Wood Burning 101

Wood burning is one of the most therapeutic art forms.

It is also a technique that isn’t too difficult.  Friends I’ve introduced to wood burning have picked it up quickly. With a bit of practice, they became quite good at it. 

What You Will Need:

• Wood Burner  (~$19 on Amazon)
• Plywood – Find some easily at Home Depot where you can ask them to cut it for you. I like to use reclaimed wood that I find at work and in my yard. I also check in with stores that typically carry wood crates. If I can reuse something, I do!
• Pencil
• Sandpaper

And that’s it!

To start, I like to trace my chosen image onto the wood with a pencil. This will eventually be burned right on, but for now, it’s best to have a guideline that can be easily erased if you make a mistake. If possible, try to practice on a piece of wood that you don’t want.

This will allow you to get a feel for the wood burner and all its quirks. It’s definitely not like a pen or pencil!

Once you have that down and your fingers feel ready, pick up your wood burner and start the actual burning.

Tip: The longer the wood burner is left in one spot, the darker the mark will appear as a result. Don’t worry if you make a mistake during the burning process. You can use sandpaper to sand it out—and voila!—it’s back to normal so you can give it another go.