Pyrography can be a very fun hobby but there are several risk factors that you need to be aware of. We get asked a lot about the safety of the hobby specifically when it comes to inhaling fumes produced when burning wood. While this is an obvious concern there are other things you need to be aware of before you get into woodburning. In addition to the fumes there is a very real fire hazard as well as harmful sawdust that could be inhaled or be an irritant to your skin.
Smoke Inhaled During Pyrography
The truth of the matter is that there are a lot of variables that effect how hazardous this smoke can be so it is best practice to be on the safe side. You should do your research and ask an expert about the toxicity of each new wood species that you choose to work with. While some fumes are less toxic than others there is risk involved with any type of woodburning project and you should consider this before beginning. Even if there is no way to completely mitigate the risks you should do your best to minimize them. I like to keep several fans blowing and a window open to ensure that the area I’m working in is well ventilated. This keeps the smoke out of the area and out of my lungs. Choose woods with relatively low toxicity levels. Since there are so many options available to us there is no reason to put yourself at more risk than is needed.
Woods to avoid
It is very important to avoid using any wood that has been painted, stained, pressure treated, molded, etc. Even after heavy cleaning or sanding the chemicals from these processes can still be deep in the wood and burning them can be very harmful to your health. As a general rule avoid working with any wood that is man-made or man-altered. Man-made woods include MDF (medium-density fibreboard) and plywood. MDF contains formaldehyde and that isn’t something we want to be working with in pyrography. While some artists choose to work with plywood it can be dangerous to your health if you burn through the wood layer and start melting the glue. For this reason we avoid it altogether.
It is worth a little extra to purchase some good fresh cut wood and avoid these unwanted health hazards. If you are in a rural area you might be able to acquire your own fresh wood that is free from any human made chemicals. You should consider checking with your local lumber yard to see if they will work with you to provide some good cuts. We have had success obtaining nice canvases from scrap wood at some of these lumber yards. Instead of throwing away these leftover chunks of scrap they volunteered to help us load it and they even sliced it up nicely for our needs. A little friendly conversation can go a long way! While it isn’t always that easy you can often buy scrap or leftover wood from these types of places for fairly cheap. Research the wood that you want to work with paying extra attention to its toxicity level.
Wood Identification
It is very important that you identify what species of wood you are burning and research it before you begin. Each wood has unique characteristics and toxicity levels. You may be affected by the smoke from one type of wood but not that of another. In addition to your personal health we ask you to consider those around you as well. Think of anyone that may enter your work area and may be exposed to the smoke or sawdust. Your health and the health of others is not something to take lightly so please do your research before beginning.
Sawdust Exposure During Pyrography
While the smoke is the first worry that comes to mind for many people you should also be aware of the sawdust produced. The dust created when sanding wood is also a risk of being inhaled into your mouth, nose, throat, and lungs. It may also be an irritant to your skin in addition to the sap that is released in your canvas. The best way to avoid this issue is to sand your pieces outside when possible. This keeps the dust from circulating in your work area and being inhaled. Some artists choose to wear gloves when handling wood as certain types may be an irritant to your skin. Again, this is something that you should consult an expert on before choosing a species of wood to work with. Only an expert will be able to give you accurate information on all of the health hazards of a specific species.
If You Notice Health Problems Stop Working Immediately
If you are working and you notice difficulty breathing, have any type of burning sensation on your skin, eyes, or throat, or develop a rash you should contact your doctor immediately. It is possible that the fumes, dust, or sap have caused a reaction. It is not my intention to scare you with this post however I feel that you should be aware of the risks. I personally have never had an issue when wood burning but that is not the case with everyone. I feel like it is my obligation to teach you everything possible and that includes the safety concerns. There is no harm in being extra careful and wearing a mask when sanding or cutting wood to be on the safe side.
Woodburning Uses Hot Tools!
I feel like this one is pretty obvious but it still needs to be pointed out to some new beginners that your wood burning tool will be hot. VERY hot in some cases! You should be aware of its temperature and position at all times. I do not recommend leaving your wood burning tool unsupervised for any amount of time while it is plugged in or hot. While these are great tools they are capable of starting fires and hurting children or adults who may not know any better. Always work responsibly and be mindful of the state of your tools. Make sure that the cord of your tool doesn’t present a tripping hazard. This might hurt someone else or pull your hot iron off of its stand and onto the table or floor. Even if you are conscious of your hot wood burning tool you should expect to be burned if you work with it long enough. I can’t count how many times that I’ve absentmindedly let the hot end of my wood burning tool touch my hand or arm. Let me tell you it is not a fun experience! Some artists wear gloves to prevent burns like these and to shield their hands from the heat. Depending on the heat setting you are working with your hand might become quite toasty after a long session! Different wood burning tools may provide better insulation than others. Some come equipped with a shield of sorts that will block some of the heat and others will not have this feature.
Speak With an Expert!
We are not experts on the topic of safety nor do we claim to be. We hope to educate you on some of the risks involved but at the end of the day each individual is responsible for their own safety. We hope that you do your research on wood that you work with and that may involve speaking with an expert. It is a good idea to ask them about harmful effects that may be the result of burning, handling, cutting, or sanding the particular species of wood.