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Home > Help > Other Help > How do I use this heat tool I just HAD to have?

breepre 10/10/2008

After seeing the link that someone came up with for flattening bottle caps, I realized that maybe someone could help me too. A few weeks ago I saw this heat tool (I can't remember what it's called and I tossed all the packaging) with different attachments. I bought it primarily to be able to carve my own stencils and to do image transfers.

Well, as it turns out, it doesn't give me clean geometric edges on my stencils so it's pointless for that. And as it happens, I don't have the right kind of printer to do the heat transfer. So now I have no use for the tool off the top of my head. I tried googling the tool by brand name when I first bought it, but that only pulled up people who were selling it.

What I'm hoping is that you guys can either give me ideas of what you use yours for or links to examples of projects that have been made using one so that I can find out if this is something that's worth keeping or if I should just try to set up a trade for something I can actually use.

Thanks!
Hazelette 10/10/2008

If it's what I think... which would be something like this:

It's great for "carving" and burning designs into wood. Draw a design in pencil and then trace over it with the hot tool to make a design. Google "woodburning" for ideas and info. Here's a link I found for a tutorial type site.
breepre 10/10/2008

Yes, slightly different colors, but same attachments. When I bought it I thought it was good for papercrafts. I don't anything with wood (yet!) so I'm not sure if it'll be useful to me after all. Thank you for the link. :)
VJP 10/10/2008

Oh...that's what I just bought!! Thanks for the link. Now I can figure out how to use it, too!!
Hazelette 10/10/2008

IF you want to ruin a tip... it's also good for melt/cutting nylon webbing (think handles on a backpack), nylon rope (think dog leash), and other plastic based utility fabrics to stop it from fraying/unraveling.
breepre 10/10/2008

Oh yeah, that's a great idea. I'm afraid I'm not very good at thinking outside of the box so I wouldn't have come up with that on my own in a million years.
YooperHill 10/10/2008

You can use the spade shaped attachment to melt crayons on paper to make your own handmade background paper. Once the crayonis melted on the attachment, you smear it on the paper. Cooridnating colors, complimentary colors, you get the idea. Then you can use rubber stamps to stamp on the back ground.

I've done this with crayons that have glitter in them and it come out beautifully!
breepre 10/10/2008

I'll tell you what a homeschooling mom of 4 has lots of, stubs of crayons. What a great idea for using them up. Thanks. :)
LINDA50 10/10/2008

If it will burn wood it will also burn paper and cardboard or chipboard. The tips will give you different patterns. You could use it on an ATC since it is not a sticker (no I did not just dig that up again?). You just need to use a really light touch. It can antique the edges of paper.
VJP 10/10/2008

Oh Linda...I like that idea, too!!

Wow...you guys are so creative. Any other great ideas out there??
Hazelette 10/10/2008

OH, I didn't think of antiquing paper. That's a good one.

I wonder if you could use it to carve/imprint designs on large pillar candles? It might be too hot for this though.
breepre 10/10/2008

I think I'm going to need to invest in one of those itty bitty fire extinguishers, LOL.
spinjenny 10/10/2008

Just a thought about the crayons - google for encaustic art to get ideas and techniques for use them or any other coloured melted wax in your art.

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