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bodrighy
10-01-2010, 11:35 PM
I have a request from someone who came across my website for a 13" platter to pyrograph. Making it isn't a problem but I have no dry wood that size so would need to buy a blank :o Needs must I suppose. It means that I have to price one and give her a quote. My question is this. What woods are good fpr Pyrography? I have looked at sycamore and beech so far, beech is the cheapest of these two but are there any other suitable woods that come in this size that may be cheaper? These two woods cost between £10 & £13 for this size.

Pete
bodrighy
11-01-2010, 11:21 AM
Bump in case the pyros haven't seen this yet :D

Pete
Scorch
11-01-2010, 12:24 PM
Any hard, close-grained non-sappy white wood. Beech, birch, maple, sycamore, lime....

Pine & similar will spit & have horrible stripy grain, the pits in oak catch the nib all the time.
woodtattoos
12-01-2010, 09:21 PM
I second what Tracey said! ;)

Si.
bodrighy
12-01-2010, 10:18 PM
Thanks guys. I have been offered some sycamore by a fellow forum member. It's a bit smaller but the customer is happy with it as I can charge a bit less. I had an idea what was needed but it's always nice to get advice from the experts.

pete
Scorch
13-01-2010, 07:14 AM
Happy to help!

Oh. BTW, I have a feeling that Basswood in the US is Lime over here in the UK, but I wouldn't swear to it...
PyroMaynia
14-01-2010, 11:52 AM
Ah interesting - didn't know that. The only thing I've seen that stated it was made out of basswood was a Japanese Fender Stratocaster and I don't think my brother in law will be too happy if I start carving up his guitar. Have to say the pics I've seen on the web that use this wood seem to show that it's a really good clean wood.
woodtattoos
14-01-2010, 11:57 AM
Basswood can be quite soft and burn too easily though, so you have to be careful with it.

Si.
bodrighy
14-01-2010, 12:40 PM
If it's lime I can believe that Si as it is used a lot for carving due to it's cheese like consistency. Lovely plain wood though. Another one that might be OK is London Plane or lacewood as though it has a visible grain it is pretty pale and has a fairly tight grain. Ironically I have a load of holly at the moment but it is all wet wood and until it is dried out I don't know how much will be of any use as it is so prone to splitting. I saw a vase that someone had made with it and it looked like porcelain it was so white

Pete