When it comes to encaustic painting, irons are invaluable tools for achieving smooth, flat wax surfaces and precise fusing effects. Whether you’re fusing over stencils or exploring encaustic iron painting techniques, choosing the right iron can make all the difference. Unlike standard household steam irons, encaustic irons are designed without holes, ensuring an even application of heat and preventing unwanted wax buildup. In this post, we’ll compare two popular options: the Encaustic Art Iron and a Ski/Snowboard Iron, along with other alternatives.
Types of Encaustic Irons
- an Encaustic Art Iron
- a Snowboard/Ski Iron
- a Sealing Iron
- a Travel Iron – adjustable for local voltage. Make sure to get one without steam holes
- Mini Craft Irons
- Airplane hobby irons
When I began encaustic painting I already had a travel iron and it was great. It was marginally bigger than the Encaustic Art Iron and had a nice long cord. In 2017, I replaced it with The Encaustic Art Iron. Last month I bought the Ski and Snowboard Iron.
The Encaustic Art Iron
The Encaustic Art brand of iron has been made and marketed for encaustic painting.
- I like where the cord comes out of the iron – the bottom right-hand side
- The handle comes off. For some this might be a plus, you can store the iron in less space and even use it as a mini hot plate – not something that interests me
- Wax builds up around the edge of the face-plate, gets inside the iron, and later on drips out onto your painting, the travel iron did this as well
- The point of the iron allows you to get into smaller areas
- The temperature markings aren’t clear, perhaps this has been improved on newer models
- It is lightweight and made of plastic. After four years of use, the detachable handle fell off and wouldn’t stay back on
The Encaustic Art Iron is the main tool for iron painting on cards. Encaustic iron painting is a technique that uses a heated iron to melt and manipulate coloured wax on glossy card stock. One-of-a-kind images emerge by varying the pressure, angle, and movement of the iron, resulting in vibrant and textured designs.
Ski & Snowboard Iron
Ski & Snowboard IronI’ve only had this iron for a couple of weeks and I really like it. I was concerned about the dimple pattern on the faceplate but it doesn’t make any difference
- I chose this model as I liked that the cord came out the bottom, most snowboard irons have the cord coming out the top of the handle and I thought that would get in my way. This model has a grove in the handle so the cord can hook in if you like the cord to come out of the top. The only drawback is that my iron is tippy when standing up. It would be better if the cord came out the side
- The handle acts as a cord wrap – but I never pack mine away so not a big selling feature
- The metal faceplate comes up the sides so the wax doesn’t build up under the edge of the iron’s face plate. This means, no unsightly muddy drips from the inside lip!
- Without the point, it is slightly larger covering more area with a single fuse but you can’t be as precise if wanting to fuse a small area
- The temperature gauge is really nicely marked and has decisive clicks
- The iron is very sturdy. I was concerned that it would be heavy but it is fine. **Update** I have now been using it for 3.5 years and it is still going strong.
Please leave your comments below to share your experience using different irons.
Additional Posts Using the iron
You may also be interested in these posts about using an iron in encaustic painting
I would like to make encaustic dots but don’t know what tool will work. Any suggestions?
Hi Pat, The encaustic stylus is perfect for dots – https://amzn.to/3QgVM74
Thanks for the iron post. I am new to encaustic and pondered which would be best and you confirmed my intuition. Thank you again.
Hello!
I’m just beginning my photo encaustic ‘journey’, can’t wait to start experimenting!
As far as the irons…. I have a heat gun, is an iron necessary? What can I do with the iron that I can’t do with the heat gun?
When to use a heat gun vs. an iron, or are they used in combination?
Thank you!!
Hi Douglas,
The iron is a very different fusing tool from a heat gun. If you print a photo on rice paper, an iron is necessary.
The current Encaustic Art iron (shown in your amazon link) is current, and from a better factory than the earlier model you used in your testing (main picture). The important thing to ponder is perhaps what you are using the iron for? If it is simply to spread wax around and fuse one clear layer on top of another then many irons could work. But if it is being used as a direct tool for creating marks and effects withing the wax, then the traditionally shaped iron has many advantages. Stable accurate temperature control becomes more important.
* Note that the Encaustic Art iron can also be reconstructed into a small and useful hotplate by removing the handle and seating the iron base (hot side up) on top of that handle (it clicks into place).