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Rick in Lincoln WR Addict Offline keep on turnin' Posts: 605 Gender:	Burning lines Sep 22^nd, 2005 at 3:26pm Say I've got a burned in line on my bowl, or on a bracelet. What I'd like to do is burn a matching line on the bottom of the bowl, or on the face of a matching pendant. I've heard you can use a small wedge of really really hard wood (which I don't have), or a chip of formica (also don't have). Anyone have any other suggestions?
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Jimmy Cusic Senior Member Offline Just a bit, a skew!! Posts: 351 Garland Tx Texas USA Gender:	Re: Burning lines Reply #1 - Sep 22^nd, 2005 at 4:52pm If it's on the bottom you might try some very stiff wire (coat hanger). Bend the end so you have a blunt but smooth or rounded surface. Guess you could get a soldering iron if your lathe turns slow enough and burn it with that... Just some ideas... jimmy c.
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E. Bud Gillaspie

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Re: Burning lines
Reply #2 - Sep 22^nd, 2005 at 4:53pm

Rick, I use a piece of steel wire + friction to burn in a line on the outside of a bowl. To burn the edge of a plate, bowl, etc. I use the back side of crocus cloth. To burn a a circle on a flat surface I double over the steel wire as to form a smooth bend and crank the lathe up to 3,000 rpm. It is suggested that you hold said wire w/pliers.

There's always the "cheater burn." Sharpen your carpenter's pencil and hold it against the spinning wood.

Then there's the "hot pipe" method: heat up a metal pipe and "brand" the piece. This usually requires either a torch or a stove/fire to heat up the pipe.

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E. Bud Gillaspie Umpqua Turning Club

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junior

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Re: Burning lines
Reply #3 - Sep 23^rd, 2005 at 8:10pm

if you wanted a thin line, maybe the edge of a flat head screwdriver or something.

If you need a little bit of formica, call up your local floor covering stores. Alot of them also do countertops, and have tons of formica scraps that go to the trash!!

i can get man made marble, which is suprisingly soft!!!!!

whatever shape and size i want (if i pay) decent free scraps sometimes though!!!

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JimQuarles WR Addict WR Patron Offline WR Rocks, BIG Time! Posts: 13,194 Glendale, AZ Arizona USA Gender:	Re: Burning lines Reply #4 - Sep 23^rd, 2005 at 8:19pm Just go to Home Depot or Lowes they have formica samples ypu can use. JimQ
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ladyfox WR Noob Offline Posts: 5	Re: Burning lines Reply #5 - Sep 28^th, 2005 at 9:35am HI guys I like the look of burned lines but I prefer mine to be much thiner. I use guitar strings attached to a small piece of wood on each end. Using guitar strings allowes you to have one or many lines on your piece of work. You can also have the wires as long or as short as you want.
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Rev. Doug Miller WR Addict Offline Working flat so I can support my addiction. Posts: 9,601 Hardinsburg, KY Kentucky USA Gender:	Re: Burning lines Reply #6 - Sep 28^th, 2005 at 11:21am Rick, As mentioned above, Lowe's, Home Depot, or for that matter any home improvement and/or building supply store should have the formica samples that you can use to burn on the bottoms of you pieces.
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Gil Jones Ex Member	Re: Burning lines Reply #7 - Sep 28^th, 2005 at 12:31pm I do not know the diameter of guitar strings, but I use .020", .032", .040", and .050" stainless steel safety wire to friction burn the decorative lines. Like Lady Fox, I have the wires attached to small pieces of wood (dowels). Works fine, and no singed fingers.
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Ned A from South GA WR Addict Offline Formerly Nappen who said...Sleep is for wimps Posts: 1,584 Gender:	Re: Burning lines Reply #8 - Sep 28^th, 2005 at 12:41pm Same here, same sizes infact. And yep, attached to wood handles.
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Rick in Lincoln WR Addict Offline keep on turnin' Posts: 605 Gender:	Re: Burning lines Reply #9 - Sep 28^th, 2005 at 1:22pm Yup, I've got the same set-up for burning the outside of bowls. I'm trying to burn a circle on a flat surface, like a bowl bottom. Haven't made it yet to the borg, but looks like a formica scrap should do it. Thanks for the hints.
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Chris Wright

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Re: Burning lines
Reply #10 - Sep 28^th, 2005 at 10:51pm

Hey Rick, ebony works best but we don't all have ebony scraps lying around, so like mentioned above, hit the big box and get a formica sample from the cabinet design area. You can also use a thin sheet of metal bent to create a bend. An aluminum can will work. Cut a strip and then make a bend in it so the ridge is what rubs, making a surface contact area. To speed up the process, use a torch and heat the aluminum up just a tad and then friction rub in the groove for the line.

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