On Jan 23, 4:39*pm, "Jon Slaughter" wrote:
whit3rd wrote:
On Jan 23, 12:37 pm, "Jon Slaughter"
wrote:

A common way to sink iron a small distance in wood, is to heat it red
hot and press in to burn a socket.

How well does it actually work? I
figured it wouldn't do much more than char the wood.

I've only used the method for coarse work (like attaching handles); it
has the capacity to darken oak or maple wood, but if you
get the tool hot enough, a second's application won't penetrate
even thin workpieces. Sign shops often char the wood, then
clean up the black bits with a little sandblasting. A fine wire brush
would be useful, I suspect.