Pyrography Pen vs Soldering Iron: 8 Striking Dissimilarities
There is often confusion among beginners about the use of a pyrography pen vs soldering iron. Technically they’re both pen-like structures that generate heat at the tip for small-area burns. But there are some differences between these two burning tools.
Pyrography is an art form where you design a medium of choice by burning. That may sound like something you can do with a soldering iron and to some extent, you can. But a pyrography pen comes with some specific features.
Despite a number of similarities, there are some obvious and subtle differences that set these two tools apart. Let’s delve into it, shall we?
Pyrography Pen vs Soldering Iron: A Closer Look
Soldering Iron
A soldering iron is a hand tool that is used to fuse metal together securely. It usually comes without the option to change heat output and provides a steady temperature while it’s on.
When it comes to burning wood, leather, or other pyrography mediums commonly used, soldering iron should be used with less heat.
Pyrography Pen
Pyrography pens, on the other hand, were first made following the same principles as soldering irons. But they are explicitly geared toward simplifying the art process of pyrography.
Pyrography pens are capable of generating more heat in order to make the burns smoother and more precise. Unlike soldering irons, solid-point pyrography pens started out with heat adjustment settings and tips of various shapes and sizes.
On the other hand, wire-nib pens expanded the versatility of the craft with countless customizable tips. Pyrography pens can potentially burn any design you can think of, which is a feat impossible with soldering irons.
Dissimilarities At a Glance
| S/N | Topic | Soldering Iron | Pyrography Pen |
| 1 | Purpose | To melt the solder and join separate metal pieces. | To do pyrography and are specifically fine-tuned as such. |
| 2 | Heat adjustment | Rare | Yes |
| 3 | Burning temperature | Up to 480° C | Up to 1050° C |
| 4 | Tip variety | Minimal | Unlimited |
| 5 | Tip material | Iron plated copper | Brass and nichrome in most cases |
| 6 | Replaceable tips | Yes | Yes |
| 7 | Price | Low | Medium to high |
| 8 | Detail work | Extremely difficult | Easy |
Using Soldering Iron for Pyrography
Though it is not recommended to do pyrography with a soldering iron, it is technically possible. So if you really want to try it out, here are some things to consider and tips to help along the way–
- Consider practicing on scrap material first
- Sharper and thinner tips are better for trying out pyrography
- Solder melts at a lower temperature than most pyrography mediums. So you need to heat the soldering iron longer at the beginning for burn marks to show.
- Don’t press down too much to burn quicker, slight pressure will give a more even and controlled burn.
- Burnt wood and ash may stick to the tip and make it difficult to use. So clean the tip repeatedly, but be careful not to burn yourself on the hot tip.
There are, of course, certain advantages and disadvantages to using soldering iron for pyrography. I’ll specify them below so you can stay informed.
Pros
- Once it is heated, the heat holds steady
- It takes less temperature to burn
- Safer for indoor use
- Good for large-area burns due to the blunt tip
- It is significantly cheaper
Cons
- Detailing is very difficult
- Difficult to get the right temperature
- Handling it to do pyrography for a long period of time can get tiring
- Takes much longer to achieve the same result as with pyrography pens
- Burns bleed quite a lot and don’t have clear outlines
Here is a video demonstration of wood burning with soldering iron. Or play directly below.
On the contrary, pyrography pens come up with a lot of tip varieties. The more you learn about these, the wider the pyrography horizon becomes. Here’s an article that will give you a deeper look into types of pyrography tips.
Bottom Line
The debate of soldering iron vs pyrography pen is pretty much the same as debating paint brushes. You can perhaps paint with any brush and learn to do amazing things with it. But you could easily do so much more with the right set of painting tools.
It basically boils down to how much control you want over your burns. If pyrography is something you want to stick with for a while, I highly recommend starting out with pyrography pens.
But whatever your choice is, in pyrography you must remember to be patient and not be discouraged by mistakes. Have fun as you learn!
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FAQs
Can you use a soldering iron for woodburning?
Yes, you can use a soldering iron for this purpose. In this case, you should choose a controllable one that is pretty powerful. Wood burns at a higher temperature than solder (a fusible metal alloy used for joining metals via heat).
