GETTING THE MOST FROM YOUR TRADEFLAME CRAFT KIT
Tips, Tricks, and Techniques for Better Results
The best way to get started is to familiarize yourself with the Craft Tool,
the various tips and the patterns they create.
Do not attempt to use the Craft
Tool on materials likely to melt (plastic, synthetics or imitation leather)
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Wood burning Tradeflame Craft Kit 10000608: Test tips by writing your
name on the back of the chosen piece of wood. This allows you to get a feel
for how the wood will respond and to get your creative juices and technique
flowing.
GETTING STARTED
Set up a safe work area. You can tape the stand to a piece of ceramic tile -
Make sure the tile is heavy enough to keep the Craft Tool stand from tipping over
while it protects the work surface. You will also need a fireproof container like a
glass dish or metal lid to hold your various tips while they are cooling. You will
need a pair of needle nose pliers with smooth jaws to remove the hot tips from
the iron. Remember that metal conducts heat very quickly.
Never attempt to
change a hot tip with your fingers.
The best way to get started is to familiarize yourself with the Craft Tool, the
various tips and the patterns they create.
TIPS AND THEIR USES
Your new Tradeflame Craft Kit comes with a wide variety of burning, cutting,
branding, and specialty tips depending on which kit you have purchased. To get
the most from your kit, follow these instructions to create the results you want.
1.
Script tip - for writing script and for burning grooves of various depths. Move
slowly across your work to make deeper grooves.
2.
Universal tip - a multi-purpose tip. Hold the tip at various angles for creating
lines of varying widths. Performs all fundamental wood burning techniques.
3.
Dot tip - for making dots of various sizes and depths. Using this tip, make
light touches to your surface for fine dots. Hold the tip on the surface for
longer periods of time to create deep holes.
4.
Calligraphy tip - This tip mimics the shape of a calligraphy pen. Do not allow
the iron to rotate in your hand as you trace calligraphy letters.
5.
Stencil tip - Use this tip to cut craft pattern stencils into stencil materials.
6.
Shading tip - this tip is tapered so that you can use it in several positions
to create light and dark shading. The polished base slides smoothly and is
great for general shading. Also can be used to transfer patterns. Edges can
be used for thinner imprecise lines. The toe can be used for burning fatter
imprecise lines. The inverted tip can be used for stippling.
7.
Blade Tip - use this specialty tip to cut foam, rope, or other soft rigid
materials
8.
Transfer tip - use this speciality tip to transfer designs from laser print paper
to your wooden boards
9.
Stamp tips - Apply these various tips vertically on your project surface.
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When changing tips, for safety, always turn OFF the tool first and let tip cool
down before changing tips.
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Screwing and unscrewing the tip when hot may easily damage the
screw-threads, or break the tips.
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Keep your tips clean for good performance and long life. Carbon may build
up on the tip surface as you work, especially if you’re working with a sappy
wood such as pine. Clean the tip with a damp sponge or
Tradeflame’s Brass
Tip Cleaning brass wire (part number: 218167).
after use – do not file tip.
PRACTICE
1.
Plug in your Craft Tool and allow it about three minutes to heat up.
2.
Hold the Craft Tool like a pencil.
Do not touch any of the metal parts, as
they are hot.
3.
Start by writing your name. Practice pulling the point toward you instead of
pushing it away. Never use excess force or pressure to draw. Let the heated
tip do its work.
4.
You can vary the appearance of the pattern by the amount of time you leave
the tip on the surface and by the pressure applied to the tip.
5.
The longer the tip stays on the surface the deeper and darker the pattern will
appear.
6.
The brown shading is affected by the speed of the tip across the surface.
7.
The smoother the surface of the material, the clearer and finer the design
will appear.
8.
After you have practiced a while, make a sample board as a reminder of
patterns you can create using different tips and techniques.
9.
This will make it fun and easy to complete a new project with an interesting
display of “pyrography techniques”.
DESIGNS
You can adapt a variety of designs from almost any media. From colouring books
to garden manuals just about every item has been captured as line art or a
simple sketch. Once you have become familiar with the iron and the patterns,
you can create using the various tips, it will be easier for you to create your own
designs. Use a copy machine to reduce and enlarge designs to suit your project
TRANSFERRING DESIGNS
Using the transfer tip
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To use laser printout, take picture using digital camera, then flip the image to
form a mirror image in the computer, then print.
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Choose the Transfer Tip and craft tool. Place your pattern on the surface and
secure with masking tape across the top of the wood surface, and gently rub
the Transfer Tip on the paper in a circular motion.
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Due to heat, toner from the printout will be marked on wood.
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You can use sandpaper as eraser to correct any mistakes.
Using the Tracing paper (not included)
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Place your pattern on the surface and secure with masking
tape across the top.
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Lift the pattern and place carbon paper directly on the surface.
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Lightly trace the design using a pencil.
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Double check your design before removing the pattern to make sure you
have transferred the entire pattern.