Wood burning

, also known as pyrography, is the art of decorating wood with a glowing hot pen. You essentially need only two ingredients: wood and a burner. ⁠Although you only need two ingredients, it is important to prepare yourself well before starting. You want to properly match the wood burning pen, attachments, wood, and your intended creation. ⁠We at Vaessen Creative will optimally prepare you so you can soon create the most beautiful wood designs.
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⁠On this page:

• What is fun about wood burning?
• How does wood burning work?
• Video: step-by-step wood burning
• Essentials for wood burning
• Choosing the right wood burning pen
• How to start wood burning
• Wood burning: 11 ideas
• Frequently asked questions about wood burning

What is fun about wood burning?

If you are new to wood burning, it won't be long before you are hooked. For anyone who is hesitant: we are more than happy to convince you. Once you have tasted this creative hobby, no piece of wood will be safe from you and your wood burning pen.

What's so fun about wood burning? Here it is:

1. So relaxing that it becomes meditative. Wood burning, like most creative hobbies, is incredibly relaxing. Once you start, wood burning will engulf you. Lose yourself in your thoughts or immerse yourself in your favourite playlist while creating art on wood.
2. You have immediate tangible results. Everything you create with wood burning is immediately visible. Although you won't reach the final result in one go, you experience every step of the process. This allows you to make the most diverse creations. Tip: make personalized gifts!
3. Wood burning is accessible for all skill levels. For some DIYs, it’s helpful if you already have some experience with paper, tools, and other crafting materials. With wood burning, your skill level doesn't matter. Anyone can do it.
4. Crafting with an eco-friendly twist. The wood you burn can also be recycled wood. Give furniture a new life or reuse wooden parts from home.
5. Budget-friendly. Importantly, the budget needed for wood burning is quite low. The only thing you need to buy is a wood burning pen. You can recycle wood.

How does wood burning work?

Wood burning, also known as pyrography, involves a technique where heat is used to lightly burn the surface of wooden objects. This creates a dark color (the color of burnt wood) and allows you to depict text or illustrations on wood.

The process and operation are as straightforward as they sound. To go into detail:

A wood burning pen consists of a handle (which does not get hot) and a tip. Most wood burning pens operate on electricity, converting this energy into heat.

When the heated metal tip comes into contact with wood, it breaks down cellulose and lignin in the wood. These substances give wood its structure and strength. When broken down, they create a darker hue.

Tip: The longer the wood burning pen is in contact with one spot on the wood, the darker the colour will be.

Don’t want to read? Watch this video!

What do you need for wood burning?

To get started, you don't need much. Besides a wood burning pen and wood (obviously), there are some materials that are handy but not essential. We'll list everything for you.

Essential supplies:

• A wood burning pen (sometimes called a pyrography pen)
• Wood
• Electricity

A quality wood burning pen is available from Vaessen Creative for as little as £21.99. It comes with 5 different tips so you can create various lines and shapes. The wood burning pen (or pyrography pen) also has a protective cap and a stand to safely place the tool when it is hot.

Additional supplies:

• Pencil and paper
• Woodworking materials
• Work surface

A pencil and paper can be useful to sketch a design before you start. Once it looks good on paper, you can trace it onto wood. Then, simply follow the design with the wood burning pen.

Additionally, not every piece of wood is ready for a beautiful illustration or text. Use sandpaper, varnish, or oil to prepare the wood. Finally, to protect the surface you work on, an extra piece of wood or a work mat can be helpful.

Choosing the right wood burning pen

When you want to start wood burning, you need a wood burning pen. Every wood burning pen will get hot enough to burn wood. The difference often lies in the extra options, such as the tip.

Our wood burning pens come with different tips as standard. These allow you to create lines of varying thicknesses and different shapes and effects. The 5 tips are as follows:

1. A universal tip
2. A shading tip
3. A script tip
4. A fine line tip
5. A soldering tip (yes, you can also solder with our wood burning pen!)

PS: Let the wood burning pen cool down completely before changing the tip.

How to start wood burning

And now, the main part: how to start wood burning? It’s time to decorate wood.

1. Choosing your wood

Choose a piece of wood that is sufficiently intact (or can be made so) to work on. Flaky or damp wood is less suitable and may need more preparation.

Tip: Unfinished wood is best to use. If there is a layer of paint or varnish on the wood, it will produce smoke.

2. Prepare your wood

If needed, use sandpaper to smooth the wood and remove any protruding particles. Dust off the wood and ensure there is minimal dirt remaining. Finally, sketch your design or text on the wood and you’re ready to go.

Tip: Did you know our wood burning pen is also suitable for cork and leather?

3. Set up your workspace

Nothing is more frustrating than realizing you forgot something while working on a creative project. Ensure your workspace is ready, there is power for the wood burning pen, and other tools are within reach.

4. The actual wood burning

Wood burning starts as soon as the wood burning pen touches the wood. However, you can make a difference by considering a few things:

• Start with the basic lines. The main subject of what you are going to burn.
• Plan which lines and letters require which tip. This minimizes cooling time when you need to switch tips.
• Apply more pressure for deeper, darker colors. Apply less pressure for lighter lines.

5. Let everything rest

Allow the wood burning pen to cool down safely. Let the wood rest. Resume your project later to avoid damage or burns.

6. Finish where needed

Not crucial but recommended: finish your wood piece with varnish, paint, or other decorations.

Wood burning: our ideas

Now that you know what you need and how to get started, here are some ideas:

• Personalize a wooden bottle opener
• Decorate a wooden cutting board with a quote
• Embellish wooden birdhouses with elegant motifs
• Create atmospheric coasters from wooden slices
• Attach a magnet to your decorated wooden block or slice for a fridge magnet
• Decorate a wooden spoon from your kitchen
• Make wooden labels from a thin piece of soft wood
• Decorate the edges of a photo frame
• Add elegant patterns to a wooden storage box or chest
• Make a keychain with almost any piece of wood
• Create a wooden wall panel (more work)

Frequently asked questions about wood burning

How do you burn letters into wood?

To burn letters into wood, use a wood burning pen with a fine tip. First, sketch the letters with a pencil and then slowly follow the lines with the hot tip, ensuring even pressure and smooth movement.

How do you burn logos into wood?

To burn logos into wood, start by transferring the design onto the wood. Use different tips for varying thickness and shading. Work slowly and precisely to burn the design evenly.

What wood is suitable for wood burning?

The most suitable wood for wood burning is unfinished and smooth wood. The type of wood matters less. It is important that the wood is not moist, does not contain oil or varnish, and is smooth for the best results.

How difficult is wood burning?

Wood burning varies in difficulty, depending on the design and experience. Beginners can quickly learn simple patterns, while detailed or complex works require more skill and practice. Overall, wood burning is very accessible.

What is pyrography?

Pyrography is the art of decorating wood or other materials by burning marks into them with a heated pen or tip. The word comes from the Greek words for fire ("pyr") and writing ("graphos").