video and picture tutorials, as well as PDF printables to go with the entire Toolkit. The intention is having everything all in ONE place where you can go to find tools, resources, and sound advice for all things wood burning.
For a quick start guide, check out 10 Steps for Wood Burning By Hand
Our Books:
The Wood Burn Book includes detailed instructions on how to wood burn, tools, tool care, wood types, wood prep, adding color, finishes, and is filled with fun projects.
The Wood Burn Community Book of Templates is an intro to pyrography book with traceable templates created by our community for the community.
Templates Store
Unique patterns to practice with as well as Royalty Free designs!
Pieces of advice to help while burning:
When in doubt, turn down your burner and go slower.
Never leave a hot burner unattended. Always turn off and unplug.
Pulling, not pushing, is generally easier. Either way, don’t press hard: let the heat do the work.
Let the burner glide across the wood.
Turn your wood as you burn to keep a good vantage point.
Always use dried, sanded, unfinished wood. Check out Common wood types you should NEVER burn on.
Any color or finishing gets added after you are completed burning.
Check out these transfer techniques: Transfer an image onto wood using heat or without heat.
Join the wood burning community and not only will you learn all about wood burning, you will also make some really amazing friends.
Read the Burn Club emails and the blog!
Ask for help. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
We can’t wait to see what you make. Comment if you have any questions, need advice, want to give advice, or want to show off a finished piece! We are here for it all.
