Colwood Detailer Review: The Wire-Nib Burner to Start On
Colwood's single-pen wire-nib burner, made since 1979. Why a wire nib changes how pyrography feels, and when to step up to the dual-pen Super Pro II.
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Colwood has made the Detailer since 1979, and it is still the company’s most popular burner. It is a wire-nib machine. Instead of a solid brass point, the pen holds a thin loop of resistance wire, shaped into a tip, that heats almost instantly.
Why a wire nib matters
Speed. The tip heats in seconds and cools almost as quickly. Turn the dial and the burn changes right away. A solid-point tool takes minutes to settle.
Control. Your fingers sit close to the tip, much like holding a pencil. Fine lines and graded shading become much easier.
Cheap tip changes. The tips are replaceable, so a new shape costs a tip, not a pen.
The standard kit comes with five tip styles, a cleaning cloth, honing paper and a carrying case.
Its limits
- One pen. Most pieces use at least two tip shapes, typically a writer for lines and a shader for tone. With one pen you stop, let it cool and swap. The Colwood Super Pro II takes two pens and switches between them.
- Wire is delicate. Pressing hard bends a nib. Fine tips wear and need honing. Let the heat do the work.
Verdict
For someone committed to pyrography, the Detailer is a better first buy than a cheap solid-point tool. See the best wood burning kits for how it compares.
What works
- Its wire nib heats in seconds and responds quickly to the dial, so you can adjust tone as you shade
- The pen is held close to the tip, which gives the fine control a solid-point pen lacks
- Replaceable tips mean changing a shape is cheap and needs no new pen
- The standard kit comes with five tip styles, honing paper and a case
What doesn't
- Single pen only, so switching tip shapes mid-piece means stopping to swap
- Wire nibs bend if pressed hard, and fine ones wear and need honing
- Costs several times more than a solid-point starter tool