Walnut HollowCreative Versa Tool with Variable Temperature Control for Woodburning, 11 Points (Tips), Original Version, Basic Pack

First off this is my first woodburning tool and I have to say I love it so far. Though keep in mind that I have had no prior experience with wood burning and just thought it might be fun to try and learn etc. I figured it could add some different elements to my hobby.With that said my opinion is coming from someone who had no experience with wood burning but had an interest in it.Here is my opinion of the tool and why I gave it five stars.Good:1. It is inexpensive2. It has adjustable temperatures3. It had interchangeable tips4. It worksBad:1. I am not a big fan of the stand, recommend that you tape it down when you work2. It feels like the temperature control is to close to the tool itself (does not make the tool unuable or anything; i just believe it should be a little further.3. I wish it was a little thinner just for better control4. I wish the tip and the base were a little further apartBottom line though for the price i have already found it to be worth every penny. I have attached a picture of my first wood burning. Its not great or perfect but hey for the first time ever I think I did alright. So hopefully that will inspire some of you to look into wood burning; I have never used one before and to top it off I am not very artistic when it comes to drawing.That said if your interested in wood burning and are a beginner I would recommend it. For the price it cannot be beat in my opinion (though I have nothing else to compare it to).I have not used this for soldering or anything other than wood burning. I will say this though if your interested in wood burning I would make sure you get one with an adjustable temperature, and I say that because different woods burn differently. I have used it on fir, pine, maple, and oak all at the same temperatures just to test it out on different woods. For example on fir it will burn it a dark black and cut into the wood pretty fast. I think the temp control just adds more control to the user which is very useful if your new.

This is extremely affordable and really fun to use. I have never had any experience with pyrography, and it is pretty intuitive to use. There are a lot of different tips, and I'm still trying to figure out what tips are used for what application. But hey, it's better than not having enough tips!Some important lessons I learned:- stay away from soft woods- stay away from grainy woods (plane off the top layer if you have to use a grainy wood)- I'm experimenting with different types of woods but I have found that cherry works really well- the flat round tip is for transferring images. You can print off a picture on a piece of paper, lay it face down on a piece of wood, and just slowly apply pressure using the flat, round tip. The image will be transferred to the wood, but know that it will be a mirror image of the original. Do NOT do this if you are planning on using the wood for serving or preparing food (e.g. a cutting board)- I have no idea what chemicals are in the ink, and burning the ink onto the wood will probably be toxic. Graphite paper is a good alternative that is safer for food applications (graphite is just carbon, when you burn carbon you get carbon monoxide and/or carbon dioxide...just make sure you are in a well-ventilated area)- every part that is metal will be hot, bear this in mind when burning designs onto wood...the round disk that is used for propping up the pen has ruined quite a few of my designs!- the long, rounded tip is really useful for cursive writing- the flat part of the bent tip is used for adding color to the wood; if you apply pressure using the flat part onto the wood, you'll burn the wood lightly and give it a brown color.- don't touch the metal part to test if it's hot enough! I can tell you first hand that this is a BAD idea...this pen heats up so quickly!- always unplug the pen when you are done

I have to give the Walnut Hallow Versa Burning Tool 4 Stars. Mainly because of the temperature dial moves around freely too much.A piece of scotch tape seems to help most of the time to keep it were i want it most of the time. But It even slips to a lower temp or higher temp as I work from time to time. If I don't notice it it can burn my materials i'm working with or cause me to need to go over them more than once. Which some times doesn't look as clean as i would like. I have tried moving my power strip it is plugged into ever which way. But it still slips.Now for the Awesomeness when there is not issues with the temp dail and even sometimes when it does slip. O.k. I Freaking Love this Tool!!!!Totally in L-O-V-E! It has helped me to be more creative and make things I never thought of before I purchased it. I love the GREAT details I can add to my works! I love the temp control [when the dial is nice to me :0) ] I can work on my variety of materials than I would have if i didn't have this feature. All The tip Blades are great and I try to think of many more things I can do with them that i haven't' used yet.Totally worth your Money! Unleashing your Creativity. The Quality of everything is great. I Love the clear case that it comes with. The stand it comes with is very nice as well I didn't use it much and use a Ceramic Coffee cup because of the materials and the work i do it is easier to clean the tips better [when they get dirty in the middle of my projects] as well easier for me to pick up and safer that i don't knock the tool and stand over as i work and move around and the projects around. But I totally see it as a nice feature for some projects that i don't' move around so much with.I work with Fabrics and ribbons 90% of the time but can't wait to branch out to other materials.