DIY Network

Woodburning 101 Make your mark with woodburning. From "B. Original" episode DBOR-129

Michele Beschen spends a lot of time working with wood, and a woodburner is one of her favorite tools for putting the finishing touches on wood projects. This versatile tool adds detail and dimension to wood projects and is easy for even beginners to use. Scroll down to see some of Michele Beschen's tips for beginners who want to B. Original with woodburners.

Michele Beschen woodburns everything from home accessories...

To sophisticated architectural details.

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	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C

Woodburning 101

Safety Alert: As the name implies, woodburners get very hot. Always use extreme caution when using these tools, and keep them away from children. Never leave a woodburner unattended, and follow the manufacturer's recommendations on safety.

• When you buy a woodburner, look for one that comes with a variety of tips. The more tips you have, the more different effects you can achieve.

• Beginners should stick to easy-burning soft woods such as pine, birch or Baltic birch. Avoid plywood or any sort of pressed boards or fiberboard—they contain a lot of glue, which doesn't react well with woodburning.

• There's no such thing as a woodburning eraser, so trace your design before you start (figure A). You also can lay out a design on a computer and use graphite paper to transfer a printout to the wood.

• Burning isn't the end of the process: Play around with stains, paints and oil pencils inside your burns (figure B). Just be careful not to paint over the burn.

• The last step in any woodburning project is to protect your work. Use a polyurethane or paste wax finish.

• Woodburners tend to accumulate ash as a project goes on. Keep a sanding block or a wad of steel wool handy to clean off the burning tip (figure C). Don't leave the woodburner on the sanding block too long, though, or it could catch fire.

• If you want to swap out tips while you're burning, just use pliers to unscrew the old tip and install the new one. Lay the old (hot) tip down on a fireproof surface such as a ceramic tile.

• Michele Beschen's secret to woodburning success: You can't rush the burn, so take your time and enjoy the journey!