Wood burners

[Mike Cruz]

I know that the Detail Master is the go to burner for most turners for signing one's name on the bottom of turnings. But has anyone had any experience with Everglades Wood Burners (they are offered on Ebay)? Thanks.

BTW, the Everglades one is may also be known as the Patriot-1000.

[Jim Burr]

I did some reading Mike and not much is known about them. I have the Optima, several of us do, and think it's great! Price of the Everglade seemed a bit out of line with other known brands.

[John Keeton]

Actually, several of the "big names" recommend the Burnmaster unit and Detail Master pens. Don't know anything about the Everglades unit.

[Mike Cruz]

Jim, thanks. I just took a look at them and they seem like what I'm looking for, but was hoping to spend a little less.

John, I'm looking into those, as well.

Thanks to both of you for your input.

Bottom line is that I've been signing my work with a $10 burner/soldering iron type tool. Results have been okay, but with such a long piece of metal reaching out past where you can hold the tool, control (especially on wood that has hard and soft spots) is difficult. What I'm really in the market for is something inbetween the $10 and $100 range. Looks like that is harder to find than I would have thought...

[Jim Burr]

John and I split this one! I know he uses one...Adkins uses a really old one. Bernie, Steve Bellinger, me and a few others use the Optima, and the cost is affordable! I have adapted a couple burnmaster pens to my Optima based on chats with Mr Adkins.

[Thom Sturgill]

Pens can be had for about $20 and there are plans available for building the controller if you have minimal DIY electrical skills.

[Mike Peace]

I have a two burner Optima after researching. It is similar to the highly regarded Razertip but a little cheaper and in my opinion has a better switch system. It uses a single toggle switch. Center is off and flip left or right depending on the burner plug you are using. The Razertip has two switches with the same apearance. One for on and off and one to toggle burners. One turner I know mentioned that at least once when not paying attention, he toggled the burner selection switch thinking he had turned off the burner. Seems like a bad design for someone who might not pay attention.

[Jeff Myroup]

I use a BurnMaster and pens from detail master, along with a few others. Most pens will work with most burners. You will need an adapter. Be advised though, pens can burn out if used with a burner from a different manufacturer. It has to do with the built in resistance of the pen and what the burner manufacturer optimized the burner for. You will only have a problem though burning at a high temp, around the 8-10 range. You should only be that high though if you are doing texture work

[Bernie Weishapl]

I have the two pen Optima II and a couple of razor pens. Never have had mine above 5 to 5 1/2 on the dial. Love mine. I had ordered 5 pens with mine but find I do 95% of my work with 3 of them.

[Mike Cruz]

Well, it seems like there are a couple that are "favorites". All right about in the same price range, though a few are a bit more.

Odd that no one has used or heard of the Everglades one on Ebay... I like the idea of supporting the little guy and not just going for a name, but not sure I want to take a chance on something that I can't find a track record or at least one supporter of...

[Mike Cruz]

I just edited my OP to reflect this, but the Everglades burner may also be known as the Patriot-1000. However, the Patriot-1000 is also made with a smaller transformer and is called the Patriot Pro 500...which is what I'm looking at.

[Jeff Myroup]

Mike,
If all you plan on using it for is signing your name, then something like the patriot should be fine. You should only need one pen to sign your name. A ball stylus is pretty easy to use and writes very well.

[Mike Cruz]

Jeff, for now, yes, all I plan to do is use if for signing and wood IDing my work. Who knows if I might do anything else in the future. What I CAN tell you is that the likelyhood that I will ever make a piece with as much pyro as a Jim Adkins basket, or a duck decoy is as likely as Molly Shannon landing the role as Queen Elizibeth. :rolleyes:

[Jeff Myroup]

Mike,

I used to think like that. I only wanted the unit for some ocassional texture work. Now, I am known for my pet portraits. ;)

[Marvin Hasenak]

For signatures the Walnut Hollow Versa Tool, it has adjustable heat and various tips that come with it. Laura Irish did a review of it on Woodcarving Illustrated forum and gave it top reviews. She did some great work and they looked as good as the several hundred dollar units. There are also accessories that can be added, like alphabet, and other designs.

The best part is the price is only about $30.

[Baxter Smith]

Mike, I got this one a couple of years ago. http://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/store/Pyrography___Cub_Woodwriter___cub?Args=All I wanted to do at the time was upgrade from a 40 year old woodburner for signing my name. It seems to work fine in that regard. I picked up three additional razortip pens but have only used them a few times. I most often use this at a setting of 5-6 on a scale of 10. I have never used one of the more expensive single burners so I am not sure how they are better.

[Mike Cruz]

Baxter, which one are you referring to? The link you posted takes me back to my OP... Are you saying you got the Patriot?

[Baxter Smith]

Sorry Mike. Heat must be getting to me. Fixed it. http://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/store/Pyrography___Cub_Woodwriter___cub?Args=

[Pete Gray]

Mike,
I use a Burnmaster & find it OK for normal Pyro & signature use. I am however looking at converting an old battery charger so I can use a heavier gauge & get a quicker recovery time.
BTW, the burnmaster when you buy it has the heat dial "full on" set at about 80 / 90% of the actual performance available, if you remove the cover there is a small slug on the potentiometer that can be wound up to full, this gives you quite a nice lift in top end performance
Pete

[Mike Cruz]

Thanks, everyone for your comments and advice. I had it narrowed down to two (because of price). Long story short, after a long conversation with the guy selling (and actually manufacturing them, too) the Patriot, I and a fellow Creeker, Peter, went with the Patriot. I'll let you know how I like it...

[Kyle Iwamoto]

Im in the woodburner market also. Would like to know the results! What was your second choice?

[Mike Cruz]

I'll send you a PM, Kyle, but the simple answer is the Colwood Cub...solely based on price.

Tried to send you a PM, Kyle, but your box is full. Here's what I was going to send you...

Hi, Kyle. Bottom line is that I didn't want to spend the kind of money that most of the manufacturers want. Most of them are asking about $110 to 125 for basic units without any pens. This unit, the Patriot Pro-500 is a 45 watt unit and includes 3 pens of your choice. The sale price (for Memorial Day Weekend) was $104 shipped. Most of the other places would have easily been $155+ shipped. Speaking with the guy that makes/sells them on Ebay, he sounds like a good guy that stands behind his product. I ended up with his cell phone number and he told me if I EVER have any issues with the pen or the controller, he'll make it right...that simple. This equates, to me, to good customer service.

The Cub would probably have been fine for me. I found a website that compared all the models of burners. The one drawback to the Cub was that the controller, the power cord, and the wire going from the controller to the pen are all one unit. If you have an issue with any one of them, the cords can not be replaced or repaired. So the whole unit would be shot. With the Patriot, the controller and the cord to the pen and the pen are all separate. So, if you accidentally burn, kink, or cut the cord, you can just get a new cord.

If you decide to contact the guy on Ebay, Everglades, tell him that you heard of his product from me. I think he'll remember me. No, I won't get any kickback. But I'm sure he'd like to hear that a sale lead to another. If you want to wait for me to test it out frist, just let me know. I would expect to get it by the end of the week or so.

Take care.

Mike

[Kyle Iwamoto]

Hmm sorry about my box being full. Thanks for letting me know that. I emptied it out, didn't know it was full. They should send a warning when its getting full.

Let me know how you like it. I was thinking of the Burnmaster, since it seems to be one of the favorites here. Have you used burners before? I have very little experience with them. The only one I used was a home made one that was very good. I have not the skill to build my own.

Thanks!

[Mike Cruz]

I'm with you, Kyle... I don't want to get into building my own. It would either burn my shop down with faulty wiring, or it would have a V8 powering it...or both!

The only experience I have with burning is signing my name with a $10 burner/soldering iron. Not sure how far I will go into pyro, but don't intend to get sucked in to that aspect of turning... But I've said that before...:o

[Rick Markham]

So, if you accidentally burn, kink, or cut the cord
Mike

So which one of these is the reason you are in the market for a new burner? :D

I'm super interested to see what you think of them Mike, the price is right for a little pyrography, and it is nice to support the small tool maker.

[Mike Cruz]

Hehe, leave it to you, Rick, to read into that... No, I didn't do that, but since most all of the ones other than the Cub aren't perminent like the Cub, I can only wonder why... Actually, I know someone that has the Cub, has had if for years, and is perfectly happy with it. The Patriot just seems to have all the functions of the bigger names at a lower price. Albeit at 45 watts for the Patriot Pro-500 (the Patriot 1000 has 60 watts, I believe) it isn't for the serious pyro guy that has very large burning pens and will sit and burn for hours on end. And yes, American made and being the small guy was a factor... As long as it performs, I'll be happy.

[Rick Markham]

Yeah, sometimes my sense of humor gets the better of me :D I only pick on you because your my buddy ;) I would be more interested in just little things mostly, and if it sparked (couldn't resist that one either :rolleyes:) the more in depth stuff I would upgrade eventually.

[Jim Underwood]

I'd be interested in that website the compares the different woodburners...

[Donny Lawson]

I have the Burnmaster and it's a nice unit. We had a demo at our local turners club and Razertip was the talk of choice there.

[Mike Cruz]

Classic, Rick, just classic. Just can't resist, can you? Hey, I don't see it as picking. I enjoy your sense of humor...

Jim, here is the link without the link...sawdustconnection.com/pyrography-woodburning-tools-review-chart.htm (http://sawdustconnection.com/pyrography-woodburning-tools-review-chart.htm). Well, it still made it as a link. Hopefully, it won't work so I won't be labeled a rule breaker...again. You have to add the http://www. infront of it. There it goes linking again... Shucks!

Donny, I was considering the Burnmaster and the Razertip. It simply came down to cost. I know, I know, it isn't always about cost, but at $100 it was well over what I wanted to spend to begin with and all the other brands (other than the Cub) would have been $130 and up. Hey, and inexpensive didn't mean going "China" this time!