Wood burning gels can help make wood burning so much easier. They are heat-activated and create the same wood-burned effect that you would get using actual wood burning pens.
However, as you are not limited as to where and how you use the wood burning gel, you can create some really beautiful pieces, and use just about any stencil you want without limitation.
Which are the best wood burning gels? The best wood burning gels should be easy to use, and they should respond to heat quickly and evenly. The gel should be easy to apply over the stencil, and it should not seep under the stencil. When exposed to heat, the gel should burn into the wood and look natural.
If you are wanting to try out a wood burning gel, which you definitely should, then read on to find the best options on the market right now, as well as the top tips to help you pick out the best one!
How To Choose The Best Wood Burning Gel
There are a few things to look at when picking out the best wood burning gel to use, and a few factors to consider before picking one out. Here is what to keep in mind when choosing the best wood burning gel:
No Leaking
A wood burning gel should be able to be applied onto wood over a stencil without leaking under the stencil. The gel should not bleed or leak into other areas of the wood, other than where you have applied it to.
If it has the tendency to bleed into the wood, then your wood burning pictures will not be very clear, and the project will not turn out very well.
Make sure to check that the wood burning gel has been designed specifically to not bleed or leak into the wood or under the stencil
Even Consistency
In order for the gel to smooth over stencils well and in order for it to not leak or bleed, then it should have an even consistency.
If the gel is thick and thin in areas, it will be difficult to smooth over the stencil well, and some areas may be thicker than others, which could affect how evenly the burn develops when exposed to high heat.
Stencil Compatibility
Make sure that the gel can be used with various types of stencils so that you are not too limited. The more stencils you are able to use the wood burning gel with, the more options you will have with the different designs you can create.
Deep Burn
The gel should create a deep and dark enough burn on the wood when exposed to heat, that it actually stands out and makes the picture or the wording easy and clear to see.
If it only burns lightly, then the picture or wording will not stand out much against the wood, and it won’t be very effective.
Ease Of Application
The gel should be easy to apply to the wood over a stencil. This can either mean it is in a tub, where you either use a spatula to smooth it over the stencil or a paintbrush, or the gel can be in a felt-tip pen, where you can draw onto the wood like you would with a pencil.
Which is a better option for you will depend on how you prefer working, and how big the designs are that you are working on.
Surface Compatibility
The wood burning gel is obviously best when used on wood, but it does pay off to choose one which can be used on other surfaces too. Some wood burning gels can also be used on jeans, fabrics, and more. This gives you the option to do more projects than just wood alone.
Non-Toxic
Wood burning gels can be non-toxic, and there is no need for them to contain harmful toxic ingredients. Look for a wood burning gel that is non-toxic and safe for the whole family to use.
You do not want a wood burning gel that releases harmful chemicals when exposed to high heat.
Heat Source
Once you have applied the burn paste to a piece of wood, it needs to be exposed to heat in order to burn into the wood. A heat gun is the best option for this, but some wood gels can be exposed to other heat sources too, such as a heat press, to get the gel to burn.
The more heat sources it can be used with, the more options you have with how the burning process can happen.
The Best Wood Burning Gels
Keeping in mind what to look for when picking out a good wood burning gel to use, have a look at the below best options on the market right now:
| Rank | Product | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Torch Paste The Original Wood Burning Paste | Suitable for different surfaces, does not bleed or leak, used with various heat sources |
| 2. | Diablos Touch - Wood Burning Gel | Non-toxic, suitable for stencils and vinyl, works very quickly |
| 3. | Archimedes Fire Wood Burning Gel | Food grade ingredients, green tint, non-toxic |
| 4. | Scorch Pen Marker Wood Burning Pen | Pen design, two different pen heads, non-toxic |
| 5. | Scorch Marker Pro Chemical Wood Burning Pen | Dual-sided, bullet tip and foam brush, non-toxic |
| 6. | Lintex Wood Burning Pen | Replaceable tip, small quantity needed |
| 7. | Wood Scorch Wood Burning Pen | Double-tip, non-toxic, suitable for a variety of surfaces |
1. Torch Paste – The Original Wood Burning Paste
Torch Paste offers one of the easiest ways to burn designs onto wood, denim, canvas, and more, without having to use a wood burning gun.
The paste can be used with a stencil, and it has been formulated to not bleed or leak under the stencils, giving you a clear, precise picture or wording once it has been exposed to heat.
It is ideal to produce quality wood burned projects at home with great detail.
You can use a heat gun or another heat source to burn the gel into the wood, without having to burn directly onto the wood. A 1000+ watt heat gun is best used to activate the wood burning gel.
What makes Torch Paste stand out among other competitors is that it was created by a crafter who wanted a new option of how to burn stencil designs into wood, and she found the best formula and created Torch Paste!
It was made by crafters for crafters, so it meets all your needs.
2. Diablos Touch – Wood Burning Gel
Diablos Touch was designed to make wood burning easy, and it also offers you a really safe way to do so as well.
It is a proprietary gel that can be used with vinyl and stencils to create a perfectly detailed image.
The gel will not bleed or leak into the wood and outside the stencil, so your pictures are left precise and intricate, and they will turn out better than they would have had you used traditional wood burning tools.
It is one of the safest, non-toxic wood burning gels to use, and it gets the job done in a fraction of the time too.
You simply have to sand the wood lightly before applying the gel over the stencil, and once it is exposed to heat, it will develop a dark, deep burn on the wood that shows off details beautifully.
The gel has an even consistency that can be smoothed over a stencil easily using a small brush or applicator, and you only need a small amount to make a dark burn on the wood.
3. Archimedes Fire Wood Burning Gel
This concentrated wood burning gel by Archimedes Fire works so well in such a short amount of time. Only a small amount of gel needs to be applied to the wood for it to burn dark when it is exposed to a heat gun.
The gel is perfect for just about any stencil maker. It is non-toxic and can be applied to a stencil easily with a paintbrush.
The consistency of the gel makes it easy to smooth over a stencil, and it will not bleed or run under the stencil.
Made with triple distilled water and food-grade ingredients, it is non-toxic and completely safe to use. It has a green tint, which makes it really easy to see where it has been applied, and if you have missed any spots.
A little bit goes a long way with the gel, so you can use the one tub over and over to make countless detailed wood items!
4. Scorch Pen Marker Wood Burning Pen
If a tub of gel is not easy for you to use, then you might want to opt for a wood burning gel pen. Using the pen gives you good control over where the gel is applied, and it is great to fill in smaller details on a stencil.
The set includes two wood burning pens, one with an oblique head, and one with a round head, so you can complete a range of intricate designs easily, without having to use any other wood burning tools.
When exposed to heat, the burn marks will develop quickly and dark, cutting down the time you spend burning into the wood substantially.
Before using the pen, you simply have to shake it a bit to release the gel inside, and then press it down onto the wood to fill in a stencil or to draw your own designs.
Only non-toxic chemicals are used to create a wood burn effect on a variety of materials, so you can confidently use it to create many different projects at home.
5. Scorch Marker Pro Chemical Wood Burning Pen
The Scorch Marker Pro is a safe and effective way to do wood burning without having to use a hot wood burning pen!
It is a dual-sided pen, one side having a bullet tip, and the other side having a foam brush, making sure you have all you need to create precise designs.
Using the pen helps you complete wood burning projects in a fraction of the time, so you can get more done in a shorter space of time.
It is a non-toxic formula that is safe for the whole family to use, and it is activated using a heat gun or another heat source. Once exposed to heat, the dark burn color develops quickly.
You can rely on the Scorch Marker Pro for even the most detailed of pictures!
6. Lintec Wood Burning Pen
The Lintec Wood Burning Pen is safe and fast to use, and gives you the ability to create designs on wood that you would not be able to do with traditional wood burning tools.
To make the pen even more useful, the pen tips can be replaced, to suit the type of design you are working on.
Only a small amount of the chemical gel is needed to be effective on wood, and when exposed to a heat gun that is warmer than 480°F, a burn will appear on the wood.
This pen is really handy to have and it will be your go-to wood burning gel pen for many different designs.
7. Wood Scorch Wood Burning Pen
This wood scorch pen is a 2-in-1 pen that has both a bullet tip and an oblique tip, which are interchangeable, so you can choose the one that would work best with your project.
The special patented formula is non-toxic, making it safe for both kids and adults to use. It is suitable for use on wood, cardboard, paper, canvas, and denim, and once it is exposed to a heat gun that is 1000 watts or more, the burn will develop within seconds.
Being incredibly easy to use, this pen will help you with many different DIY crafts and projects at home, whether you use it over a stencil or decide to freehand your designs.
Final Thoughts
Wood burning gels really are so helpful to use to create precise, detailed designs on wood in shorter periods of time, without having to use traditional wood burning tools that might not give you as fine details as the gels can.
You simply have to pick the right gel or gel pen from our list above, apply it to your prepared wood, expose it to heat, and your picture will develop!
Once you start using wood burning gel, you will likely not want to go back to using old wood burning tools!
Related Questions
Can you make your own wood burning gel?
You can make your own wood burning gel at home with a few simple ingredients. One popular wood burning gel recipe contains 6 tbs Thick-It Thickener, 1 ½ tsp of Ammonium Chloride, ¼ cup of water, and any food coloring if you prefer.
These can be mixed together and used on wood just like a commercial wood burning gel would be used.
Should you stain wood before burning it?
It is best to do wood burning on wood that has not been stained. You should prepare the wood properly, apply your wood burning design to it, and then stain the wood afterward. Some wood burning can be done after a light staining, but it is best done before.
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