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Hot wire machines have a metal wire nib, which heats up very quickly like the element in a lightbulb. Because of this, the temperature is very easy to adjust for creating different grades and qualities of mark. There are a range of different wire nibs available in the same way as the solid point tips, which are all suitable for different effects such as fine lines, textures, broad area shading, and so on. The range and selection of ready-made tips produced by North American manufacturers is extensive, so you are guaranteed you will find a suitable nib for any mark you have in mind. It is also possible to buy lengths of pyrography wire from craft outlets to create your own nibs by shaping and filing: this practice is most common with pyrography machines produced in Europe. Using shaped nibs you have made for specific purposes can be rewarding, cost-effective, and time-saving. Some hot wire machines require swapping entire pens, rather than just the nib. Most hot wire machines have a separate base unit where the heating mechanism is located, so the pen itself can be smaller, lighter, and often easier to handle as a result.

I have always preferred to use a hot wire pyrography machine. I believe they are easier to use, quicker to heat and cool down, and more adaptable for a range of situations and techniques. This is only personal preference, and most pyrography techniques are essentially the same in principle no matter which machine you use. However, please be aware that most of the designs in this book have been created using a hot wire machine.

Hot wire pyrography machines consist of a base unit with an adjustable temperature dial. The pens are often separate components that are plugged into the unit. Some machines are able to power more than one pen at a time.

This example of a separate pyrography pen shows a fixed nib at the top. The plastic body is attached to the base unit by a separate electrical lead, allowing different pens to be used with the same machine.

Pyrography nibs are available in a wide range of shapes and sizes, each with their own particular use and abilities.

Solid point nib
Pros	Cons
• Wide range of manufactured specialist nibs and tips available• Often cheaper in price and more readily available to purchase• Nibs are easy to change and do not break easily• Good for large work	• Can be slow to heat up and slower to burn the surface• Pens are often larger, heavier, and harder to handle, with a greater distance between hand and nib• Some machines use fixed nibs, offering less variety in marks• Handle can heat up if the element is contained within• Less adjustability and control• Not well suited to detailed and fine work

Hot wire nib
Pros	Cons
• Heats up and cools down quickly• Wide range of manufactured specialist nibs available• Possible to make your own shaped nibs from Nichrome wire• Pens are generally smaller, lighter, and easier to handle• More likely to have an adjustable temperature setting• Burns the wood more easily and quickly• Pen has no heating element within so will be cooler to hold• Good for detailed work	• Machines are more expensive and less commonly available• Specialist nibs may be expensive• Nibs can break more easily• Pens can sometimes break or develop a fault with regular use, particularly around areas where the nibs are fitted to the pen