Jim,
First I have to thank all those that mentioned my burnings. I really enjoy doing these. Also as several mentioned, the Colwood Cub "Mega" kit is assembled by Klingspor. This is the kit that I currently use and it's well worth the money for a starter set. The unit heats up quickly (seconds) and the tips are very easy to change with the included tip puller. I've had my set for about 3 to 4 years now with no issues at all. One thing I can say to make your or your wife's burning experience much better is to sand your wood to at least 320 with a ROS. I usually sand up to 600! The smoother your wood is, the easier the tip will glide across the wood. Also, with a new set, you want to feel the contact points of every tip for burrs and sharp spots. If there is a burr, it'll have a tendency to want to catch the wood. On really bad burrs, I'll sand with a 400 grit wet or dry then strop every tip very well. The shinier they are on the contact surface, the easier they glide across the wood. I will burn on anything, but Basswood is by far the best! DO your research before you burn on everything! Some woods, like walnut, will put off toxic fumes. I have a small 4" desk fan that I setup to blow away from me to carry any smoke and fumes away. Another great tip is to READ some starter books so you/she doesn't get discouraged. If you ever get up to Chapel Hill, I'd be glad to sit down and give you both some instruction. Good luck and have fun!