Pyrography, which is an awesome name, is basically using a heat source to burn a pattern into something, often leather or wood. It can vary from pretty straightforward (e.g. some letters) to super intense, like this thing:
Just in case anyone was fooled, that picture is not of my work.
I picked up a
Pyrography Pen![](//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=warriorwoodwo-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B01945KAOC)
and decided to give it a shot. My results were less dramatic, but functional:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZoAibaYDL0JMV3GlMXmHbXjM1rp3YLnphuQUxAXWc83d4kpiy3l-tWOBrB5im2ni71-Q9CDh9vGdusoRUlcyDHWTZ8WWYOAqUhE5OMhv2P_XAFgT7mEpr8yaKJ4qFNF9qA80wlDB3dAo/s320/Pyrography+%25283+of+3%2529.jpg) |
Surprise! I went with straightforward |
I practiced a bunch on some scrap, and learned the basics of how it felt to write with a pen that used heat as ink (I pretended I was a surgeon using one of those elctro-cautery-scalpel-thingies; it feels very cool). The two main issues that I found were keeping the right part of the tip of the pen in contact with the wood so it burned a thin-straight line, and to mind the different densities of the growth rings.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_GqmFY9yjzumg0YSakM3QtqjbbAVP9Q8g_oysmCOKFoaKbLhq9gHGqt7t_o_c5joJBE16nuDt2FD4kOR_zpfocVkvYRvP3YcoDHkWzfO83mg2CrFjMF168IocJ8yg4W663r8a4VVZvLs/s320/Pyrography+Pen+%25281+of+2%2529.jpg) |
It really does operate and look like a pen, a pen with 1000+ degree ink |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvXY643M7snvaH4jVHBhmnL9O1OcfUV_KYT8X3AdBOTZwMmQJOPisTvGBqMLQOEdCvVOb3mmRQ6Lzj8WjCVUS5z5x3eilNCBkdq4CkBEegMUfAhwVeHSwPsaBSPZuxFRku-c3xDJWxZzQ/s320/Pyrography+Pen+%25282+of+2%2529.jpg) |
Different parts of the tip give different results, from shading to thin lines, and probably a lot more I have no idea how to do |
The first issue is that basically I wanted a thin, clean, line, like a ballpoint pen, but the tips aren't exactly shaped that way. Lean the flatter part into the wood, and it shades a larger space, and looks all wrong for what I was going for. The other issue is that as the seasons come and go, trees grow a different rates, which makes the familiar rings of a tree or its grain pattern when cut into lumber. Those rings/patterns are different densities, that burn a different rates, and can give way under the pen if you're not careful. The only way to do this is to move with at a slow, deliberate, pace.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjouEv_bdw9xNsqB2HKbec4BdZhzk78zYsiWcw7LLQUG_lXIrQG2S06Fx0iZj8L3PZX5edun-hNStaqXpCJiGrU35fKOBLitW0KBNeBMlWMJ4INHZk2c3X4fdqAIVEeOYPsrq7uZeRnBH8/s320/IMG_2953.JPG) |
Pattern layout |
I printed out some big letters on Word, traced them onto the surface with a pencil, and got to burning.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQJpRsy1Wu7kp9EzkemRH6p_UUT_aC5LW06BtgI4JSYwWrcmM1kWzTQSmn8wo-iZREpGIzZd-IxBE5y5FGRfAKoH-wwfhENXFpNGteRy9pZ8-alrlJ59JQuh3p503TRZNoAxabJhhie4/s320/IMG_2954.JPG) |
I'm practically a typographer (I am not a typographer) |
Sidenote: Go into a word processor and blow up a J of any font. They all look kind of weird and are very narrow with odd proportioning to other letters. I guess the typeface design folks draw them the way they do for a reason, but they just don't look right blown up like this. I just made this J up.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmpzg5RSF1qEG1EJj2tixLMusUfo7haeXBIUrtyBoVKBVYZcT4LnUsJ-fpaSamzWVBtN5ck8NK3xS3roQj2ebqvaHSgV1qL5qVNtTg5Dt81naW3mGt12tSH7i5most6ZRJwefhTR1f9FA/s320/Pyrography+%25281+of+3%2529.jpg) |
Finished product |
Also, shocker warning, curves are trickier than straight lines. You can see my 9 leaves a little to be desired. But, all-in-all, for the first pyrography of my life, I'm very pleased with how it turned out, and even more pleased with what the piece became a part of.
You should be pleased with how it turned out. Your bench of wedding guest signatures is stunning.
ReplyDeleteThanks mom.
Delete