The Gourd Reserve
Exploring Gourdiculture since 1991


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The $20 Temperature Controlled Woodburner
by Dan Dunkin

page 2

Now you are ready for the final touch.

Step 8) Mount the cover plate to the dimmer switch, and put the knob back on the switch. Turn or slide your switch to the off position and mark the off position, then turn the dial all the way up to the bright position, and mark that. (if you are unsure if it is off or on, plug a small lamp into it, and you can test it with a lamp. You can also use this as a lamp dimmer if you don't have one in your wall) Go ahead and divide the range into numbered segments.(see next picture)

The main purpose for marking it is so you can develop a scale to gauge your heat with. There is a drawback to this inexpensive woodburner, and that is every time you adjust the heat settings, it takes a minute or two for the burner tip to adjust to the new temperature. It doesn't take long though until you have a good feel for how much heat you want for different types of work. You can also take some of your tips that come with your pen, (or extra tips you buy), and with a dremmel tool you can shape your own custom tips.

This is not the best burner around, and from my experience, after changing the tips several times, the metal between the post and the tip begins to oxidize and it gets tough to change the tips. I always used a pair of channel locks, (pliers will do), and a ceramic coffee cup with cold water so I wouldn't have to wait 5 minutes for the tips to cool down.

This type burner is not recommended for permanent use, but if you are wondering if your desire to woodburn is worth spending $300 on, this can be a cheaper way to find out. If you decide that pyrography is for you by trying this, then you can confidently buy a better pen, and you will really enjoy it because the heating and cooling times of the better pens is measured in seconds, not minutes.

Is this burner effective? Here are a couple gourd's I burned using one of these Walmart special woodburning pens.

 

   
     

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