CHANGING THE SOLDERING TIP
Ensure the tip is cool and Soldering Iron is switched off and unplugged from
mains current before touching the tip as serious burns could occur to skin if
touched.
1.
Unscrew the nut and remove the nut and barrel.(Fig. 6)
2.
Remove the tip and replace. (Fig. 7)
3.
Reinstall the nut and barrel. Tighten the nut securely. (Fig. 6)
GETTING THE MOST FROM YOUR TRADEFLAME WOOD BURNING
KIT
Tips, Tricks, and Techniques for Better Results
Pyrography is the correct term for the technique more commonly known as
“wood burning”. The term means the art of ‘drawing with fire’. It is an ancient
craft practiced throughout the world.
Originally pokers were heated in fires and created rather crude results. During
the Victorian period the craft enjoyed its greatest popularity.
Victorian ladies developed various tools such as fine steel rods similar to knitting
needles and heated them in a fire or over a spirit lamp, allowing them to work
more skilfully and create fine designs. The rods would lose their heat quickly
and have to be returned to the fire for reheating, making the process slow and
tedious.
Today Pyrography is enjoying renewed popularity due to the advancement in
wood burning irons, the variety of available tips and the vast assortment of
surfaces to decorate.
Tip
: When starting a new project, test the wood and the 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 iron holder to a piece of ceramic
tile. The tile is heavy enough to keep the iron 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. Protect your work surface with aluminium foil, or a piece of
plywood.
The best way to get started is to familiarize yourself with the iron, the various
tips and the patterns they create. See the “Tips and Their Uses” section for an
explanation of how to use each tip included with your new kit.
TIPS AND THEIR USES
1.
Your new Tradeflame Wood Burning 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.
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.
Slanted tip - Hold the tip at various angles for creating lines of varying
widths.
4.
Stencil tip - Use this tip to cut craft pattern stencils into stencil materials.
5.
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.
6.
Script tip - for writing script and for burning grooves of various depths.
Move slowly across your work to make deeper grooves.
7.
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.
8.
Flow tip - Use to burn curves, dots, and fine details. Works well for cursive
writing and dot shading techniques.
9.
Shading/transfer 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.
10.
Stripes Tip - this tip is used to create stripes as required
11.
Blade Tip - To install the knife blade tip onto the iron, carefully insert the
blade into the tool and tighten the screw to secure it in place. Use this
specialty tip to cut foam, rope, or other soft rigid materials
12.
Stamp tips - Apply these various tips vertically on your project surface.
Remove them in a straight vertical motion to make a distinct pattern. Use
these separately or together to create interesting patterns and borders on
multiple surfaces
13.
Conical tip – Used to convert the tool into a Soldering Iron. Use with lead-
free solder to join metal.
PRACTICE
1.
Plug in your wood burning iron and allow it about four minutes to heat up.
2.
Hold the wood burner 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.
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”.
Fig. 7
Fig. 6
