Bamboo Pyrography: What’s So Cool About It?

Bamboo pyrography or wood burning bamboo occupies a special place in the world of decorative burn art. While similar, it distinctly differs from wood pyrography. Let’s find it out!

As the name suggests, pyrography on bamboo refers to the art of burning the surface of a piece of bamboo to create desired patterns. Much like wood pyrography, it is done with a metal tool, heated manually or electrically. 

Pyrography on wood is something I bet you’ve seen a lot before, as the technique is also colloquially called wood burning. However, the same type of decorative art on bamboo items is becoming more and more popular lately.

Today, you are going to learn the basics about this pyrography, whether it’s a good idea or not, and how you might be able to do it as well! Keep reading to find out. 

Bamboo Burn Art In History

• The practice can be traced to Africa, Asia, some parts of America, and even Europe. When it comes to this burn art in specific, South Korea is the place to focus on. 
• In South Korea, the art of burning patterns on the material with a heated poker is called ‘Nakjuk’, while the master artisan of the craft is referred to as ‘Nakjukjang’. It took it’s height in Korea during the reign of King Sunjo (around 1800-1834). As it is a traditional craft, this type of pyrography is done by heating the poker in a charcoal fire and then tracing the pattern on bamboo while it’s still hot. 
• Predominantly, butterflies and bats are the patterns seen in Nakjuk, though the items and objects adorned this way are many. 

Is Bamboo Good for Pyrography

It does not emit any toxic fume if the bamboo is dry. Bamboo is, in fact, safer to burn than a lot of wood.

Considering the historical presence of wood burning on bamboo and the recent rise in popularity, I’d say there’s nothing to worry about in terms of safety. 

This article can help you to find easy patterns for pyrography even it is on bamboo.

Step by Step Process

Materials

• A pyrography tool
• A piece of bamboo
• Graphite paper (optional)
• Design pattern (optional)
• Sandpaper

Step 1

It is the material preparation step. Use sandpaper to sand the bamboo until it’s smooth and free of rough spots. Sanding the surface helps ensure that the pyrography tool will glide over the surface smoothly.

Step 2

Plan the Design Before starting the pyrography, it is essential to have a design in mind. You can create your design or use a pre-made design pattern. If you are using a pre-made design pattern, use graphite paper to transfer the design onto the bamboo.

Step 3

Heat the Pyrography Tool Plug in the pyrography tool and let it heat up according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The tool usually takes a few minutes to heat up fully.

Step 4

Start the Pyrography Begin tracing your design onto the surface using the heated pyrography tool. Use slow and steady strokes, and be careful not to press too hard, as it can cause the bamboo to burn too deeply.

Step 5

Continue the Pyrography Continue to burn the design onto the bamboo, taking breaks as needed to avoid overheating the tool. You can use a variety of techniques, such as shading and crosshatching, to create different textures and effects.

Step 6

Clean the Pyrography Tool When you’re done with the pyrography, turn off the tool and let it cool completely. Use a soft cloth to wipe away any debris or residue from the tool’s tip.

Step 7

Once the pyrography is complete, you can finish the bamboo with a clear sealant or stain to protect it from wear and tear.

In summary, pyrography on bamboo involves preparing materials, planning the design, heating the pyrography tool, burning the design on surface, cleaning the tool, and finishing the bamboo. With practice and patience, you can create beautiful pyrography designs.

Bamboo Items for Pyrography

Flute

Pyrography is done for three purposes on bamboo flutes –

• Decorative
• Seasoning the bamboo from fungi invasion
• To have a better tune

Here’s an interesting video on pyrography on Indian flute.

Cutting Board

• These are very easy to make and are pieces of art to enjoy.
• You can keep these in the kitchen, or hang on the kitchen wall as a décors.
• The cutting boards are made of many bamboo pieces, so the burn temperature and stroke pressure will vary from one portion of the art to another.

On a Mug

• Bamboo mugs are awesome things to possess.
• These are beautiful gifts and décor items.
• The varnish finish brings out extra gloss on the surface.
• But you must be at least an intermediate level pyrographer to make any eye-soothing pyrography.

Challenges

The biggest upside of this burn art is that it comes quite cheap. Plus, I’ve already discussed that bamboo isn’t as bad as some wood when it comes to producing toxic fumes. But it comes with some difficulties as well.

• The cons of this craft are more technical. It is somewhat more difficult than pyrography on softwood. The strong fiber texture of bamboo offers a bit difficulty for beginners.
• It takes more finesse and skill, to begin with. The process also seems to frustrate some crafters while adjusting the burning temperature.  If you’re a beginner, you might be disappointed.

You Can Do It Too!

Getting interested in wood burning bamboo? Sure! However, getting a hang of it might take some time. I would suggest finding a pyrography kit appropriate for working on it, as well as some scrap pieces of bamboo, and practice! Keep practicing simple patterns until you’re comfortable, and then keep levelling up!

Here’s a video of pyrography on a bamboo made cutting board.

FAQs

Wrapping Up

Pyrography on bamboo is clearly becoming popular among crafters and DIYers. Household items, kitchen utensils, and even jewelry making through this process yield elegant results. I hope this article has given you enough insight on this craft. If you’d like to know more on this topic, don’t forget to let us know in the comments!