Helpful Hints Categories

Wood Surfaces

Wood Burning

Wood Carving

Clock Making

Tools & Accessories

Wood Surfaces

• If you are wood burning, simply sand the surface lightly and transfer your pattern onto the surface. After the wood burning is complete, seal the wood.
• Wood preparation is important for your project. Unless you are covering your surface with fabric or paper, you will need to seal the wood with a wood sealer. Regardless of the brand or type of wood sealer you use, it is important to let it dry thoroughly. After it is dry, sand the wood lightly with the grain of the wood.
• During the manufacturing process, nails are sometimes used. The process leaves a hole that needs to be filled with putty. After filing holes, let dry, then sand lightly to smooth the surface. The wood product is now ready for sealing.
• Add a finishing touch to your project with Minwax® wood stains and finishes! Visit minwax.com for expert wood finishing tips, product information, and stain color options. 

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Wood Burning

• All Walnut Hollow® Points can be used on all Walnut Hollow Hot Tools.
• The wood burning tool is a very hot tool. Never touch the top or metal parts.
• Always unplug the tool and let cool before replacing points.
• Practice safety. Tape the holder on a table or other flat surface to hold the tool when not in use.
• Always turn the wood as needed so that your hand and arm are comfortable while wood burning.
• Use sandpaper to clean off the point as needed.
• After wood burning is complete, seal wood. You can fix paint or oil pencil mistakes easier if wood is sealed.
• Let the heat from the tool do the work. Don’t use pressure.
• The slower you move the tool points on the wood, the darker the wood burning will be.
• It’s easier to wood burn by pulling the tool towards your body.
• Use the back or bottom of your wood piece to practice.

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Wood Carving

• Always keep your fingers away from the carving knife and carve slowly.
• Always push the carving knife away from yourself.
• It is sometimes helpful to place the forefinger of the hand not holding the carving knife onto the top of the knife to help balance and guide.
• Keep project being carved as steady as possible. Do not carve on your lap.
• Sharpen carving knives using sharpening stone or honing compound with leather strop.
• Slightly wiggle the carving knife slowly back and forth to help carve into the surface.
• Always carve from the outer edge toward the center, turn the piece around, and again carve from the outer edge toward the center.

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Clock Making

• Click here for clock movement assembly instructions.

• Anything can be turned into a clock as long as you can successfully drill a 3/8” hole into it.

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Tools & Accessories

Professional Hotknife Hints

• It is best to use the HotKnife Point while working on a glass work surface. The Point could damage any other type of surface.
• Perfect for cutting Styrofoam^®, wax, soap, and foam core board.

Creative Versa-Tool^® Hints

• Follow the information on the back of the packaging to set the Versa-Temp control to the correct setting for your project.
• By changing the Zone, your wood burning will be darker or lighter depending on the Zone temperature.
• Use the Tapered Point to create a storage pouch out of plastic page protectors. A metal ruler makes it easier.
• The Tapered Point can be used to cut out stencils from mylar or other stencil plastic.
• The best way to use the Calligraphy Point is to hold it at a 45° angle.
• Writing cursive-style with a hot tool is easy! Just use the flow point and write like you normally would
• To create shading effects, lay the Shading Point flat on the surface and use gently circular motions.
• Each of the Hot Stamping Points add fun to your wood burning project. Use them for borders or thoughout the design.