TYPES OF WOOD TO USE

WOODS

Woods differ in hardness, grain, figure, texture, color, and other physical characteristics.

Hardness: All woods can be classified into hard or soft. Usually softwoods are from coniferous (needle-leaved) trees. You may be aware of a little bit of resin oozing and also, a slight turpentine smell when you burn on softwood.

Hardwoods are from broad-leaved trees. These hardwood trees can be classified into two distinct growing seasons each year (hot and cold season or a wet and dry season) such as:

·         Springwood: normally lighter in color and weight and only moderately strong

·         Summerwood: usually heavier, darker, and stronger.

Softwood will burn faster than a hardwood does. It does not require as hot a pen to burn as do the hardwoods.

Grain: Grain is the direction of the fibrous elements of the wood cells. This is important to sand with the grain. Also the grain can cause deviation from its intended path with use of woodturning pen unless you apply more pressure and burn slower on the grain.

Figure: This is the natural design, or pattern, that you can see on the cut surface of the wood. The figure present on the wood should always be taken into consideration when you are planning your woodburned design.

Texture: There is a texture on the surface of that wood that feels either coarse of fine, even or uneven.

As a beginning woodburner, avoid using very fine or intricate designs on uneven, coarse-textured wood. Softwoods are more apt to be fine or moderately coarse-textured. With some textures it may mean that you will have to compensate when burning it – going slower on the harder summerwood, faster and with a lighter touch on the softer springwood to create an even burn overall.

Color: Woodburning should be mainly used to enhance the natural beauty of a wooden project, so do not always hide a beautiful figure, grain, luster, or color if it is present.

The most commonly used woods are basswood, Baltic birchwood, poplar and maple. Heavy watercolor paper, leather and gourds are also surfaces used for pyrography.