Despite the change in tools and equipment, the basic pyrography techniques remain the same. As much as the tools are essential, the kind of wood also matters. Each wood you come across has its strengths and flaws that must be kept in mind by the pyrographers to fashion a masterpiece!
Best Wood For Wood Burning
We have listed a few options that are great for wood burning. You can be sure of excellent results along with the ability to practice different crafting techniques with ease and comfort. Once you choose the best wood for wood burning, there is a detailed guide on the different woods and their strengths and weaknesses regarding pyrography.
1. Walnut Hollow Value Pack Medium Basswood Country
The natural dark edges around the planks offer a deep contrast when burned, engraved, or painted on. You will love how the colors turn out on this lush wood piece. The minor defects pale in comparison to the vast artistry that can be carried out on the planks.
These beautiful wooden pieces are hand selected and not subjected to any processes that can impair their natural appeal. They are kiln dried, cleaned, and sanded to help retain their natural look.
No harmful chemicals are used on the wood to make sure no mold or bugs house it.
Pros
- Soft and easy to burn
- Smooth surface
- Natural pieces
- No chemicals are used
Cons
- May be a bit warped
2. Walnut Hollow Basswood Country Plank Large with Bark for Woodburning
Being Basswood, these pieces of wood are extremely balanced and easy to work on for the crafters. The wood allows for the carving of intricate and bold designs with the smoothness of butter.
You can use them for making any designs whether you are a hobbyist, a professional, or using them for making signs for special events. Stamps, carvings, chiping or painting, or anything: you will find the wood to be compliant.
The wood planks are kiln dried and sanded to retain their natural look. There are only minor defects, such as flecking, blue stains, knots, or tapered shapes. Otherwise, the company ensures that no chemicals are used on the planka, giving you a clean flat surface to work on.
Pros
- Affordable
- High quality
- Easy to work on
- Retains a natural look
Cons
- Can be warped
3. Walnut Hollow Basswood Country Round, Thick for Woodburning
The oval wood pieces are bought according to width increments that range from 9 to 11 inches. You can carry out various artwork on the smooth and flat surface that is easy to work on. The natural product gives your work a hint of uniqueness.
These oval wood slices are kiln dried and finely sanded for you to create your masterpiece. The grains of the wood are smooth so moving your tools is soft and effortless. It burns quickly and easily without ruining your art pattern.
Pros
- Ideal art crafting pieces
- Natural product
- Great quality
- Easy to work on
Cons
- The bark flakes off
4. 4 Pack Natural Basswood Slices Round Oval 7.5-9.1inch
The uniformed thickness and flat surfaces of the wood enable you to carve out the designs and shapes of your interest. You can use them in a project that requires equally thickened wooden pieces such as these resilient slices offer.
Use them as a centerpiece or decorate it as you please. The natural wood layers enjoy their own uniqueness and natural characteristics. The use of high end equipment to shape out these wooden slices makes them easy to use for different purposes.
Pros
- Excellent quality
- Beautifully cut slices
- Consistent size
Cons
- Uneven surface with some pieces
5. 4 Pack Large Natural Wood Slices Oval Rustic Slabs 9.5-inches
The eco-friendly rustic slabs are popular among pyrographers because of the natural color and minimal grain. The Basswood slab retains paint colors, making them perfect for your child’s next school artwork project.
Being a softer wood, these allow you to practice a range of pyrography or art techniques. The anti-heat surface of the slabs protects them from deforming and losing their shape. The softwood is best for pyrography and requires minimum effort.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Eco-friendly
- Does not deform
- Perfect for all kind of projects
Cons
- Has a coating that is difficult to remove
6. 4 Pack Large Natural Wood Slices Oval Rustic Slabs Unfinished Wood Sanded Ellipse 8”-10”
The slabs are eco friendly and procured with natural means to retain their unique look. These Basswood slabs have minimal cracks and remain intact. The natural characteristics of the slices make them beautiful when used for various projects.
The slices have thick and smooth surfaces. They are well-rounded and have minimal defects. The perfect size of the wooden slabs makes greater decoration pieces. The minimal grains retain paint color on the surface for a long time and keep the wood from deforming.
Pros
- Extremely useful
- Natural and unique
- They have minimal cracks
- Eco-friendly
Cons
- May be especially prone to moisture damage
Buying Guide for Best Wood for Wood Burning
Pyrography is a demanding craft that requires you to choose the best possible equipment to help you with your work. Therefore, we bring you some of the most popular wood options that are used for the art and how they can help you or make your work challenging.
Birch
Birch is soft and has consistent grains. Much like Basswood, another wood type, it is easy and forgiving to work with. There are two types of Birch, Russian and Baltic. Birch is readily available in markets and depicts the same easiness as Basswood.
You can find Birch as plywood sheets that are easy to stock up. However, you have to be careful with them while burning and not burn too deep.
Advantages
- Light and affordable
- Minimal grain
- You can stock them up easily
Disadvantages
- Splinters
- Russian Birch is hard to find
- Can’t be burned deep
Poplar
You will love Poplar for plenty of reasons. You find it in various sizes that are easy to burn and are very accessible. Throughout the board, you will find the grains to be consistently soft, making for an ideal burning surface.
The colors you throw at them hold on to the Poplar surface and do not fade, which makes it great for staining as well.
Advantages
- Has light color
- Accessible
- It is gouge resistant
- Can be used for making all objects
Disadvantages
- Require more heat
- Planks need to be glued together to get the right thickness
Basswood
Basswood is an inexpensive and highly useful wood that is an extremely viable option for use in wood burning. The solid wood burning surface provides a beautiful surface to work on. Used by seasoned pyrographers, Basswood is very accessible.
You can use a range of pyrography techniques on Basswood and find it to be compliant with promising results. It can get a bit tricky for some crafters. However, the use is highly dependent on the kind of project you are working on.
Advantages
- Minimal grain
- No resin
- Accessible
- Easy to use
Disadvantages
- Gouges and needs fixing
Oak
Oak is difficult to handle. Not only is it costly to buy, but it even has an even grain composition. It absorbs moisture, which results in the expansion and flaking of the wood. The wood may have a high content of sap that bubbles when the wood is burnt.
You may find a dark streak on your artwork once you finish working on it.
Advantages
- Great for practical items
- These are found at home improvement stores
Disadvantages
- Color variations
- Absorbs moisture
- Uneven grain composition
Pine
Pine is a common wood that is used for wood burning. The two distinct Pines that you will come across are white and yellow. The preference for the kind of Pine varies, of course, and thus, you will find differing opinions on the two types of Pines.
Yellow Pine is more used due to the color variations it offers, whereas White Pine is prized for its ease of burning and for procuring detailed patterns.
Advantages
- Softer wood
- Light tan in color
- Inexpensive
- Accessible
Disadvantages
- It has high sap content
- Upon heating, dark bubble stains are left on the wood
Beech
Beech is another popular choice for wood burning. It has a light color with darker grains that ooze sap upon burning. Beech is cost-efficient, but you may have a hard time finding it in a market.
Advantages
- Light in color
- Affordable among all
Disadvantages
- Oozes sap
- Hard to find
- Difficult to burn
These are a few of the kinds of woods that can be used for pyrography. Like all the things, they have their flaws, but once you get hold of how to use them, you will find each to be perfect in their own way!
Preparing Woods for Burning
It doesn’t matter which wood type you choose for your project, they all need to be prepped before exposed to heat and burning. Here we have the steps you need to follow in order to prepare your workpiece.
- Every wood needs to be sanded before use. You have to board them to 220 grit. Choose rougher sandpaper. The rough paper helps in preparing the wood for its final finishing to give it a smooth look.
- Once you are done with sanding the wood, it has to be wetted out. You don’t have to throw the plank into a water bucket, but use a wet sponge and wipe it over the wood surface. The wood needs to be dampened but doesn’t have to be drenched in water. Afterwards, leave it somewhere for drying out.
- Now that it has dried out, sand it again. By this time, the wood will be a nice smooth canvas to throw colors on!
Wrapping Up
This guide has enlightened you with the various woods that you can use for your artwork.Now that you are aware of the benefits and disadvantages that these have, you will be more comfortable with making a decision.
You can start with some of the woods that we have reviewed above that are practical and functional. In case you wish to buy another wood that matches your project, do have another look at the guide to know what you will be facing.