Although pyrography has been around as an art form for centuries, people are always finding new ways to utilize it to create custom artwork. Pyrography, literally translated to “writing with fire,” is most often practiced on wood, though it can also be used on leather, gourds, canvas, and paper.
Pyrography is popular for custom wood décor or leather accessories, though it’s also been used by tattoo artists to practice precision sketching. It may seem an intimidating hobby to pick up and learn from scratch, but there are plenty of good products out there to get started!
So, what is the best pyrography pen? The best pyrography pen should have qualities such as temperature control and multiple interchangeable tips to ensure maximum versatility and control over your artwork. You may also want to consider one that heats quickly and can write for extended periods.
In this guide, you’ll be able to explore all the qualities your pyrography pen should have, as well as a few specific options to get you started!
Choosing Your Pyrography Pen
1. Temperature Control
When practicing the art of pyrography, you’ll quickly find that different temperatures can have different effects. Altering the temperature can change the color of the burn, which helps create shading effects to bring your artwork to life.
Temperature requirements also vary depending on your working surface. You might need a higher temperature to create the same piece of art on wood as compared to paper or canvas.
Some pyrography pens have a single temperature setting and no option to fluctuate. This will get the job done, but it leaves little room for dynamic details in your art.
2. Interchangeable Tips
Just as you would want different size and shape brushes to achieve different strokes in your painting, you need to have interchangeable tips to have full control over your artwork.
A good pyrography pen will come with a variety of tips that offer fine lines and broad strokes. You may notice that the fine lines come across darker, and the broader tips will create a lighter, soft shade effect.
When you’re first starting out with your pen, it’s a good idea to try each of the tips that come with your set. This will help you orient yourself to what each tip can do for you. It also gives you a lot of good practice in your new art form!
Just as with a single temperature setting, a single tip will still do the job. If all you’re looking to do is burn wood for simple illustrations or lettering, a single tip is fine. But if you’re looking to create shaded art and explore your creativity, you’ll want to have the options of interchangeable tips.
3. Quick Heat-Up
Let’s say you’ve chosen your pyrography pen. You’re sitting at your kitchen table, excited to start your new hobby, only to discover that it’s going to take 5 minutes to heat up. This may not seem like a long time, but when you’re ready to get started, it feels like forever!
This is where a quick heat-up comes into play. Some of the best pyrography pens take only 15-45 seconds to heat up. This gets you started on your artwork much faster.
Will a longer heat-up still do the job? Of course. However, this buyer’s guide is dedicated to providing you with the best pyrography pens, not just ones that will simply “get the job done.”
4. Comfortability
Each of us has used a pen or pencil with a rubber grip at some point. Those rubber grips with special grooves are designed to help our hand hold the pen for longer and keep our fingers from tensing up. By the way, if this is a problem for you, you may want to check out our article for the best drawing braces for artists as well.
You want to find a pyrography pen that feels comfortable in your hand. You’ll be working slowly and steadily to ensure your artwork has clean lines, and you want to make sure your hand doesn’t start cramping during the process!
The 5 Best Pyrography Pens
Now that you have an understanding of important qualities to look for, let’s explore some of the best pyrography pens available to you right now.
| Rank | Product | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Umitive Pyrography Kit | 37 pc set, quick-heating up to 842°F |
| 2. | Drtulz Pyrography Pen | 55 pc set, quick heating up to 842°F |
| 3. | Catnes Professional Pyrography Pen | 126 pc set, up to 842°F, includes wood |
| 4. | TRUArt Wood + Leather Pyrography Pen | 2 settings for leather and wood, 21 tips |
| 5. | TekChic Wood Burning Kit | 20 wire tips, 2 pens, temp control box |
1. Umitive Pyrography Kit
This set is a great choice for beginners. It includes the pen, 33 different brass tips, 2 stencils, a metal stand holder, and a carrying case.
As mentioned above, temperature control is important in a pyrography pen. This set has a temperature range of about 392°F-842°F. It also heats up in only 15 seconds – the perfect way to get you started faster!
It’s good to note that with this pen, and generally with all pyrography pens, you should not apply excessive pressure during use. Let the heat of the pen do the work for you!
As you’re dealing with prolonged high heat, it is recommended that you do not use this pen for longer than 40 minutes straight.
If you’d like to keep working beyond the 40 minute mark, simply turn the pen off, let it rest for 5 minutes, then begin again.
2. Drtulz Pyrography Pen
This pyrography set is another great starter option, similar to the first set from Umitive but with a few differences.
This pen also has an adjustable temperature range of 392°F-842°F and a quick heat-up of only 15 seconds. So, what sets it apart?
Rather than having 33 interchangeable tips, this set has only 28. But don’t let the smaller amount deter you – this set also comes with 12 colorful pencils to help you sketch out your design before burning.
Both the first option and this set are at a reasonable price point for a beginner, too.
There’s nothing worse than starting a new hobby and sinking hundreds of dollars into it, only to discover you don’t actually enjoy it. With these first two options, you’re safe from a hefty investment!
3. Catnes Professional Pyrography Pen
The Catnes set combines the best parts of the first two options, while building on them and offering even more supplies perfect for beginners.
This pen has the same adjustable temperature range as the first two options of 392°F-842°F. Along with the pen, this set includes 54 wood burning tips, 19 colored pencils, and 12 stencils to get your project started.
What’s even better is that this set also has 23 different shapes of wood art panels. The inclusion of practice wood to get you started as you test out different tips and levels of heat is invaluable to a beginner!
The best thing about this set is all the extras you get with your pen, from stencils to pencils!
4. TRUArt Wood + Leather Pyrography Pen
Although this pen only has two heat settings – 15W for leather and 30W for wood – we still wanted to include it on this list as a good option for other reasons.
This kit includes an instructions manual that takes you through each of its different 21 tips, which can be necessary information for a beginner. It also has a comfortable rubber handle designed to be easy to use.
This pen, as with all the rest, has brass interchangeable tips. Brass can soften as it heats, so it’s important not to put any excess pressure as you work, as mentioned above.
Further still, it’s important to only hand-tighten the tips into the threads. If you screw the tip in too tightly, it can warp due to the heat and get stuck inside.
Remember, you’re working with high heat! You are burning designs into wood, leather, or another medium. This art form takes special care and consideration.
5. TekChic Wood Burning Kit
We thought it was important to include not just good options on a budget, but a solid option at a higher price for those who want to make a higher investment for a higher reward.
Rather than the brass tips of the other options, this kit comes with 20 interchangeable wire tips. Wire has the advantage of easy changes and less chance of the tips potentially breaking off in the pen.
Another great thing about this set is that it comes with two pens! In case one has technical issues and you have to send it back for replacement and repairs, you can utilize your second pen.
Each of the pens has a metal resting holder and the whole kit comes with a carrying case for all your tools.
The final part that sets this option above the rest is the separate box to control the temperature and power of the pen. Some of the pens have temperature control as part of the power cord and customers have noted this can sometimes be bothersome as they work. With this option, you don’t have that issue!
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