Safety in Wood Burning

Pyrography is a safe hobby if you follow the safety guidelines and protect yourself. Please read thoroughly!

Take your health & safety seriously.

Your Set Up:

·      Do not leave a hot tool unattended; always turn off AND unplug the wood-burning tool before leaving the room.

Be mindful of turning it off, even if you only need to put it down for a moment to grab something. Trust me, it happens really fast and because the tool it so pen-like, you can forget really quickly how incredibly hot it gets!

·      Work on a clean, hard surface: The cords can move things, turning your wood can knock things over… Make sure your area is cleared off, clean, and solid. You really don’t want to me catching something that is falling, mid burn with a hot tool in your hand!

·      Work in a well-ventilated area: fans and/or fume extractors are always a good idea! (Position the fan right next to your work, facing away from you to pull smoke away from your face.) I also turn on this air purifier near my workspace. It’s got a washable carbon filter and easily replaceable hepa filter. It really takes away any doors almost immediately!

· Pull your hair up: if you have long hair. Any loose clothing or fabrics around you should be tucked away as well. Sparks can fly!

·      Use a set of pliers and a ceramic dish for hot tips: This will allow you to safely switch, remove, and temporarily discard hot tips without burning your table (some nibs can easily roll around).

·      Make sure you have a solid docking station to put the burner down on, ensuring it doesn’t move around; tape it to the desk if necessary.

·      Teach children about safety. Kids are curious so make sure they know they can seriously hurt themselves when touching any metal parts. When your wood burning tool is in use; never leave children unattended around your work station. Kids love to press buttons (animals can also step on buttons and switches)!! Unplug your machine from the outlet if you’re not burning.

Your Wood Choice:

·      Make sure the wood you choose is dried, sanded smooth, and not chemically treated (no stains or other finishes). This includes your own finishes like watercolours, paints, gold leafing etc. Always do your burning first and then add in your colors and finishes. Check out the blog post about which woods to avoid burning on.

·      Check wood toxicity of the wood you will be using prior to burning a new piece. I like wood-database.com. Also, never ever burn on something that has a finish on it (any coatings, paint or even stain…). Always add your mixed media after you burn and if you missed it above, make sure to check out the blog post about which woods to avoid burning on.

·      So which woods can you use? Check out the blog post about the Best Wood for Pyrography.

The Smoke:

·      Always wear a mask with a rating of P-95 or preferably higher. There are many different options; do some research and make sure the rating is high enough for smoke. Look for masks with carbon filters and don’t cheap out on this one!!

Which one do we love? RZMask is a great company for many reasons. Their masks are soft and super comfortable. They are reusable (change out the filter and wash the shell - this will save money and the environment)! Plus, they’ve got lots of styles and colours to choose from.

I personally like the M3 (like in this photo) with the thick strap because I always wear my hair in a high bun. The M3 has the option to switch around the straps to a double strap on each ear and a double strap along the back of your head. RZMask has a variety of strap options and sizes for different sized heads, hairstyles and shapes…

·      As mentioned in the set up section above, ventilation is crucial for pyrography. Even though you have a mask on, the smoke is still lingering in the room you are burning… I use a small fan which pulls away the smoke from my face, however, to protect the lungs of those around you, you have a couple options. You can choose a room air purifier (again, make sure it has a carbon filter); I love the Winix brand - it is quiet, looks good and removes all the smelly stuff from the air really quickly!

If you are travelling and want something smaller, we suggest the Razertip Razaire Mini - Smoke Extractor. You kind of have to be close to the machine (I usually set this up on my wood slice), but it is light and portable so its perfect when I am on the go!

🔥 Use the discount code BASIA at checkout to save some money on your purchase 🔥

·      Avoid smoke inhalation and eye irritation by working with your face tilted to the side of the wood being burned (wear eye protection if you burn hot and tend to sit close and lean in to your work).

If you feel any dizziness or headaches coming on while burning, stop and assess your situation.

Take breaks often!

Always follow all safety precautions set by the wood burning tool manufacturer.

Check out the blog post: Common Wood Types You Should Never Burn On

To learn more about pyrography, get inspired and grow with a community of woodburning artist, join us in the FREE Burn Club!

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A Case for Unfinished Woodburned Art

Do I need a finish for my wood art?

Some say it is a big no-no to not finish a wood piece, while others love it. I am here to build the case for the unfinished, un-lacquered, un-stained, un-oiled, as-is, natural, raw woodburned art.

What happens to the wood over time?

The first piece I ever created, my wedding name sign, back in 2011 still looks as good as the day I burned it. I didn’t finish it with anything. No oil, no stain, no varnish — nothing! It has been hanging on my wall for almost 10 years. While my craft has improved, this is still one of my most treasured burned pieces and I love that it has held up to time. But, I also love that even if it didn’t hold up or if it eventually fades, I can easily add to it whenever I please.

I am not saying that there isn’t a time and place for finishes, I actually think they help in many many cases, but that is for a different blog post: Finishing Your Wood Burned Art: How and Why to Finish Your Wood Burned Art.

For my wood burned art pieces that will be hanging on a wall, I prefer to leave it raw.

7 reasons why I leave my woodburned wall art raw:

1. I love the contrast that the light colored wood has against the darkened burn lines. When almost any finish is added, that contrast diminishes.

2. By not finishing the piece, you are able to go back and add or edit the piece later on, you can touch-up areas if they fade over time without any prep work or damage to the original piece.

3. It’s cost effective! It doesn’t cost any money to leave the wood as-is.

4. You aren’t going to ruin it by choosing the wrong finish or by applying your finish improperly. Nothing is worse than ruining a finished piece in its final step.

5. It won’t yellow, crack, or chip off over time. It also will collect less dust and dirt than your oil based finishes.

6. It’s not going to ruin any color you add to your piece. It won’t smear, discolor, or fade any mixed media you add.

7. It’s a time saver! You don’t have to prep the surface, add the finish, sand between coats, and wait for it to cure.

This is not to say it doesn’t come with its disadvantages, but for wall decor, that is out of sunlight, and not being touched, I think it is a fantastic option.

There will be plenty of people that disagree, and that’s ok. You go right ahead and finish your piece, but for those wanting to leave it raw, here is your permission.

What are the disadvantages of leaving your woodburned art unfinished?

There are obviously some cons to leaving the wood raw. It doesn’t protect against - oil, fingerprints, dirt, dust, dents, UV, or water - but a lot of finishes don’t either.

For any kitchenware, I would never suggest leaving it raw. ALWAYS oil your kitchen wood items with food-safe finishes. The oil will protect them and keep them looking beautiful.

Anything functional art that is going to be handled, touched, and used I recommend applying a finish. This will help protect it from fingerprints, dents, water and damage. Check out: Woodcare 101: Preserving Your Pyrography Art

Considering unfinished?

I hope my case for the raw, unfinished, natural, as-is wood art has convinced some of you to give it a go. To leave your art unfinished, save a little time, money and frustration. For those beautiful woodburned art pieces that are going to decorate someone’s walls, to be admired, but not touched, consider leaving it raw.

Check out these other helpful blog posts

Adding Watercolor to Wood

Getting kids involved with your pyrography

Transferring Images Using Heat and Without Using Heat