24 Beginner Wood Burning Mistakes: Pyros Share Their Secrets

[@sandramagee956]

My husband bought me a burner for Christmas and I am excited to get started. Thank you so much for the video's

[@BurnSavvy]

Glad you’re finding the videos helpful 🙌

[@burghbrat3319]

I'm only 4 days into this adventure and absolutely NOBODY should be taking advice from me, but one mistake I've already found is death-gripping the pyro pen. Perfectionism is not my friend with this art form. But I'm loving it and having fun, and it keeps me off the streets, so there's that ... 😄

[@BurnSavvy]

Great tip! I used to do the same thing. I found that using gloves actually loosened my grip. Might try that. Thanks for sharing your experience! 🔥🙌

[@victoriarodriguez3144]

yes!! It hurts to do that! I noticed that i need a gripper or something to keep my fingers from suffering. lol

[@nathansizemore7334]

I’ve watched several of these ‘mistake’ videos, but this is the best one yet. I thought burning simple things would be easy. I still wanted a drawing, so I burned Mickey Mouse and Goofy on an inexpensive burner from Walmart. I made a lot of the mistakes mentioned here. Thanks for the personal experiences. Very well explained.

[@BurnSavvy]

Glad you found it helpful 🙌🔥

[@carolbirch95]

I am learning burning on gourds. Love gourds. I’m looking for some shading techniques. Also I love your videos and watching them with great interest in learning quite a bit. Thank you

[@BurnSavvy]

Glad I could help!

[@lgsartbarn5129]

I believe gourds would be awesome to use.

[@toshpointjoe]

Pyro-professor is a great title 😁 thank you for your videos!

[@BurnSavvy]

Haha thanks!🔥🙌 Happy to help

[@maryalicejohnson8291]

Im expecting my first burning tool as i type this, im very excited and have been watching your video's since i decided to give this a try! Thanks for all the helpful tips and the beautiful artwork

[@BurnSavvy]

I appreciate the kind words! 😊🔥 Happy you’re finding it helpful

[@celleduffel1533]

Enjoyed this video. You really explain things very well for this beginner. So far I play with the nibs and watch videos. I have done one burning and I'm actually semi-pleased with it. I dont want to mess around with shading just yet lol so I use watercolor pencils. What I tell my kids and hubby is that what I do I do for me and no one else for now. Now for the next video.

[@BurnSavvy]

I think the best way to start is doing it for yourself. Kudos to you! Glad you’re enjoying the videos

[@celleduffel1533]

@@BurnSavvy totally enjoying 😊

[@kickerofelves85]

Brand new subscriber, love all ur videos so far! Just getting into pyrography, maybe 5 projects into it. I'm trying to decide if it's something I wanna try to make money with. Any plans on a video for pricing suggestions (I know each piece has a bunch of variables; size, details, skill level etc) or just some general tips on how to start making money from pyrography?

[@BurnSavvy]

Great question! It’s one I get often… I’ll put it on my video list 🔥🙌

[@alfredarseneau6833]

Love your videos! Thank you!

[@BurnSavvy]

Glad to hear it and I’m happy to help!

[@SkitchBean_aka_Christine_E]

I am a total newbie to burning. Your tips are very helpful. Thank you ❤

[@BurnSavvy]

Happy to help!

[@lgsartbarn5129]

You shouldn’t tell people not to start with a portrait, one of the first things I did was a portrait and it turned out awesome. ❤😂 I would be happy to show you.

[@BurnSavvy]

I’m happy to hear that! 🙌🔥 Most people don’t have that experience 😅

[@monalisahota]

Thanks for the tips and encouragement. I am just trying out woodburning for the first time. Curious what's the difference between a $35 tool set, $145 tool set and a $245 tool set? Happy to watch a video of this is covered. Thanks!

[@BurnSavvy]

That is usually the difference between a solid point burner ($35) and a wire nib burner ($100-$400). I am actually working on a video describing the differences between them. 🙌

[@monalisahota]

@@BurnSavvy do wire nib burners have better control over lines and shading? Must be. I am sure you'd cover this and more in the video. Looking forward to it. Thanks!!

[@charulatadawange653]

Hello mam I'm from India I loved the way you are teaching and want to learn from you from starting as I'm beginner and it's new for me

[@BurnSavvy]

Happy to hear that! I’ve got lots of great videos for beginners on this channel and in my KZbin membership 👍

[@charulatadawange653]

Thankyou for replying me mam. I'm super excited to start to learn from you 😊Mam I want to buy woods and tool kit I'm unable to get it online.please help me

[@SandraReynolds-g9u]

On the sanding of your wood. IF you are using something that's not the finest of grain like say, pine? I sand with a course grit, then go to a 220 grit, then I spritz my piece with water and it'll get the grain to 'stand up', then sand it again with 220 or higher. I did this with a cut off piece on a log home my husband and built. Pine grain is rough and I got that wood almost baby butt smooth.

[@BurnSavvy]

Yes! 🙌 I love that water trick, it saved me a few times. Thanks for sharing!

[@cherylgoodall8120]

@@SandraReynolds-g9u Thank you for the spraying tip.

[@conniecoffee8372]

Good morning!. Boy do I need this video.

[@BurnSavvy]

I hear you! Its always good to learn from other’s mistakes… Life is too short to make them all yourself! 🙌🔥

[@Alresu]

I just started yesterday and my first attempts were a few symbols from my "Book of signs and symbols". Then I switched to a simple butterfly for my sister, a dugtrio (a simple pokémon for my niece) and now a few letters. All more for testing out, then for really creating. Can't imagine how hard I would have failed if I tried a portrait. XP

[@BurnSavvy]

😂 right?! Ahhhh we all need something *simple* to start out with!

[@MayaDaoudi-tu5ng]

Thank you very much, this was great! Do you have a video on geometric design pyrography?

[@BurnSavvy]

I have some in my LAB course for beginners that I’m working to move into my channel membership soon 👍

[@jessicalingo4346]

My issue that i seem to have is when i hit the grain of the wood its so soft that my burner immediately falls in and makes a spot then just out of the grain its next to impossible to burn cause it doesnt seem to want to burn. I think im either not sanding the wood enough, im using too high of a heat (i got my burner from walmart. Its a solid burner with temperature control). I started burning geometric designs similar to zentangle designs.

[@BurnSavvy]

I would definitely start with a lower heat, but it could also be the type of wood that you are using. You might find this playlist helpful since it goes over the best and worst kinds of wood for woodburning: Best Wood for Wood Burning kzbin.info/aero/PLlOnZI-MNsnFYwCARY_sRAK9zTh3YvUK5

[@jessicalingo4346]

@BurnSavvy thank you so much for responding back to me. I'm pretty sure it's the heat and maybe even the pressure I'm using. I started changing the pressure I'm using and the speed. It's a bit better (I tried using power heat but it just doesn't seem to want to burn) it's gotten better since using less pressure and going over the line repeatedly vs deep and fast lines (I've watched videos on this so I'm fighting my natural instinct to do this) it's gotten better but still not the greatest. Luckily enough the project I'm doing is intentionally for practice.

[@jitanandaswami9982]

Good morning! Greatings from Brasil. Your video was very useful to me who is a beginner. I have a wired wood burner but the pen is bulky and heavy. I wish I could get a razortip pen. Thank you!

[@BurnSavvy]

Razertip is a great brand! Hope you can get one 🔥🙌

[@chrispotter8735]

Using some wood carving tools along with wood burn?will it be another way?

[@BurnSavvy]

I don’t typically use carving tools, just woodburning tools. But some people do carving also.

[@Tina-gg2zh]

Hello is Pyro R200 a good pyrograph?

[@BurnSavvy]

I’ve never used that one but I hear it’s middle of the road - not horrible but not great either

[@mapommetje7801]

What advise do you have for People who use the tool left handed?

[@BurnSavvy]

Park the machine on your left side. Turn the wood (not your burner) at the angle that you are most comfortable with. 🔥🙌

[@mraper2844]

How do you make your design look 3D please.

[@BurnSavvy]

Try looking up three dimensional drawings or shading of things you would like to draw. Then practice using woodburning techniques to make those three-dimensional designs. Hope that helps!

[@tskiddles]

I have an Everglades burner and I only have been using one pen, I can’t find pens that are specifically for my burner. I’ve been playing on gourds and using prints on stick burn. I need other pens but not sure where to look or what …I saw where someone was critiquing a users work and telling her something about hesitation and stops and starts I think. And about being one with the pen. Made me wonder what someone would say about mine . I don’t know where to start looking at your videos!

[@BurnSavvy]

There’s a lot! I would start here: Learn Wood Burning Art for Beginners [10 STEPS] 🔥 kzbin.info/www/bejne/g2erd6d9eKqnotE

[@just2hi4u39]

5:05 *In black eyed peas voice* "DIRTY NIB" 🎵

[@BurnSavvy]

😂

[@foxiggma]

Can I use pai t for letters to make them stand out on walnut

[@BurnSavvy]

Yep! Just do your burning first. 🙌🔥

[@mike20019]

What would be the best sand grit number to use after wood burning ur piece?

[@BurnSavvy]

I don’t typically sand after I burn, because it can damage the burn itself. But if I do, I typically stick with 220 grit, and try to avoid the burned portions.

[@mike20019]

@@BurnSavvy ok thank you so much I really appreciate it, sorry to ask another question but is it ok to put a stain varnish over the burn than a finish varnish on it with out sanding?

[@BurnSavvy]

@mike20019 I sand before I burn, and never have an issue adding sealant adhering to it

[@sweetsolana]

Tried my burner today. I am from austria and i bought it for 8€ at "Action" but there is no temperature control so i might buy a wire one on Amazon. I feel like the burner I have is super hard to use. But it could also be me or the wood...idk😢

[@BurnSavvy]

Possibly both, but any burner without heat control is definitely harder to use!

[@duudsuufd]

Just burned my first text today. I already have a soldering iron. You can not regulate the temperature but it says on the package it will not get warmer than 430°C, and indeed it stayed the same temperature during the 20 minutes I used it (did not measure it). It is not electronically regulated nor with a bi-metal. I think it is because the type of resistance that is used. The simplest electric heater does also not get hotter the longer it is connected (without thermostat), same with the old incandescent light bulb. Old soldering irons get hotter the longer they are plugged in. I think it was deliberate. I have worked some time in electricity, long ago. Electronics existed already of course, but electronic parts for higher currents were very expensive. With this type of iron, if you had to connect a small wire you do it on low temperature; if you had to connect bigger wires, you let it plugged in longer. The one I used now: power is 60W, probably not enough for experienced pyro's, but ideal if you first must start exercising with hand and wrist control.

[@chrispotter8735]

Wood carving type tools ?

[@BurnSavvy]

Not sure I understand the question

[@lynnsandberg6513]

1:00pm Jan. 14 Is Petuol a good burning tool?

[@BurnSavvy]

Had to look that up on line. It looks very similar to the brand I use in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gnq8cnearq9kg5Y That circular temperature gauge is one of my least favorites to work with, and the metal barrel is so long it’s hard to use. I would choose a different style burner. I prefer the one with the digital screen, or the one with the heat dial on the cord instead of the pen. This is the digital screen one: amzn.to/3vDv1Ct Heat dial on cord one: amzn.to/48TFKqL That said, I don’t like the solid point burner in general. I prefer a wire nib burner. If you would like recommendations on that, I can give that to you also.

[@lynnsandberg6513]

@@BurnSavvy thank you!

[@duudsuufd]

@@BurnSavvy I think for beginners a wire nib burner is too hot and too expensive (the wire must be replaced regularly if I am not wrong). Solid points you only have to sand them from time to time.

[@JrcoTvPh]

hi ma'am I wish I can be good at wood pyrography art. I don't start yet but I would like to try this art

[@BurnSavvy]

I hope you do get to try it!

[@selmayazici5327]

Bu kaliteli kanaldan bilgi edinmeye istiyorum lütfen her lisandan alt yazı eklermisiniz 🙏🙏🙏

[@BurnSavvy]

I would love to! I use what KZbin provides, so that would be a good suggestion for KZbin

[@angierobson1975]

I can't draw. Plz tell me how to get the drawing that looks right

[@BurnSavvy]

If you need help learning to draw, there are other creators on KZbin and Pinterest that give great tutorials that you can find in a quick search. If you need help with pyrography, drawing tips, here are a couple of videos for you. Wood Burning Techniques for Beginners: [4 Basic Pyrography Techniques + Bonus] kzbin.info/www/bejne/i4e3YpWfjZiJo80 🔥Woodburning for Beginners [7 Tips I Wish I Knew] kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqLGnWysrZyJiJI Hope that helps!

[@hardworkanddedication0907]

New sub here I am new to wood burning I just want tobmake something nice for my girlfriend thanks for all your hard work

[@BurnSavvy]

Awesome 🔥🙌 I’m happy you’re enjoying the videos!

[@duudsuufd]

A little remark: I can not read and understand that long sentence at 12:56 in just two seconds. I am not an English speaker! (pause, get back, to far, pause, forward, pause, a little less back...)

[@BurnSavvy]

I can’t control the KZbin captions, which may or may not be correct. But it basically says be careful where you place the pattern if there are knots or visible colorations in the wood.

[@judymiller975]

Painting teacher here, yeah the portrait beginners. 🙄

[@BurnSavvy]

😂 right? Haha

[@FrankMac59]

Why is it that people insist on using ring lights that are so distracting to the viewer? Why not a cheaper soft box or two? It gets away from that "is that person drug affected" look.

[@BurnSavvy]

😂 for some it’s the trend. For others it’s portable, affordable lighting that’s easier to store when you aren’t using it 👍

[@troydorris2794]

Fur and feathering, animal hair to be specific

[@BurnSavvy]

Those are tough ones for sure

[@troydorris2794]

@@BurnSavvy I’ve been keeping my skills close to the vest using solid(pencil) burner for about 5 years now I just started using nib(wire) burners and what an absolute difference I started out with multi facets ons single project, carving, paint, and burn features but I felt primitive this year my confidence was tested when requested charcuterie boards

[@troydorris2794]

@ for me right now is getting to know an understanding the nibs, and how each one is best suited to their own responsibilities

[@rogbow69]

Fantastic video for a beginner like me...will you marry me

[@BurnSavvy]

😂 this Pyro is already spoken for, and I’m glad you’re enjoying the video!