Updated: September 29th, 2021
The best woods for wood burning will vary for a lot of people. It will come down to personal preference, types of pyrography art and what is available in your area. Here’s a list of my favorites.
The type of wood you choose does make a difference. I’ve burned on several different types of wood and there are a lot of opinions on the subject, so do some research.
You will also want to experiment yourself and form your own opinion about which one you like best. I’m going to share my experiences with wood burning to give you a good start on what wood to experiment with. So let’s dive right into the best woods for wood burning.
Basswood
Basswood is the best wood for wood burning in my opinion. It’s very soft and easy to burn, there are practically no grains. It’s a solid surface of soft burning wood and it’s beautiful. The grains are so clean and light, so you can burn in wonderfully light or dark details making it one of the best woods to burn. My only gripe with basswood are the size options. I’ve only been able to find basswood in precut plaque sizes or circular sizes with the live edge in hobby stores or online.
You can find the planks online, however they are pricey and why buy higher priced planks of basswood when poplar is less expensive and already in the local store? I do use the basswood plaques because they are easier than gluing up, sanding and cutting the poplar. I usually keep a few of these plaques on hand for quick turn around.
Birch
Birch burns much like basswood. The grains are consistently soft and you can find this in the big box stores or pre-made canvases online. I love the birch canvases from Arteza. They come in a few different sizes and are inexpensive. You can get a pack of 5 – 8×10 canvases on amazon for $31. Not a bad deal
The large sheets from the big box stores are great because you can shape them into any shape or size you want if you have the right saw. I don’t use it that often mostly because poplar is my go to choice from the big box stores, but it’s always there as an option if I need it.
Keep in mind that while plywoods can be used for pyrography, there are some risks, so do your research about any chemicals use in the plywood you purchase. Also, wear your respirator with filters and burn in a well ventilated area.
Oak
This is a tricky one. Red oak is tough to burn. It’s hard, the grains are uneven and it’s a bit pricey. There is a ton of moisture in this wood too. While I burn it the sap bubbles out and creates a messy edge. It’s not a deal breaker, but it’s something I consider before burning any artwork with shading and details.
We’ve used oak several times through out our projects. It’s not the best wood for wood burning, but it’s an attractive option for a lot of people because it’s highly available in a lot of areas. I’ll go into more detail about it in a separate section below.
Poplar
Poplar is my absolute favorite and the best wood for wood burning for three reasons:
- Easy to Burn – the grains are perfect for pyrography; soft and consistent
- Very Accessible – available in big box stores and online
- Customize Any Size – cut and glue up any canvas size you want with the right tools
I use poplar for a LOT of my projects. Poplar is readily available at the big box hardware stores and online at varying sizes and I’m able to make any size canvas or frame that I need for a project.
The grains are consistently soft throughout the boards which makes an ideal wood burning surface. I’m able to burn in fine details with ease. I should add that it accepts stain evenly and holds true to the stain color. If you are new to wood burning, go buy a smaller board and use it to practice. Poplar is on of my top recommendations.
The only con for us on poplar is the price. It’s a pricier wood, but it gets such a beautiful result. My perspective is it’s worth the higher price, because it produces a higher quality product. If you are starting out with wood burning or maybe you are building something for the first time, start with a more affordable option for practice and upgrade once you’re more confident.
Pine
Pine is a common wood in wood burning. It’s inexpensive and you can find nice and neat pieces at hobby stores and online cutout into shapes, plaques and designs.
However, pine can be challenging because of the inconsistent grain patterns. The lighter grain is very soft while the darker grain is hard to burn. So when I’m burning a portrait it’s difficult to get a detailed or consistent pattern. It can also leave bumps and hot spots in your burned designs.
Pine works better for letters or signs that will be burnt solid and not shaded. Yellow pine is one of my least favorite and not one of the best woods for wood burning. It makes a lower quality burn and finished product.
Pine can be used for practice because it’s more affordable. Then once you master burning clean lines, it will be a good go-to wood choice.
Pallet Wood
Wood burning on pallet wood is something to be very careful with. It’s impossible to know where it’s been. It may be chemically treated wood or it may have been used to transport chemicals. Those chemicals could have leaked onto the wood making it unsafe to burn and breathe. I have burned pallet wood before, but I use many safety precautions when doing so.
First – use a respirator with filters. I use a face mask when burning repurposed wood of any kind. Not the flimsy small paper masks either. Use the masks with the filters and a good one.
Second – use a fan. A fan should be used when wood burning any type of wood. It isn’t safe for someone to breathe in smoke especially if you are going to be burning for hours. I use a small battery operated fan that is portable and I can place it very close to my burning area and it sucks the smoke right in and away from my face.
When I first start burning I wasn’t using one. Clay noticed all of the smoke going right into my eyes and he suggested setting up a little fan. I still use it when I burn and I’ve seen other pyrographers mention that they use a fan as well, so it’s a common practice in pyrography.
Third – burn in a well ventilated area. I typically burn in my shop with an exhaust, so the smoke is pulled away from my face and out of the room. The airflow keeps the room clear and keeps me from sitting in a smoke filled space for hours on end.
BE SAFE! – For more Safety Tips, Watch My Pyrography Safety Video
Walnut, Cherry, Maple and More
At some point in your pyrography journey, you’ll come across more exotic woods that aren’t easily found. The short answer is, you can burn any woods, but some aren’t great at receiving heat. It really depends on what you want to do with the wood and the artwork that will help you determine if the wood is a best wood for wood burning.
Hardwoods typically aren’t great for burning art that has a lot of shading and details. Walnuts, maple, cherry, etc. It’s also difficult to experiment with these woods because they are always pricey.
Here’s my two cents, but my opinions aren’t set it stone, so do what you feel is right.
Use these woods for projects with a touch of wood burning as an accent. For example, a cutting board, charcuterie board, shelves, etc. These woods are great for aesthetic projects that will be displayed for the wood itself. Then you can add a simple burn like family initials into a cutting board. Or a funny quote into the charcuterie board.
Keep the burn small and simple and let the wood be the star of the show.
KJP Select Hardwoods in Canada is a great online retailer for woods. They have a great selection at a great price. They wood choice they have are perfect for projects just like this.
Conclusion – Best Woods for Wood Burning
In my experience, these are the best woods for wood burning. There are tons and tons of options out there that I’ve never tried, so if you want to add to the conversation about other woods that are great for wood burning or bad for wood burning, feel free to let us know in the comments. We would love you hear from you.
Here’s a great site for wood toxicity research.
FREE PYRO PACK
This FREE (and highly detailed) digital packet is overflowing with information for getting started in pyrography.
- 14 tools supply list – the best tools in pyrography
- 5 pyrography patterns to use in burning
- 2 step-by-step pyro projects with templates
I put together a digital download packet that highlights wood burning tools and projects perfect for pyro beginners.
“what burner should I use?”
“what’s the best wood to burn?”
“what are my safety options?”
“where can I get these tools?”
“where can I get pyrography patterns?”
“what should I burn?”
Jenny Stringer
Thank you for your great posts. I’m new to pyrography and the information that you’ve given has helped me out so much!
PyroCrafter
Awesome! I’m so glad to hear that my posts are helping. Thanks for reading!
Donna Bailey
Thanks for the video! I’m just getting into pyrography as well and love it!
PyroCrafter
No problem! I love Pyrography. It’s my absolute favorite art form. I saw your work on Instagram, it’s amazing! Thanks for checking out our blog. 😊
Allen Cohen
Excellent article, especially for someone like me who is first starting out. I will definitely follow your advice. Not having that much experience, I tried using some wood thatI cut myself, it was cherry, and came from upstateN,Y. A little difficult to work, but the outcome was pretty good. I would like to send you a picture of my finished product. Please keep in mind, this is only my third try, I got a lot of positive feedback from my friends and relatives. Again thanks for the great advice.
PyroCrafter
Hey Allen, That sounds great! I’d love to see your work.
lou
great thank you so much for this as I am just starting out and find this really helpful 🙂
PyroCrafter
Awesome! Thanks!
Kaye
Thank for all the info I’m a beginner so I need all the help I can get.
PyroCrafter
You’re welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Rachelle
I just discovered your website and love it. Y’all are vert talented and I plan on visiting often.
PyroCrafter
Thanks!!
Richard Roe
I liked the info I read
Katrina
Great video! Very helpful. Can you tell me what wood burning machines you’re using please?
PyroCrafter
I use the Colwood Super Pro II from woodburning.com. They have other models too. Thanks!
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Kevin Turner
Thanks for the pyrocrafting input. I am getting ready to start a portrait of my brand new granddaughter and will be using either bass wood or popular. I’ll give you some feedback on how she turns out. K.T.
PyroCrafter
Great! I would love to see it!
Susan
I’ve just subscribe to your site. I can’t wait to read your articles about pyrography. I do have a question though is I have a hard time finding very good quality boxes to Woodburn on do you have any suggestions? Thank you, Susan
PyroCrafter
Thanks for reading! The only wood boxes I’ve seen are at the craft stores and online. Unfortunately, they don’t have a lot of options. Just curious, what type of wood boxes would you like to see?
Laura Riebman
My husband is making a toy box out of cherry. I want to decorate it. I am an artist but have never done this. Is Cherry very difficult to burn or should we stain and paint? Thanks, Laura
PyroCrafter
Hey Laura, I’ve never burned cherry before, so I can’t say if it’s hard to burn, but I have seen other burners use it. If you have a small scrap piece, maybe try experimenting first to see if it would be good for burning. It may also depend on the type of art you want to burn in. Some woods aren’t great for burning details like portraits, but may be good for lettering or silhouettes.
Scott
Any thoughts on using Aspen for wood burning?
Thanks.
PyroCrafter
Hey Scott! I’ve never burned Aspen wood before, but I’d say go for and experiment with it if you have it. I’ve met some burners that used it and loved it. Just make sure to wear your mask.
andrea
This was so helpful thank you.
Can anyone please make a recommendation on where to buy the woods? I am looking for blank plaques.
Thank you so much and happy holidays.
PyroCrafter
Absolutely! Check out my Amazon affiliate page. I keep a page of listings with the materials I use. There are a ton of wood options to choose from. https://www.amazon.com/shop/pyrocrafters
Tera
If I am cutting my own Live edge wood, would you recommend waiting until the wood dried completely before burning?
PyroCrafter
Absolutely, yes. It may not burn well when it’s still wet and your burn may alter as it dries.
Elise Menne
I just bought my ColwoodSuper ProII, and am very thankful for your info.Colwood themselves should have all these questions you answer so well, and all the info you so happily and freely give, at the ready in a booklet with their machine!!
So, thanks so much for your info!
PyroCrafter
Great! I’m so glad you got one. I love mine!
Susanne
One of the best articles I have read about the different types of wood, the different types of grains and pricing. The article was very exact and to the point plus helpful tips.
I subscribed 2 the newsletter, and this I do not do very often! I feel that I will get great information, tools, and support when needed. Thank you for sharing this!!!
PyroCrafter
Thank you so much! I’m so glad you found it helpful!
RoseMarie
Hi : I’m new to wood burning . I’m an artist. Love detail and trying to get my art going in wood burning
PyroCrafter
Hi RoseMarie! I’m so glad you’re getting into wood burning. Instagram has been a great platform for me to get my art out there. Try videoing and photographing your work and posting it. People love to watch it.
Kelly
So glad I stumbled on your site. I too, am new at wood burning and want to make an outdoor sign for our wood shed. What kind of wood would you use and what type of protection would you put on it? What kind of care would need to be done? Thank you for all of your help!!
PyroCrafter
For outdoor stuff, use an outdoor varnish that protects against UV damage and moisture. We use this Spar Urethane and it has served us well so far. 🙂 https://amzn.to/2BptNeQ
Jeffrey
Very nice article, I used to do a bit back when I was a kid and just getting back into it. Did a bit on a pine wood box and I agree with what you say about the grains but found that if you soft at first where the grains disagree with what you want to do, to just mark what you want to do and then slightly harder everytime you go over, it helps going through it. I can send you some pictures of what I’ve done so far, it’s for a friend’s birthday presentand on some parts, you can see how I relearned some stuff as I was going through.
PyroCrafter
I agree. The pine is a challenge, but as you get used to it, it gets easier. 🙂
Owen Richards
Thanks So much! I love Pyrography! Also I’m getting pretty good at it!
PyroCrafter
Thats great! I’m so glad to hear you’re enjoying the craft. 🙂
David Slagle
What are the dimensions of the poplar lumber that you’ve found to be most practical when purchasing?
PyroCrafter
Hey David! We purchase two different sizes the most. The 5″ width board and the 11″ width board. The lengths vary depending on what is available at the store and what we are making. For our canvases, we stick to those two sizes and just cut the length we need. Thanks for reading!!
Jim
Thank you. Tried burning first time today with a cheapo deepo burner on ponderosa pine. Was wondering if it was me, the cheap burner, the bits or the wood. Saving up for a better burner but practicing for now. Thanks for the tips. I’ve carved basswood but good to know about poplar.
PyroCrafter
You’re welcome! Poplar is a great wood. It’s still my favorite wood to burn. 🙂
Ruthie
I just recently bought a 4×8 piece of birch plywood for a big piece I am working on. This wood seems to be a lot harder than a solid piece of birch that I have used and love. I am worried that the wood grain on the plywood is not going to show real well when I go to burn it with my torch. Any suggestions?
PyroCrafter
Hey Ruthie! I’ve haven’t worked with torches much and rarely (if ever) on birch plywood. So I don’t have personal experience to speak from. My suggestions would be to test it on a scrap piece if you have it or try lightly burning it to see the reaction you get. Birch does have grains in it, but they aren’t as different as the grains like pine wood. Anytime you’re trying a new effect on a new wood, test it first to see what it will do before you commit to a project. I’ve learned the hard way to test, test, test before doing something new on a big project. Let me know how it goes! 🙂
Paula
I’d be really grateful if someone could give me some advice on sourcing solid wood trinket boxes / small chests. I’ve bought a load of small treasure chests from China but they are balsa wood and the majority of people I’m selling my pyrographed boxes to say they would pay for a higher quality item.
Does anyone know where I would be able to find any?
Aney Carver
Hey Paula! I wish I had some good info for you about where to source this. We usually make our own wood items, but there is an occasion when we want something already made. My suggestion is to build a relationship with a wood worker and see if you can buy in bulk at a discount. Instagram and Etsy would be a good place to start. https://www.etsy.com/market/unfinished_wood_box
Faith
Good morning, can you say whether Beechwood burns well? Going to try your rolling pin tutorial for a wedding gift. Thank you so much for sharing great content.
Aney Carver
Hey there! I have burned beechwood and it’s a harder wood. It kind of reminds me of oak. It has more moisture in it, which makes it harder to do shading projects. But I think a sign/silhouette with a full burn works great.
Stacey
What’s black wattle like to burn on ..?
Aney Carver
Hey Stacey, I’m not familiar with that type of tree. Is it available to you in your area?
Sally Rumelhart
I have some old redwood boards that are dry and have been planed on one side. I am new to this craft but the coloring in the boards are so beautiful, I thought I’d give it a try but am having trouble with the hard graining. Any suggestions?
Aney Carver
Hey Sally. Hardwoods, particularly woods that have color like redwoods, walnut, mahogany, etc… have challenges. My suggestions is keep the burn simple and minimal. When I’m burning woods like that, I usually do a simple silhouette or lettering. For example, I burned this walnut charcuterie board with a small and simple design: https://youtu.be/32KWy7wORxk