Burn lines.

[WriteON]

What are you using. The Mitchell's abrasive cord does not go too far.... and it's not cheap

 

[Charlie_W]

I use a set of burning wires I bought years ago....probably from CSUSA. set of three wire gauges with a ball knob on the ends.
You can also use a piece of laminate (Formica or equivalent) or simply cut a piece of wood to a sharp edge and press in while turning fast.
I have found that green or oily woods don't burn well.

 

[danhoke]

As above. I have had a set of three burning wires with ball knobs for about 15 years and they have served me very well. Not sure where I bought them.

 

[bsshog40]

I made my own out of a couple pieces of dowel rod and guitar string.

 

[WriteON]

Peachtree has 6" and 18" with ball on Amazon. Using for pens and 1-1.5" items. The 6" should be ok?

 

[JimB]

Made my own Just like Bobby pictured above. cost is 0.

 

[BKelley]

Some of the older commercial ice makers used a red hot grid of inconnel wire to cut sheets of ice into cubes. I salvaged enough of these wires to last me a lifetime. If memory serves me right they are about O.O20 thick. They do a super job of burning a line. Never, I mean never hold a line burning wire in your hands without handles. For any reason should the wire grab or catch, good bye fingers

Ben

 

[jttheclockman]

Guitar strings

 

[KLJ]

Made my own from guitar strings. I have used formica mounted on the end of a stick when our club would set up at the state fair and let people turn. I think the formica was a little safer than the strings because there is no chance of it wrapping up. The formica can be used to burn a wider section also or use it on edge and burn a line. I prefer the strings for lines seems to me to be faster and you can have a selection of sizes.

 

[randyrls]

This is a rather intriguing hand held handle from Alan Stratton
It is a handle with three wires mounted on a billy club like handle.

 

[WriteON]

I have braided "windshield remover" wire...might try attached to dowels. However will look into guitar strings. Thanks everyone.

 

[hbillings]

I just used a galvanized wire I had in the shop, no handles, nothing special. It works well on mesquite and oak but I'm sure I would have better results with guitar strings and the like. Given Bob's warning though, I'm going to make a proper wire with handles.

 

[WriteON]

I just used a galvanized wire I had in the shop, no handles, nothing special. It works well on mesquite and oak but I'm sure I would have better results with guitar strings and the like. Given Bob's warning though, I'm going to make a proper wire with handles.

Absolutely use handles... dowels... whatever. I thank BOB for posting that. Safety first each and every time.

 

[Sly Dog]

I did not want to have to reach across the lathe while burning with handles so I strung an old guitar string across an older hacksaw frame (usually tighter than depicted here, but it still works).