Suggest a woodburning pen.... other than the el-cheapos everyone sells

[redfishsc]

Howdy all, been a while since I posted here. I still, technically "make pens" once in a while but I'm graduating from grad school in a week and haven't had much time.


I have a couple of professors that have bent over backwards to help me that I'd like to give a gift in return--- I'm going to burn them a passage from the New Testament in the original Greek, onto a slab of basswood. Usually comes out looking like an ancient manuscript, which is part of the goal.


I've done these before, but my woodburner was a common 30-watter. I don't have it anymore and can't stand the though of trying to do 3-4 more of these with that same low-power burner, it just cools down too much for writing.


Can you suggest a good burner? I can't find anything much more than 30 watts, aside from the really expensive pyrography-on-steriods kits.

 

[TellicoTurning]

I can't give you any real advice... I use a wood burner to "sign" my work - bowls, pepper mills, etc... I use a Razor... you can buy various pens and tips for it and seems to work well.

 

[lorbay]

Howdy all, been a while since I posted here. I still, technically "make pens" once in a while but I'm graduating from grad school in a week and haven't had much time.


I have a couple of professors that have bent over backwards to help me that I'd like to give a gift in return--- I'm going to burn them a passage from the New Testament in the original Greek, onto a slab of basswood. Usually comes out looking like an ancient manuscript, which is part of the goal.


I've done these before, but my woodburner was a common 30-watter. I don't have it anymore and can't stand the though of trying to do 3-4 more of these with that same low-power burner, it just cools down too much for writing.


Can you suggest a good burner? I can't find anything much more than 30 watts, aside from the really expensive pyrography-on-steriods kits.

Check out the build your own in the library.
Lin.

 

[juteck]

Optima. I have the dual burner model, but the single would work fine for what I currently use it for.

PJL Enterprises. Decorative wood carving and pyrography tools for professionals

 

[Wood Butcher]

I have used the Detail Master for years, it's a good one. You can order/buy at WoodCraft or othe sources.
Buy Detail Master Dagger III at Woodcraft
Check it out.
WB

 

[danrs]

I have detail master (two and both still do the job after 30 years or so of use), I have used them for pyrography and detail burninng on wildfow.

You can go to Detail Master Online and read about the units from the source.

 

[KenV]

And congrats on finishing the long grind of Grad School!!!!

 

[redfishsc]

Thanks Ken!

Great advice here folks!!

By the way, does anyone know where I could find woodburning tips to fit a 40-watt soldering iron? I can't afford the $100+ woodburning pyrography types right now, just for these small projects I have coming up. I have a 40w soldering iron (Radio Shack brand), and if the tips will swap out, I'll just get some new tips. All the woodburners I see that are the $20-30 plug-n-play are all 18 or 30 watts, and the one I used last time was a 30-watt, and it was just too aggravating.


But I can't find an in-between. I'd love to find a 50 or 60 watt burner that's just plug-n-play and affordable, but then again beggars can't be choosers lol.

 

[dogcatcher]

The Walnut Hollow Versa Tool has adjustable heat settings and is in the $30 something range. On the Woodcarving Illustrated site, Laura Irish gave it a great review. I have one along with a Colwood Cub woodburning set, they both do great work, the Colwood cost about 4 times as much.