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Burn It Woodcrafting!!

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There are so many ways to be creative with wood. Pyrography, the art of burning a design into wood by using a heated pen is one such way. More commonly known as woodburning, it can easily be learned with a little patience and practice. However, like all woodworking, it takes experience to make perfect so don't let your first project be your last.

Creating a work of art through woodburning requires very few tools. With only a wood blank and a woodburning pen, you can watch your artwork gradually take form. Also with this craft, you don't even need a workshop. You can burn your masterpiece while sitting at your kitchen table or out on the front porch as long as there's an electrical outlet nearby. However, caution should be used as the woodburning pen gets very hot, possibly causing burns to tabletops and fingers.

The tools most needed to complete your woodburning project include pliers, fine sandpaper, white transfer or graphite paper, and of course the woodburning pen. You can purchase a starter pen for under $50 at sites such as http://www.woodburning.com , http://www.walnuthollow.com/ and http://www.woodburningpens.com/. Later, if you desire you can upgrade to the more expensive tool that allows controlled heating. Other items needed to give your project the finished look are: oil colored pencils, paint brushes and polyurethane satin finish.

The choice of wood for beginners and professionals in woodburning is Basswood. This species has a very fine texture that makes it very easy to burn. Although other types can be used, the species commonly used are Basswood and Walnut. Once you've purchased or cut your own wood blank, you'll want to sand it smooth with fine sandpaper.

Before you start to woodburn your wood blank, you'll need to either purchase a pattern, create your own or find free ones to copy and print. You should look for a pattern that's not too complicated and yet not too simple. When you have found the pattern that's right for you, transfer it to the Basswood using graphite paper and a ball-point pen. Don't press too hard as to leave an indent in your wood.

With your woodburning pen, there are several tips available to use. They include: knife, cone, round and flat. The knife and flat tips can perform several types of actions such as fine lines, shading and curves. The cone tip is used for fine lines, some shading while the round is used mainly for dark lines and dark shading. Which tips you use, whether it's one, some or all depends on you. Whichever you feel comfortable with, will ultimately help you to decide on how you woodburn your project.

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