Choosing the best wood burning kit often becomes a challenging task. You get overwhelmed with so many options around that you can’t decide which one you should buy that contains all the qualities within a single box. I have compiled a list of 9 best pyrography kits that might help you choose one wisely, irrespective of your level of expertise.
- Best Overall: TRUArt Stage 1 Wood and Leather Pyrography Kit
- Runner up: Walnut Hollow Creative Versa Tool
- Best for beginners: Art Skills Wood Burning Kit
Best Choice: TRUArt Stage 1 Wood and Leather Pyrography Kit
- Quality & Versatility: High-end steel pen with 21 diverse brass tips.
- Comprehensive: Stencil, number set, user guide, and carrying case included.
- Ergonomic Design: Lightweight, non-slip grip pen for extended use. Read In-Depth Review Here
When figuring out the best wood burning kits, I figured out there were essentially 3 factors responsible that were a deal breaker for most, so the products recommended here are tested on these parameters before being recommended.
Quality of the tools: Look for a kit with high-quality tools that are made from durable materials and have comfortable handles. If the quality isn’t good, it’s not going to last long.
Variety of tips: Having a kit with a variety of tip sizes and shapes to give you more options for different types of projects. I made sure the kits recommended gave enough options in tips.
Temperature control & Safety: All kits that I recommend need to come with a temperature control feature that allows you to adjust the heat to suit different materials and projects. Look for a kit with safety features such as an on/off switch and a heat-resistant carrying case.
All products recommended in the list had to score above 6 on a scale of 0-10 on the below parameters, and only the ones that passed the score test were recommended.
Best Wood Burning Kits
TRUArt Stage 1
- Pen heats faster
- Non Slip Handle
- Stainless steel handle
Art skills kit
- Beginner friendly
- 20 Watercolor shades
- 5 Wooden Panels and stencils
TRUArt Stage 1[1] Wood and Leather burning Kit features a superior-quality wood burn pen, whose barrel is made of stainless steel to allow heat resistance. The kits include 21 interchangeable solid brass tips like razor blade, dot, solder point, universal, groove, hot knife, etc., each of which is meant for different pyrography purposes.
It comes in a plastic caryying case and it also includes letter stencil, steel number, a user guide instructing the proper usage of the engraver, a lightweight pyrography pen with a non-slip grip.
Ergonomic design of the pen makes it comfortable for you to for longer hours without feeling fatigue.
My Opinion
I highly recommend the TRUArt Stage 1 Wood and Leather Pyrography Kit as the best since it has all the features you need for a successful wood burning project. This comes from my own personal experience of using the product. The temperature control is precise and easy to use and the variety of tips gives you a lot of options for your project. The kit also includes a heat-resistant carrying case making it easy to transport and use safely.
Product Timeline
The product was first launched on November 27, 2016. We are yet to see a refreshed version.
- The pen heats up quite faster
- It has a non-slip handle which ensures a comfortable grip to the user to work longer without cramp
- The stainless steel barrel ensures durability of the pen
- Has limited variable temperature settings
Walnut Hollow Creative Versa pyrography tool kit is available at a reasonable price and is easy to use. Walnut Hollow kit is typically fit for beginners who hardly have any practical idea of wood burning projects[2]. Walnut hollow kit comes with 11 interchangeable tips for versatile purposes.
For instance, you can use the universal point for general burning that include drawing, curving and shading point. As you switch to a different angle, you achieve other different techniques. Also, you get the flow points used for shading techniques, burning curves, dots, and creating other intricate details.
My Opinion
I have also used the walnut wood burning kit and personally feel its pen is easiest to handle. The temperature control feature makes it easy to adapt to different materials. The kit also comes with a variety of tips that allows for versatile projects. It’s also reasonably priced. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a high-quality pyrography pen at a great value.
Product Timeline
The product was first launched on September 23, 2011. We are yet to see a refreshed version.
- Ideal for pyrography as well as other mark-making purposes
- Has a safety on/off switch
- You can change tips easily
- Temperature control setting is adjustable
- Tips tend to lose heat faster
- Precision in work might be difficult for the beginners to achieve
Art Skills Kit is another good wood burning kit for kids and beginners. Although this kit does not contain all the equipment that the other kits in the list include, the Art Skills kit contains a number of stencils that help the beginner hobbyists to discover new designs, thereby improving their pyrography skills.
The tool kit consists of 20 watercolor shades, 10 interchangeable tips, 2 paint brushes, 5 stencils, a pen, a user manual, 5 carbon paper sheets, 2 pencils, and 5 wooden panels.
My Opinion
If I was just starting out, then I wouldn;t budge much before opting for this wood burning kit. Since it comes with a variety of tip sizes and shapes, which allows for more options for different types of projects. The ergonomic design of the tool makes it comfortable to use. The temperature control feature makes it easy to adapt to different materials.The kit also includes a carrying case for easy storage and transport.
Product Timeline
The product was first launched on August 14, 2019. We are yet to see a refreshed version.
- Best wood burning tool for beginners as it is super easy to use
- Not applicable for embossing or wood carving activity
POwza wood burning kit is typically meant for those pyrography artists, who are looking for a compact wood burning kit. The product is available in the market at the best price and includes an extensive set of 72 pieces of tools to work on anything from wood burning to embossing.
it comprises 6 colored pencils, 8 stencils, 22 tips and a carrying case, 15 wood pieces, a pen holder, 1 pencil sharpener, a user guide, carrying case, 1 pyrography pen, and 15 carbon paper sheets.
My opinion
When looking for a kit, I always ensure it’s reasonably priced but you can’t get premiumness on a budget. However this is one of those kits that I have gifted my close friends since it makes no compromises when it comes to features. The kit comes equipped with a variety of tip sizes and shapes, giving me more options for different types of projects. The tool is easy to handle and comfortable to use, making it perfect for beginners.
- The burning pen has a temperature regulator and a safety switch on its cable.
- Temperature of the pen changes faster and it uses a ceramic core of 60 Watt that is capable of rising to temperature limit of 842°F from as low as 392°F
- The pen features a non-slip handle
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Truart Stage 2 woodburner kit is meant for the advanced level pyrography artists, who want to take their work to some other higher level. It is one of the best burning kits in the market today.
Why? The is a wire metal tip type pen, which means you can use this kit to burn finer details with superior quality burning.
The pen heats up faster which is another plus point for the professionals. The kit features 2 tweezers, 2 pen holders, 2 pliers, 5 different, a user guide, 40 tips (that include both ball type and sharp spear type of tips), and 2 advanced pyrography pens with a digital power supply rate of 60 Watt. .
My Opinion
I have first hand experience of using Truart stage 2 at a friend’s workshop and I must say, this is a professional-grade and it can handle a variety of projects. The temperature control feature is precise and makes it easy to adapt to different materials. The ergonomic design makes it easy to handle and comfortable to use.
Product Timeline
The product was first launched on May 28, 2016. We are yet to see a refreshed version.
- The kit includes 2 pens with multiple tips, where each is lighter and smaller, which makes it easy to add more detail to the work to achieve outstanding results
- Comes with 40 tips of two types: sharp spear tip and ball tip
- Quite expensive kit for the beginners
Other great picks
i know that in wood burning, you need to etch the designs on the wood surface with the help of a heated object. To make the job easier and more precise, you can find different pen tips like solid metal tips, wire tips, etc., which help add depth to your work. Though, if you are just a beginner handling the heated tips can be a problem. Scorch Marker is imperative to have the right tool if you are going to start wood burning.
If you want a safe way to do your wood-burning, the Scorch Marker Wood Burning Pen is a heat-activated good tool that will do exactly the job. It has a bullet tip and foaming brush which will assist you in creating intricate designs with ease. This marker is much easier to handle than a typical wood-burning tool.
The marker has non-toxic chemicals[3] which get activated by heat. You can draw your design on the prepped wood surface free hand or with stencils. Once you are done, apply heat with a heat gun or some other heat source, and the burn effect will come. To preserve the project apply a finish on it, which would seal it.
My Opinion
Many people are afraid of the heat and handling hot tips when beginning their wood burning journey. For those of you who are afraid to begin, I feel this is the safest option out there. Although you are going to miss out on tips, otherwise it’s going to be a good tool for beginners.
- Versatile and safe to use
- Great option to use with vinyl stencils
- The Infinity Guarantee on the marker indicates its durability and performance.
- Heat-activated chemicals used are not toxic
- Instructions are not clearly defined
- Color produced by the liquid in the marker is not dark enough
- For the burn effects to be prominent, it requires a high heat-producing source.
The art of pyrography has gained popularity over the years and has led to the emergence of many wood burners. Most beginners are not able to choose the kind of tools they should buy. To assist beginners with tool selection, many trusted brands introduced wood-burning kits for beginners, which contain everything a beginner would need. The Calegency Wood Burning Kit is one such. It contains 112 pieces of necessary wood burning tools.
It includes a digital LCD display pen which is heat resistant and anti-skid. Instead of a temperature control knob, it has temperature control and conversion buttons, allowing for accurate temperature control.
In addition to it, it also has a heat-resistant rubber which gives a comfortable grip and a quality anti-oxidation iron tip.
In addition to this, the kit has 58 types of different tips for different projects, carbon paper, stencils, project samples for inspiration, color pencils and a sharpener. The special storage box with the kit helps organize and store the different materials. It is the perfect kit for amateurs and can be used for soldering, art creation and education. Though you can use for soldering that doesn’t mean you can do vice versa, read my post to know what’s the difference between a wood burning kit and a soldering kit
My Opinion
This is one tool in my list that allows you to create beautiful designs without the need of a heat source. The kit comes with a variety of tips which means you will have versatility in projects. The safety features make it easy to use safely. The price is also very reasonable. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a chemical wood burning tool that offers a great value for the price.
- Ergonomic pen design and comfortable grip
- Contains an extra conversion pipe
- Comes with handy project samples
- Can also be used for PCB repairing the soldering of home appliances.
- Beginner friendly and not challenging enough for professionals
- Instructions in the manual are not well written and create confusion.
Finding the ideal wood burning kit can be a problem whether you are an experienced hobbyist, a beginner or one of those wood burning enthusiasts.
Just like beginner’s kits, there are several wood-burning pro kits.
If you are a professional wood burner and are looking for a good wood burning tool kit, the Burnmaster Eagle Pro for professionals is a good choice.
The Burnmaster Eagle Pro by Mastercarver is a 110 V wood-burning tool. This kit provides you with maximum convenience and high-quality wood burning. It comes with two pens, which can be used according to your needs. Along with that, it is powered by Burnmaster Eagle 2-Port wood-burning power supply and includes a transformer worth 130 watts.
It has a reset overload protection, two universal handpiece power cords and handpiece holders. The 15 different burning tips in this kit are replaceable and feature an advanced alloy tip wire along with copper contacts for superior electrical conductivity and longer service life. The 15 tips are ideal for almost all wood-burning projects. It is backed by a three-year warranty on the power supply and one year warranty on the pen.
My Opinion
I remember using the Burnmaster kit for a project that involved me making some sign boards. The kit comes with two pens and 15 tips that gives you enough room to experiment. The temperature control feature works great and you can feel it easily adapt to different materials. The ergonomic design makes it easy to handle and comfortable to use.
Product Timeline
The product was first launched on May 16, 2018. We are yet to see a refreshed version.
- Industry-leading 130 watts of power along with overload protection
- Burning tips are made with alloy wire and have copper contacts
- Has 2 separate pens and 2 ports for power.
- This model is backed by a 3-year warranty on the power supply and 1 year warranty on the pen
- Does not contain other materials required for wood burning
- Tips do not come in a separate box which can cause friction
Among many such kits, the Chandler, a well-known name in the pyrography community, is one of the best beginner-friendly wood burning kits.
This kit by Chandler comes with eight solid brass tips, which are interchangeable and one soldering tip along with a metal stand that helps you store the wood burner safely while working. It can provide 30 watts of power and consistent high heat of 968°F. The five-centimeter long cord and ergonomic handle give you a precise grip.
The kit includes eight types of interchangeable tips: stamping, mini universal, universal, shading point, script, mini flow, mini chisel, soldering and dot. Given the digital era, Chandler Pyrography Tool provides a free e-book and video tutorial where you can find project samples and get inspired for your next wood-burning project.
My Opinion
Chandler is a prominent name in wood burning apart from being a famous character in a TV show. When it comes to efficiency, I asked a professional pyrographer friend for a review and he was impressed with how it performed but suggested it as a great option for beginners rather than professionals.
Product Timeline
The product was first launched on November 13, 2018. We are yet to see a refreshed version.
- The tool comes with an ergonomic handle and a UL Certification
- Comes with a variety of interchangeable burning tips, including a soldering tip.
- Comes with A long power cord and a sturdy metal stand
- It is an affordable option from an established brand
- Has a minimal power of 30 watts which is not enough for quick heating
- The wood-burning pen does not have an on-off switch
- Does not include pliers.
What to consider when buying a wood burning kit?
While buying a kit for the first time, you need to consider certain aspects. But before moving to that part, here’s something you should know; no two burning kits are the same. So, you need to choose wisely in a way that it meets all the aspects mentioned below:
Wood Burning Kits Vs Single or Stand-Alone Tools
Whether or not to buy an entire wood-burning out or a single tool (which includes a pen) depends on the type of project you are working on. However, if you are a novice in this, then it is better that you get a brief idea about the most preliminary tool (i.e. the burning pen) and the other various wood burning tools.
Wood Burning Art Kit
The woodburning kit has all the essential prerequisites to conduct your wood burning project. These accessories include a wood burner pen, a stand, a number of tips, and a storage box. Some kits include stencils, carbon paper, sandpaper, stamps, and certain design ideas as well.
These kits are available in the market for all levels of expertise; from beginners to professionals, that too, at an affordable price. Most pyrography burners sets contain all the essential tools and equipment that you might require in your wood burning project. But make sure you don’t get overboard with choosing a kit that mostly contains accessories which you don’t need at all.
Standalone pen
The only setback of buying a single tool is that you cannot personalize the wood burning machine. However, a stand-alone pyrography tool comes with the advantage of buying only the wood burning tools that you need for your project, like stencils, stamps, tips, or the wood burn pen that fits your hand and which features the accurate temperature settings for your pyrography work.
Conversely, buying the best pyrography tools separately might be a costly thing to do. So, try to select a nominal wood burning set that is reasonably affordable. That way you get all the required tools in hand and have to only pay for the extras whenever you think you need it.
Note: Some brands sell non-interchangeable wood burning tips. So, make sure your chosen kit contains interchangeable engraving tips.
Temperature Controls
While you will be working on different types of wood material, some might be soft or hard. Therefore, you need a wood burning kit with variable temperature control settings.
However, these temperature variations for different wood burning projects might limit you from achieving different patterns and styles. For instance; hardwood would need high temperature control whereas softwood would require low heat, similarly, paper or leather material would need low burning temperature for pyrography.
Note: These temperature variations depend on the tool design and the pen, as these accessories have to be operated at a specific temperature only. So, if you are doing soldering or engraving work, then make sure the tool tip is capable of operating at extreme temperatures to as high as 900°.
Power
Every tool in the kit comes with a wattage rate, which is the intensity of power produced by the pen. The good quality pyrography tools come with a 60 Watt power rating. However, if you are a beginner in pyrography, it is better to start with a 15 to 30 Watt tool. It wouldn’t be smart to think that a high power wood burner will be the best one to have; the tool might leave dark burn marks on the wood if you hold the pen for quite a long time on the same spot.
Tip Types
The tip are of two types: wire tips and solid tips. For beginners, the solid tip is the best as it takes time to heat up and is ideally suited for general writing format. For the advanced pyrography artists, who work on computer lex and intricate designs, the kit must contain such tips that can draw both thick and thin lines easily.
Comfort
The ultimate factor behind a successful wood burning project is the level of comfort that you get while handing the wood burning tool. If you are a pyrography enthusiast, then you should look for a wood burner pen that is comfortable to hold for long without fatigue. If you are a beginner wood burning hobbyist, then go for the engraver with thick rubber padding. This type of pyrography pen is suitable for prolonged wood burning works without hurting your hand.
Type of Wood
Be very specific with the type of wood you need for your pyrography project. The grain and texture of your chosen wood material should meet your project criteria and type of pyrography works that you want to include. To get the best pyrography results, make sure the wood has small and tight pores.
Most softwoods like beech, balsa, alder, pine, birch, and Mahogany wood burn very easily and hence, provide quality wood burning results. Whereas, oak, hickory, walnut, or other hardwoods are too difficult to work on to get a quality wood burning result.
Heating Speed
The solid tips made of brass are made and meant for the beginner level wood burning artists as these tips take about 5 to 8 minutes. Whereas the wire tips take less than a minute to get up and are hence meant for the professionals.
I have written more articles related to wood burning kit, covering wide range of topics like toubleshooting and some common FAQs. Do check them out
Our Verdict
Here’s is our take
- TRUArt (Stage 2) – Best wood burning tool for professional artists if cost is not a bar
- Art Skills – Best kit for the beginner level hobbyists as it is super easy to use
- POwza – Best pyrography kit for those who are looking for a budget friendly, time saving, and space saving alternative
Summary
A quick flashback: choose the right tip, either wire or solid tip, as per your expertise level. Choose the wood with the most consistent grain pattern and texture. Fit the chosen tip to your ergonomically purchased wood burning pen. Set the desired heating temperature (ranging between a few seconds to 8 minutes) for your pyrography project and get started with your work to only end up with amazing results. Well, that’s all for the day. Hope it helps you sufficiently!
References
TRUArt LLC. (2023, August 15). (STAGE 1) Wood and Leather Pyrography Pen – Comes with 21 Different Tips – Dual Power Mode – 30W and 15W – TRUArt®. TRUArt®. https://truart.co/product/stage-1-wood-and-leather-pyrography-pen-best-woodburning-and-leather-crafts-tool-kit-comes-with-21-different-tips-dual-power-mode-30w-and-15w-gourd/
Spiers, M. (2023b). Wood burning ideas and inspiration. www.gathered.how. https://www.gathered.how/arts-crafts/wood-burning-ideas/
Marker, S. (n.d.). Scorch Marker Pro – 3 Pack. Scorch Marker. https://scorchmarker.com/products/scorch-marker-3-pack#:~:text=The%20non%2Dtoxic%20chemicals%20in,seal%20and%20protect%20your%20design