Probably a wood burner.
I bought this one on Amazon a couple years back, for small/hobby woodburning. It works pretty well, takes some practice though.
Mine cost about 30 bucks I got it off amazon. I wish I would have got one that had a temperature control because that has been an issue with the one I’ve been using so I’m planning on trying a This type soon.
I bought a different Walnut Hollow kit that included more tips (link), but the tool itself seems like it's the same model. The price went up a bit from when I bought it, didn't seem worth it to pay twice as much for a few more tips. The main feature to look for would be adjustable temperature so you can get just the right amount of heat for your project. I stayed in the yellow ranges on the dial when I was cutting into my totes and that worked really well.
For what I needed it for, this one worked really well. The only issue I had was that the temperature dial is kind of loose so it turns easily. If you aren't careful, it's really easy to accidentally crank the heat if you tug the cord a bit while you're making your cuts, especially if you're working on something big like a tote where you'd be dragging the cord around as you work. Plastic and a 950 degree knife are not a good combo. If you're going to be getting a lot of use out of it, I think shopping around to see if you can find a slightly higher quality one would be worth it.
Hey thanks! I used a regular soldering iron for my for my first two projects but it was bending the hell out of the tip. I picked up this one on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005P1TRAS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_V0MhCbKFW0FYK) about a year ago and have done three more projects, this is the first one I'm proud of. The only thing I dislike about the tool is the dial for the heat setting is on the cord a few inches off the stylus and you have to drape it over your wrist to keep the weight from pulling. One that has a heat selector on the stylus would probably be more comfortable, but this one was affordable and a good starter kit. Playing around with different species of wood to see how the grain takes heat and pressure is a great way to learn, oak is my least favorite to work on and poplar is a breeze.
Can you buy from Amazon? The Walnut Hollow versatool kit is a really good starter set.
https://www.amazon.com/Walnut-Hollow-Versa-Temp-Temperature-Woodburning/dp/B005P1TRAS
Having a control that lets you reduce the heat is a big improvement for not much more money than cheaper kits.
There are much nicer kits out there if you don't mind spending over 100 dollars, but the Walnut Hollow is great for the price.
It's the same premise, but I believe OP has a Walnut Hollow Versa-Tool which is basically a soldering iron with a rheostat temperature control built into the cord. I had one. It's pretty decent and solid, though I didn't like how the rheostat was near the middle/end of the cord and kept pulling my hot soldering iron off the table. Eventually one of the nibs broke off while unscrewing and left all of the threaded end in the tool and it had to be 'retired'.
Thin out the side you're going to be carving. The thinner the side where your design is going to be the easier it will be to carve just don't make it too thin.
As others suggested get yourself one of those Pumpkinmaster kits & use the saws.
If you decide to carve the fake pumpkins you should invest in a Versatool or something similar. Just make sure you can change out the ends to a blade & that's what you use to get a clean cut through the foam.
You can find them at Michaels & if you get a coupon they're a lot cheaper. Sometimes they even have them in a display by the fake pumpkins.
Just this. Nothing fancy and maybe not the highest temp, but it works.
Just the first one that popped up on Amazon when I searched for burning pens.
Walnut Hollow Creative Versa Tool... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005P1TRAS?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
I only use the universal tip that seem to be sold with every pen I’ve seen
I used this to solder for the first time for my MiniSelect Pro 3D printer. I could have just twisted the wires together but i wanted a sold connection so I took a leap of faith, watched a few youtube videos, then went to work and the hardest part is just getting the lead to melt and drip or get on your cable properly, definitely takes some patience and fast quick movements if that makes sense.
I used this kit $18-19 off amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005P1TRAS/ref=sspa_dk_detail_0?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B005P1TRAS&pd_rd_w=TjlFX&pf_rd_p=48d372c1-f7e1-4b8b-9d02-4bd86f5158c5&pd_rd_wg=56KmA&pf_rd_r=MXATNNRXVZ5499XX7J2S&pd_rd_r=e255583a-20b3-46ee-8576-003e4... which I bought; i dont remember for what, maybe for wood burning but never used it for that, it does come with a spring/coil of lead in this kit which was really helpful otherwise i probably wouldn't have tried soldering lol..
I use this dial controlled “pyro pen” or wood burning tool for various cleanup tasks, especially removing supports from small bits on figures. The included “x-acto” blade works great. This specific model will dial down pretty low though I’ve never actually measured the temperature.
Walnut Hollow Creative Versa Tool with Versa-Temp Variable Temperature Control & 11 Woodburning Points (Tips) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005P1TRAS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_7SkWCbW11FD6E
alright just getting an idea of what you used, I was using soldering iron first then got https://www.amazon.com/Walnut-Hollow-Versa-Temp-Temperature-Woodburning/dp/B005P1TRAS/ref=pd_lpo_21_bs_t_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=GRGCG1F455C6GW8D7XXJ and my stippling went from what you got there to PRO looking overnight the variable temp is the way to go. I also did alot of prep maybe too much but i used just sandpaper (120>300>600) grits to get it super smooth, then stipped with a fine or med point. Not telling you that it looks like crap I just want you to know that the wood burner can take it alot farther than the iron ever will without any more practice involved.
Great job! I do this as well but I only trace stuff I find online or create on my own. What tools do you use?
In my experience, I find basswood the easiest to work on. I am still very new to this so any advice/links would be greatly appreciated. I have done approximately 6-7 pieces.
Thank you! I definitely think you should give it a shot. From what I see so far on this subreddit, I use a different tool than most. https://www.amazon.com/Walnut-Hollow-Versa-Temp-Temperature-Woodburning/dp/B005P1TRAS/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1466045184&sr=8-3&keywords=wood+burning , but I really like it.
I'd say that I'm somewhat artistically inclined, but in that I like to be creative. I wouldn't say I can freehand well, aside from stick figures. I use carbon paper to help me transfer images.
The tricky part is more in your steady hand and eye for shading than in your artistic ability, I think! I mainly use three tips: one that looks like a pencil, one that's a tinier pencil tip, and one that looks like a leaf (I use that one for the shading and the others for outlining). That's it!
I've been doing this for maybe a year now, and still learning techniques. Give it a shot!
I'm assuming you're using one of the cheaper green pens with the three tips. There's another, more robust hobby pen from the same company that comes with a circle-shaped tip to it, that's about the size you're asking. The burns won't be crazy fast, but if you do it right they'll come out as nice black polka dots.
This is the pen I'm talking about
If that doesn't work for you, you should look into getting a more expensive setup or a blowtorch that you can heat that circular tip with more quickly.
I bought a 25 dollar wood burning kit off Amazon. Here is the one I used. I really liked it because it had its own temperature control, and a whole lot of different tips you could use to make patterns or thin lines.
> My grandfather was an amazing woodworker, and my skills are limited, but years ago before he died, we worked on a few pieces and I really took to the woodburning. For my birthday that year he bought me a little woodburning kit (cost about $20). About 9 months ago my wife told me to clean out the shed and I found it and thought, "why not." I've been hooked ever since.
It only takes about $20 to get started (http://www.amazon.com/Walnut-Hollow-Creative-Versa-Temp-Temperature/dp/B005P1TRAS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1451521659&sr=8-1&keywords=woodburner)
http://www.amazon.com/Walnut-Hollow-Creative-Versa-Temp-Temperature/dp/B005P1TRAS
This is what I learned on. It's a great starter burner with temp control and multiple tips. I've seen it for sale at any number of craft stores but I'm pretty sure i got mine at AC Moore. Good luck and happy burning!
Thanks! I know how you feel - when I'm first working on a project, it's all new and exciting to see things come together. But then, there's the phase where it's mostly done but there is still a ton of detail work to do. I definitely was in the "I'm so over this" phase for the last two weekends.
I'm using the Walnut Hollow tool - http://www.amazon.com/Walnut-Hollow-Creative-Versa-Temp-Temperature/dp/B005P1TRAS
It works pretty well and I'm excited to get to play around with more projects (probably a bit smaller scale though).
Ooooooh ok weeeeell if I can get my coding all up to spec and have some spare time it is time to recreate the Greyjoy Kraken on my balcony.
Also shouldn't a hot knife work better than a soldering iron? Or at least just as well?
I picked up the Creative Versa-Tool kit for $29.99 at a local store. It's currently $26.31 at amazon.
Thanks! One thing that I realized while doing this project is that it will require you to a) learn how to draw, or b) find some creative way to sketch a pattern onto the wood for you to trace. I ended up free hand sketching the design on a piece of paper (while looking at a wiki image), overlaying it onto the wood, taking a pocket-knife and poking holes through the paper/onto the wood at the corners of the shapes, playing connect the dots with the resulting holes, and then traced over with the wood burner. However, I'm pretty sure there are easier methods, this is just what was in hands reach.
This is the pen that I used to make this. I taught myself by just messing around on a blank piece of wood and it wasn't too difficult, but I'm sure you could find some good videos on YouTube if you just search "Pyrography".
Thank you to everyone for the love on this piece. I really enjoyed making it. If you’re looking for a cheap, fun hobby I’d suggest giving wood burning a try. I bought a $20-30 kit off amazon this past year and use a laser jet printer to transfer parts of the image onto the wood first. I used a Calvin and Hobbes font generator I found online, then the two images I wanted to portray. You will have to print the images in reverse if you want to use this method. This was my first piece, but I’m looking forward to trying more. Thanks again for the interest.
Well, considering another user just posted that Walnut Hollow Versa Tools are frickin dirt cheap on Amazon right now, I'd get one of those asap. Here's the link. I've used mine for the last 3 1/2 years and it's the only tool you'll ever need if you learn how to use it. This entire piece was done with my Versa Tool
Lightly sketch out the outline of the design you want to burn. Then turn the burner on and just trace the pencil lines. You'll need to just get in there and practice, nothing I tell you will make much sense until you get some hands on experience. Don't wet anything, you use the burner to draw the same way you'd use a pencil.
Kaizen foam is what I used to shadow my primary toolbox, was extremely easy to work with and has been holding up pretty well over the past 4 years since i shadowed it. You can use a hot knife, long thin razor knife and a holesaw kit to get all of your tools shadowed.
A wood burning kit like THIS works great on the foam for making finger grip holes and for cleaning up the bottoms of shadowed spots that are less than the thickness of the foam.
FastCap's long nose permanent markers are great for marking out the patterns of your tools for you to cut on.
If you buy more than $100 from Fastcap, you get free shipping, which is really nice because shipping for those sheets can really add up.
I used 57mm/2-1/4" sheets to shadow most of my tools as it allowed me to keep most of my tools even at the top of the sheet while allowing for varying depths for different sized tools.
For my shallow drawers, I shadowed using 30mm/1-1/8" foam.
Just my two cents.
Thanks! I got this one off Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005P1TRAS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_pIoTAxt7fU2iu
Try amazon smile to donate to a charity of your choice automatically at no cost to you!
https://smile.amazon.com/Walnut-Hollow-Versa-Temp-Temperature-Woodburning/dp/B005P1TRAS
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I started with this one, which is great for learning how to handle the tool, different techniques, and messing around with heat settings. It's not the most comfortable pen, and it takes a whiiiile to heat up & cool down, but it gets the job done.
I upgraded to this one last year, and I LOVE it. The wire tips are so much better, the pen is super comfy in my hand, and the heat adjusts almost immediately.
Also, to practice, don't drop a lot of money on expensive wood until you get the hang of things. Basswood pieces tend to be very cheap and are great for messing around with - craft stores (and even the Dollar Tree if you're in the US) often carry packs of small basswood pieces. See if you can source "junk" wood from elsewhere, too! Whenever I hear someone is getting a tree cut down in their yard, etc I always ask if they have any extra pieces I could use!
Start with this one. It'll help you get a basic feel for using the tool, learning different techniques, and seeing what each tip does & how it works on different types of wood. It makes a great beginner's practice tool.
If you decide woodburning is something you love, and you feel ready to upgrade, go with this one . It's a really good middle tier burner. I've personally been using it for about two years, and I love it!
I use the Walnut Hollow Versa-Tool. It shows up at Amazon for about $50 cdn, but I think I bought it for less at Michaels. It is a great tool for beginners, to become accustomed to different tips and temperature adjustments.
Just be careful changing hot tips, as over tightening them can damage the threads.
I absolutely love my Colwood Detailer, but if you just want to test the water so to speak, the Walnut Hollow pen is the unit a lot of people start with.
The Detailer is going to be more versatile, and easier to control. In my opinion, this is the way to go. You can always buy more tips and pens as you decide to.
Have you tried a Versa Tool yet?
Michaels will have them & it will probably be with the foam pumpkin display too, & Amazon of course, & you use the exacto knife tip & it goes through most fake pumpkins like BUTTAH!
It's pyrography. Wood burning. This one was done with the Walnut Hollow. It's sort of like a cheapo soldering iron but it's cheap and a decent entry tool. My newer projects are all done with the TruArt Stage 2. The voltage control can be quite a bit too sensitive but the pen itself is great. It doesn't start to burn my fingers after long times of holding it the way the cheap pens do.
https://www.amazon.com/Walnut-Hollow-Versa-Temp-Temperature-Woodburning/dp/B005P1TRAS/ref=sr_1_13?dchild=1&keywords=woodburning+pen&qid=1615499617&sr=8-13
Thanks! It's a fun little hobby; very similar to drawing with pens and markers... this is the tool I picked up from Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B005P1TRAS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I've been using a woodburning tool which is an adjustable temp soldering iron type of deal with multiple nozzle attachments when I want to heat smooth any PLA, works great if a little awkward to hold due to the heat shield. I mostly use it for the exacto blade attachment since it slices PLA like the proverbial hot knife through butter and couldn't be happier with that aspect of it and would be kind of lost without it.
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I picked mine up at a Michael's in the wood crafting section, if you're in the US go there or amazon something like this https://www.amazon.com/Walnut-Hollow-Versa-Temp-Temperature-Woodburning/dp/B005P1TRAS/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?keywords=wood+burning+tool&qid=1559074816&s=gateway&sr=8-2-spell-spons&psc=1 as I think that's my exact model.
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I also do heat welding/smoothing with a 3Doodler 3dpen with the nozzle removed and a pin vise drill bit embedded in the hot end to conduct heat to a fine pointy tip for super fine detail. About the only use I have for that 3d pen since it's incompatible with my typical filament diameter and I won't buy their proprietary overpriced filament on principle lol. But the little attachement modification I made to it is too useful to return the device so I keep it.
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This isn't a perfect solution, neither of these are and are going going to be useful in certain circumstances but you can royally mess up your prints with heat smoothing, especially when you're not mindful and the heat shield melts off a giant chunk of your piece. Not to mention toasting the hell out of your fingers from time to time. Anyway it's useful but not a magic bullet. Best way I've got to smooth prints is using filler primer, filling compound and sanding and I stick to the heat tools for cutting and welding these days, but I did try for awhile to perfect this, just not ideal for my needs. Useful tool to have though for this hobby, like I said couldn't do without the exacto attachment it's worth it just for that!
Hey there, thank you! I use the walnut hollow versa tool. Here’s the link on amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Walnut-Hollow-Versa-Temp-Temperature-Woodburning/dp/B005P1TRAS
Hello! I've just started my first wood-burning project and am looking for some advice. I am making the Oogie Boogie man from Nightmare Before Christmas. While I did OK with the outline, I am struggling with filling him in.
I would like to make him as dark as possible, but no matter what metal tip I use, I'm struggling to make any real progress. I've done most of what you see using the shading tip (looks like a leaf?).
Any advice? Thanks!!!!!
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The kit I am using: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005P1TRAS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I have the Walnut Hallow set which comes with 11 different tips so it’s great for experimenting with them to see what works for you! It’s $17.50 on amazon! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005P1TRAS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_bXZGEbBZX89DA
Thanks! The one I have is called the Versatool, and I think it's the same as this one on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005P1TRAS/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_5TJjEbDFZT301
found the specific name: Walnut Hollow Versa-Temp tool
amazon link
Walnut Hollow Creative Versa Tool... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005P1TRAS?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
You could always make shadowed socket holders out of <strong>Kaizen foam</strong> and place the sockets exactly where you want them. You can use a hot knife, long thin razor knife and/or a hole saw kit to make cut-outs for your sockets.
A wood burning kit like <strong>THIS</strong> works great on the foam for making finger grip holes and for cleaning up the bottoms of shadowed spots that are less than the thickness of the foam.
FastCap's <strong>long nose permanent markers</strong> are great for marking out the patterns of your sockets or other tools for you to cut on.
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Just my two cents.
A lot of people start with the Walnut Hollow burner.
I use a Colwood Detailer and absolutely love it. It's very easy to add to the pens and tips as you find a need.
A pretty ok wood burner is about $28 on Amazon
Glad you figured something out, there are these as well:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005P1TRAS/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awd_rnXfxb9BQNTF9
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MJW08JK/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awd_4nXfxbPS230AX
Link to Heat Gun: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005P1TRAS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_BAHLybZMSVPMZ
I have been using this model https://www.amazon.com/Walnut-Hollow-Versa-Temp-Temperature-Woodburning/dp/B005P1TRAS