Woodburning is a great way to personalize any wood projects and can be a lot of fun. I woodburned some Christmas projects, and was really happy with how they turned out! Below are a few tips to get you started on your first woodburning project.

Pick the Right Tool

You can purchase a wood burner at most craft or home repair stores. If you are planning on using it more than once, make sure to pick one with adjustable heat settings and a rubber grip. The type of wood you use will determine the heat setting you need, and the rubber grip will help keep the burner from getting too hot in your hands. Picking a woodburner with multiple tips will also give you more options for making your designs.

Prepare Your Workspace

The woodburner gets HOT. Make sure you pick a workspace that will not be accessible to children, pets or other hazards. Also make sure you have proper ventilation as the burning wood will smell. The surface you use matters too, as you could damage or melt your table. Make sure to use the stand when resting your woodburner! Having a pair of pliers nearby will be helpful for when you need to change the tips (don’t touch them!).

Prep Your Project

Although it’s tempting to use any wood available, try to avoid hard woods and woods with coatings. Any type of coating or finish will make it difficult to burn the wood, and could also be harmful to inhale as you burn. On the same note, woods with big knots or large grains will be difficult to work with too. Try a light sanding as you prep your project, and stick to soft wood like pine and fir.

Most craft stores will have a large variety of untreated wood items like signs, ornaments, birdhouses and more. I found some canisters at Target that had wooden lids, and used them. Wooden kitchen utensils like spoons or spatulas are also a popular choice, inexpensive and easy to find.

Pick Your Design

It’s important to be realistic about the design you choose. Intricate designs with a lot of shading are not going to be a good option if you are not patient or have little experience with painting and drawing. I know my patience and skills are limited, so I chose simple designs that didn’t require a lot of fine shading or changing the tips multiple times.

When searching for ideas, I used search terms like simplistic and basic in front of the theme I was interested in.

Prep Your Design

Woodburning is not as forgiving as drawing or painting, so it’s a good idea to get some practice in before you start on your project. Try experimenting with the different tips and using them in different ways.  If possible, test the wood you will be burning beforehand to see which heat setting is most appropriate. It’s also helpful to trace out your design on the wood so you have a guide of what you will be burning. When using your woodburner, make sure to keep the speed and pressure of your movement consistent for nice lines.

Hopefully with these tips, your first woodburning project will be a success! I’d love to hear about your projects.