Colwood Replaceable Tips

[Eddy-Smiles]

I've been into wood burning since I was 12-years old. In fact I still have one of my simple pieces on the wall in our Livingroom. However, for much of my pyrography work over the years I used one brand or another of pencil pen. It served the purpose but as most know there was no way to control the heat and after a very short time it was hell on the fingers.

Back in the 90's when I started visiting the Smoky Mountain Woodcarvers shop I bought a Colwood Detail wood burner with replaceable tips. A couple of years after that I won a full Colwood Detail Kit from WCI and I haven't gone back to my pencil burner since.

The only draw back that I've found is that when using the tips is that after a very short time they tend to bend from heating. My first thought was that I had the setting too high so I've tried backing the setting down to a lower heat. But I'm still finding that they have a tendency to bend after prolonged use.

Is this normal? Is there a technique that I could use to prevent unwanted flexing of the tip?

Also, are Colwood tips more delicate than other brands?

Is one specific style of tip or another recommended for general wood burning? My favorite tip, the one that I use most often is the Colwood RT - LM (3/32") Mini. However, I find that the life expectancy of this tip is extremely short.

[uvawyo]

I have the same problems with those tips, maybe we are both pressing too hard

[woodburner807]

I use the Optima and the skew for wood burning. Never had a problem with bending, however the tips do burn through on occasion. I burn at a low temperature because I can get numerous levels of shading. I have various types of tips, but the skew is the work horse.

BTW, a motor or light dimmer will allow the fixed temperature irons to have a variable temperature.

[woodburner807]

I find it doesn't take much pressure to burn, and it could be you are pressing too hard? Just hold the pen longer to get a dark shade.

[Merle Rice]

Hi Eddy, that's my go to Tip also. I've used mine for years and still in good shape. Maybe as suggested , Pressing to hard ? Merle

[Eddy-Smiles]

My wife is always complaining that I screw the peanut butter lid back on too tight so perhaps I do need to lighten up on the pressure when burning. I'll give it a try. I would imagine that years of using the pencil burner along with my natural ADH impatience would be my excuse if that does turn out to be the problem. Thanks guys. I'll try it on the project I'm now working on.

[Eddy-Smiles]

I use the Optima and the skew for wood burning. Never had a problem with bending, however the tips do burn through on occasion. I burn at a low temperature because I can get numerous levels of shading. I have various types of tips, but the skew is the work horse.

BTW, a motor or light dimmer will allow the fixed temperature irons to have a variable temperature.

Thanks for the tip Wood Burner!.... I've often thought that might be an option but never associated a dimmer switch as a replacement rheostat.

[woodburner807]

Thanks for the tip Wood Burner!.... I've often thought that might be an option but never associated a dimmer switch as a replacement rheostat.

Yeah, the old filament light bulb dimmer, but they also have similar regulators for motor speed controllers...think fans.

[Merle Rice]

Hi, Eddy, I have the same Problem , I keep telling the Wife not to do it but she still Tightens the Lids to Tight. Merle

[DiLeon]

I've been into wood burning since I was 12-years old. In fact I still have one of my simple pieces on the wall in our Livingroom. However, for much of my pyrography work over the years I used one brand or another of pencil pen. It served the purpose but as most know there was no way to control the heat and after a very short time it was hell on the fingers.

Back in the 90's when I started visiting the Smoky Mountain Woodcarvers shop I bought a Colwood Detail wood burner with replaceable tips. A couple of years after that I won a full Colwood Detail Kit from WCI and I haven't gone back to my pencil burner since.

The only draw back that I've found is that when using the tips is that after a very short time they tend to bend from heating. My first thought was that I had the setting too high so I've tried backing the setting down to a lower heat. But I'm still finding that they have a tendency to bend after prolonged use.

I have the same history, bought from the same place around the same time, and my tips are bent .... Guess you are not the only one who perhaps presses too hard????, but doubt that is the issue. Never thought much about it other metal that thin without heat running through it will bend,....and metal that thin when heated up is going to bend more. Nevertheless, anything is better than old pencil burners which also heated up the handles to point shut them off and let them cool off you going to get burnt, and like you said there was zero control of the heating unit. I use my burner a lot. I just cross off the issue to the very thin metal.

[Eddy-Smiles]

Hi, Eddy, I have the same Problem , I keep telling the Wife not to do it but she still Tightens the Lids to Tight. Merle

Ha! Ha!Ha! Ha!

[John Smith]

So, the general consensus is pressing too hard with a soft wire on a hard surface.

[Eddy-Smiles]

So, the general consensus is pressing too hard with a soft wire on a hard surface.

I'd say that's about it, especially for the more delicate tips. I've been trying to change the error of my ways and have found that there is a very thin line that has to be followed. Slow down and don't press too hard but also don't make the heat setting to high because it weakens the steel.

[sappy]

This tip comes in a bent tip form too, maybe that would change your hand position enough to lessen pressure automatically. I don't have this problem, so only guessing.

[Eddy-Smiles]

I have compiled a list of some of the best wood burning kits here that you can choose from

Interesting that you haven't included Colwood or Razertip on your list.