Craft Articles

Wood burning is the art of decorating wood using a heated object that forms burn marks in the wood. Wood burning is one branch of pyrography. Pyrography means “fire writing” and involves burning designs on a wide range of materials, such as wood, leather or gourd. Today, most wood burning craftsmen use a solid-point tool or a hot wire tool. Before these tools were invented, traditional wood burning were carried out using a piece of metal placed in a fire or a magnifying lens that could focus the sun’s rays and thereby scorch the wood. We know that the tradition of wood burning is very old and has been practised by the Egyptian civilizations as well as by several African tribes. Pyrography is also a time-honoured craft in central Europe and many regions of South American. 

The most commonly used wood types are birch, beech, sycamore and similar hardwoods. These woods consist of find non-obtrusive grain and the pale colour provides a strong contrast against the burn marks. There are however many craftsmen that use other types of wood, e.g. oak and pine.

Solid-point wood burning machines typically come with a broad collection of tip shapes, while wire-point machines make it possible to shape the wire into unique outlines.  You can vary the type of tool tip, the temperature and the application method to create different effects on the wood. Wood burning can therefore create a great variety of tones and shades, from mild sepia shadows to bold, dark burn marks. Some craftsmen combine wood burning with painting or other forms of tinting.

Alfred Smart is an important name in the history of wood burning since he developed a technique were hot water-based paint is applied to the wood. Benzoline fumes are pushed through a heated platinum pencil and this method makes it possible to form tints and shades that can not be created using traditional wood burning techniques. Alfred Smart was an architect living in Melbourne during the late 19th century.

Wood burning can be as easy as adding your name to a key ring or as advanced as creating intricate pieces of art using multiple techniques. Beginner wood burners often prefer to create a faint pencil sketch on the wood before they proceed. If you want to learn more about wood burning, there are several books and guidelines written on the subject. You can also purchase videos or visit one of the many websites dedicated to wood burning.