If you want to spend a bit more money, the Walnut Hollow Creative Woodburner is a nice choice. Wire tip burners are generally much better than solid tip ones.
I started out with one of those shitty $20 heated pens that just plug in. They suck and will burn your fingers.
The one I use is this one from Amazon: Walnut Hollow Creative Woodburner Wire Tip Wood Burning Tool, Green https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GHJYBNQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_FF61RK6Y2S1TB8XWF3WR and I LOVE IT.
I did teach myself through YouTube videos and just picking easy stuff to trace and just jumped in. Gradually I found techniques that work well and a lot that don’t lol.
And thank you!
The Creative Woodburner from Walnut Hollow is what I started with and it's the one I use the most. It's very versatile, has temp control, and you can change the points very quickly. I also have the Versa Tool that was mentioned below; it's cheaper and comes with a case, which makes it a sweet starter tool.
Additionally, get her lots of patterns! (Amazon has many books on pyrography but "grownup" coloring books are fantastic resources, too.) Carbon paper is a must as well for easily transferring those designs onto the wood.
Right now, Walnut Hollow is also having a 40% off sale w/code WBCVIP40 in case you want to get her planks or rounds to burn on. They may or may not get here on time for V-Day so try Michaels or Amazon.
And because by the time she gets the goodies Feb won't be over, have her follow the hashtag #BurntFebruary on Instagram: It's a challenge where every other day pyrographers all over create/share their projects inspired by a particular word (Love, Animal, First Project, etc.). It's a great source for inspiration and ideas.
(Random but also along those lines: For more inspiration to gift her, look up the hashtag #BurntOctober [same concept as above but different prompts] and maybe try making a book with the projects from that hashtag like with Chatbooks, which I think may do it automatically.)
This is what I have been using. https://www.amazon.com/Walnut-Hollow-41992-Creative-Woodburner/dp/B07GHJYBNQ/ref=pd_sbs_201_18?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B07GHJYBNQ&pd_rd_r=92927ed4-1f36-11e9-944e-278ce23a35b5&pd_rd_w=xUAlP&pd_rd_wg=lkjy1&pf_rd_p=7d5d9c3c-5e01-44...
But I feel like the one you are using may be better for me.
Item | Current | Lowest | Reviews |
---|---|---|---|
Walnut Hollow Creative Woodburner Wire Tip Wood B… | $82.02 | $82.02 | 4.5/5.0 |
^Item Info | Bot Info | Trigger
The burner I use is this one: Walnut Hollow Creative Woodburner Wire Tip Wood Burning Tool, Green https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GHJYBNQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_FF61RK6Y2S1TB8XWF3WR
And the tip I used was the ball tip shader mostly.
I think I found the middle ground. I've used this set up for over 2 years so can vouch for it's efficacy. The trick is that heating units are more or less the same it's to tips that matter. And the tips at colwood fit a cheaper heating unit.
Buy the walnut hollow creative versa tool Every now and again home Depot will have it for $50 and Michaels will match any price.
Buy the tips at https://woodburning.com/products/rt-hr-3-16?variant=12982428401733
They fit and heat just fine and the cheap walnut hole unit really does a good job of controlling the heat
Check out this one.