Razertip Wood Burning Systems – Tip Shapes, Maintenance & Common Questions
In this section, we’ll cover the main tip styles in more detail, show you how to maintain them, and answer some common questions.
Pyrography Tip Shapes
Let’s have a closer look at the four main pen tips to help you get started.
The skew tip is suited for lines of varying width and detailed work such as feathers and hair (Photo 1).
Photo 1 – Examples of the different line weights produced by a skew-tipped pen.
Shading tips, such as a spear or spoon tip, are slightly rounded on their lower surface, so as to not dig into the workpiece (Photos 2 & 3).
Photo 2 – A spear-tip pen is useful for graduated shading and can reach into acute angle. When turned over, it can also produce crisp lines.
Photo 3 – The spoon tip produces wide lines with rounded ends.
The ballpoint tip, a writing tip available in various sizes, is ideal for writing or signing (Photo 4).
Photo 4 – Ballpoint pens produce lines of consistent width, depending on the size of the tip.
You can create a wide range of projects with this basic set of pens, and you can expand and explore more tip designs as you gain experience.
How should I clean the tips?
A clean tip will produce a faster heat transfer and maintain heat consistency. You should clean the tip when carbon build-up on the tip begins to affect the results.
You can use a soft brass brush to remove the bulk of the carbon build-up, then polish the tip on a leather strop charged with honing compound.
What safety issues should I be aware of?
- The tip can get very hot. Store the handpiece on the unit rather than putting it down. If you need to change tips, ensure that it has cooled completely (approximately 10 minutes) before touching it. If in doubt, touch the tip to a scrap of wood or paper to see if it’s still hot.
- Ensure the hot tip stays away from the main power cable. It can easily burn through the sheathing.
- Do not apply pressure to the tip. Some styles of tip are more delicate than others, but it’s good practice to use the heat control to vary the weight/darkness of your lines and the speed of burning.
- Work in a well-ventilated area or adjacent to an open window. A fan can help dissipate any smoke or odors. A dust mask or respirator is also a good idea during a long session.
How do I know what heat setting to use?
This will vary depending on the type of wood you’re using and the effect you’re looking for. Our best advice is to start at a low setting and make some test lines on a scrap of the same wood species. This will allow you to calibrate the setting before working on your project.