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Description

An introduction to pyrography, where Scouts learn to use a pyrography pen safely to burn designs, lettering and patterns into wood. Once they’ve had a practice, they can put their skills to use on a project, such as signing a group plaque to mark the term or year, or decorating something of their own to take home, like a bauble, coaster, keyring or name tag. Projects can be adapted to the time of year, the age group and the materials available.

Resources

Pyrography pens with stands (roughly 1 pen per 2 or 3 young people)
Heatproof mats or tiles for each station
Untreated wooden pieces for projects (e.g. slices, discs, plaques)
Scrap wood for practice
Pencils for sketching designs
Extension leads, with cables kept tidy
First aid kit with burns dressings, and cold water nearby

Instructions

Set up: Place pen stations on heatproof mats at tables, away from walkways, with cables kept tidy. Make sure the room is well ventilated.
Safety briefing: Explain that the tip gets hot enough to burn instantly and stays hot after unplugging. Pens always go back in the stand, only the grip is held, and tips are only changed by a leader. Anyone who gets burned tells a leader straight away.
Demo and practice: Show how to make lines, dots and shading using light pressure and a slow, steady hand. Young people practise on scrap wood first.
Project: Young people sketch their design in pencil, then burn over it. Lightly sand off any leftover pencil marks when finished. Example projects:
A group plaque, with the section name and year in the centre and everyone signing around it
Something to take home, such as a bauble (thread ribbon through a disc with a hole) or a coaster (sealed with varnish or wax afterwards by a leader)
Pack away: Switch off and unplug the pens, then leave them in their stands to cool for at least 10 minutes before packing away. Leaders handle all hot equipment.

Tags

• #artsandcraft
• #craft
• pyrography
• wood burning

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