Easton Woodburning with Style

Pyrography Lessons and Projects with a Modern Flair
1. Auflage 2010
ISBN: 978-1-60765-065-2
Verlag: Fox Chapel Publishing
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: Adobe DRM (»Systemvoraussetzungen)

E-Book, Englisch, 208 Seiten

A Contemporary Twist on Woodburning Basics. Award-winning artist and pyrographer Simon Easton guides you through nine woodburning projects, while encouraging you to develop your own style. This beautifully photographed, hands-on instructional guide to the art of pyrography will take you on a journey of skill-building lessons to create attractive projects with this hands-on book. Begin at the basics and finish with stylish, gift-worthy projects!

Simon Easton studied a BA (Hons) degree at Manchester Metropolitan University where he studied woodturning, silversmithing and pewterware. His pewter napkin ring set was one of the MMU winners of the Pewter Live 1999 competition, and was displayed at Pewterers' Hall in London. He has won both a Precious Metals Bursary and a Grant from the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths in order to produce design concepts that he had developed. The common theme in Simon's work was a decorative and textural feel, often rich in embellishment or pattern.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Easton, Simon

Leseproben

Getting Started

The word pyrography literally means “writing with fire,” and it is a tradition that dates back hundreds of years. Luckily, the people who still practice the craft today are not termed pyromaniacs! There is something very raw about creating images from heat or fire: the first few strokes I made burning patterns into wood when I was at school reminded me of cavemen painting crude images onto rocks with burned twigs.

The following pages will fill you in on the options available in pyrography machines and how to choose the right one for you. Also covered are types of materials that will (and won’t!) take well to being decorated with pyrography work. Safety, maintenance, finishes, and more—it’s all here.

Pyrography is a rewarding craft to learn, regardless of your previous experience or artistic ability. With practice, you will be able to create beautiful gifts and items, such as this wooden plate decorated with a Celtic knot design.

Pyrography Machines

Pyrography is also often known as or , the latter deriving from the metal pokers used during the Victorian era that were heated to use as drawing tools. The irons would have cooled very quickly and required re-heating frequently between applications, making the process of creating a piece of art very slow and meticulous. Fortunately, pyrography machines—which heat quickly and stay hot—are available to those wishing to pursue the craft of pyrography today. Modern pyrography machines have been designed to be easier to use, requiring less preparation and with improved safety in mind. Most standard pyrography machines are comprised of a transformer or power unit with a mains adaptor. The pens for these units are usually separate components that plug into the mains unit. Some units may have sockets or adapters for more than one pen to be used at once: this can be advantageous if you are working with more than one style of nib on the same design, as you do not need to let the machine cool and change the nib as often. Other manufacturers produce pens with fixed nibs so that you need to swap from pen to pen to create different marks and textures: this may seem time-consuming but it does mean that you do not have to allow for cooling down.

Some craft outlets sell basic pyrography kits for beginners, which are often supplied with a basic instruction book and some sample materials to work on. They generally take the form of large pens that have an adaptor incorporated directly into the body of the pen itself, without a separate power unit.

Modern pyrography machines are generally available in two formats: the solid point machine or the hot wire version. The benefits of modern machines are quickly apparent: most pyrography machines now have adjustable heat settings and a range of pen tips that can be used to create different effects or marks. Due to the nature of the work for which they are intended, they are usually sturdy and robust machines, made from strong plastics or steel to ensure the interior is well protected. Though both types of machine are useful, they do have their pros and cons.

Solid point machines

Solid point machines have solid metal tips, which usually come in a range of sizes and shapes to produce different marks and effects. The machines usually resemble a soldering iron in their physical appearance. They can take some time to heat up depending on the size and thickness of each individual tip. The nibs are often held in place by a screw or similar fitting, which makes them fairly simple to remove and change. Solid point kits are the most widely available type of pyrography machine and tend to be cheaper, too. As the machines generally don’t have a separate base unit, the heating element is inside the pen itself, so they tend to be larger: this may be an advantage or a disadvantage depending on your personal preferences. Many people find it difficult or awkward working with a pen where their hand is quite a distance away from the working nib. Personal preference and comfort are valid factors to consider when you buy.

Solid point pyrography machines are similar in appearance to soldering irons, comprising of a pen with solid metal tips and an electrical flex to connect it to the mains. Some pyrography machines are supplied with a range of different tips in various shapes and sizes.

Hot wire machines

Hot wire machines have a metal wire nib, which heats up very quickly like the element in a lightbulb. Because of this, the temperature is very easy to adjust for creating different grades and qualities of mark. There are a range of different wire nibs available in the same way as the solid point tips, which are all suitable for different effects such as fine lines, textures, broad area shading, and so on. The range and selection of ready-made tips produced by North American manufacturers is extensive, so you are guaranteed you will find a suitable nib for any mark you have in mind. It is also possible to buy lengths of pyrography wire from craft outlets to create your own nibs by shaping and filing: this practice is most common with pyrography machines produced in Europe. Using shaped nibs you have made for specific purposes can be rewarding, cost-effective, and time-saving. Some hot wire machines require swapping entire pens, rather than just the nib. Most hot wire machines have a separate base unit where the heating mechanism is located, so the pen itself can be smaller, lighter, and often easier to handle as a result.

I have always preferred to use a hot wire pyrography machine. I believe they are easier to use, quicker to heat and cool down, and more adaptable for a range of situations and techniques. This is only personal preference, and most pyrography techniques are essentially the same in principle no matter which machine you use. However, please be aware that most of the designs in this book have been created using a hot wire machine.

Hot wire pyrography machines consist of a base unit with an adjustable temperature dial. The pens are often separate components that are plugged into the unit. Some machines are able to power more than one pen at a time.

This example of a separate pyrography pen shows a fixed nib at the top. The plastic body is attached to the base unit by a separate electrical lead, allowing different pens to be used with the same machine.

Pyrography nibs are available in a wide range of shapes and sizes, each with their own particular use and abilities.

Solid point nib

Pros

Cons

• Wide range of manufactured specialist nibs and tips available • Often cheaper in price and more readily available to purchase • Nibs are easy to change and do not break easily • Good for large work

• Can be slow to heat up and slower to burn the surface • Pens are often larger, heavier, and harder to handle, with a greater distance between hand and nib • Some machines use fixed nibs, offering less variety in marks • Handle can heat up if the element is contained within • Less adjustability and control • Not well suited to detailed and fine work

Hot wire nib

Pros

Cons

• Heats up and cools down quickly • Wide range of manufactured specialist nibs available • Possible to make your own shaped nibs from Nichrome wire • Pens are generally smaller, lighter, and easier to handle • More likely to have an adjustable temperature setting • Burns the wood more easily and quickly • Pen has no heating element within so will be cooler to hold • Good for detailed work

• Machines are more expensive and less commonly available • Specialist nibs may be expensive • Nibs can break more easily • Pens can sometimes break or develop a fault with regular use, particularly around areas where the nibs are fitted to the pen

Choosing a Pyrography Machine

Selecting an appropriate pyrography...