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Color and Finishing Treatments

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Color can be combined in numerous ways with your pyrography designs to make an array of exciting effects. Various media that are available from all good art and craft retailers, such as watercolor pencils, colored markers, bottled inks, watercolor paints, and the like, are perfect for experimentation. Pyrography marks form a natural barrier of resistance and can prevent the colors of liquid substances from bleeding across into areas that they are not intended for. There are also a wide selection of colored varnishes, paints, and stains on the market that are specifically designed for application to wooden surfaces, and these can add a very exciting dimension to your work. I am particularly fascinated by the different options available that provide an iridescent colored sheen to the wood, as these can look simply beautiful when incorporated into your designs. A number of projects featured within this book use different colored media, so I hope you enjoy trying them as much as I do.

There is a range of methods with which you can protect your design once it is completed. Oils and waxes are particularly suited to designs where you still want to utilize the natural tactile surface qualities of the wood that you are working on. Danish oil is one of my favorite finishing treatments due to the warm luster that it brings out when applied to a wooden surface. I also regularly use a microcrystalline wax, as this protects and polishes the wood when applied in several layers but still feels naturally smooth and soft, making it a pleasure to handle. Beeswax is another treatment that gives a pleasing result.

If you need a tougher and more durable finish to protect your design, there are several varnishes and lacquers available on the market. These can be purchased in matte and gloss effects so that you can find something appropriate for what you have made. Such finishes can be purchased with different application methods to suit the purpose of your work. As well as traditional liquid treatments, spray varnishes can be better suited for irregular surfaces or items where you have applied a color or stain that may be disturbed through the use of a brush. Whichever method you use, ensure that you follow the instructions for that specific type and brand to get the best results, particularly in terms of how to prepare the surface beforehand, how to apply the coats, and how long to leave between layers.


Use a soft, broad paintbrush to apply liquid varnishes or finishes. This will allow you to cover the area smoothly and evenly.

If you are creating a design to be displayed outside or where it will be exposed to strong sunlight, consider using a yacht or marine varnish for maximum protection. Such substances generally contain a UV inhibitor that protects the surface below from the damaging effects of ultraviolet light. Pyrography marks fade when exposed to sunlight, and these finishes can reduce the impact and damage associated with it.

Above all else, the main consideration for any treatment that you choose to apply should be to ensure that it is fit for the intended purpose. Certain varnishes protect the wood from the staining effect of substances that the item’s purpose may bring it into contact with, while others are specifically designed to protect items that may be handled extensively or used with food. Do your research carefully and select a finish that does everything that you require.

Yearn to Burn: A Pyrography Master Class

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