Members CitizenKate Posted March 26, 2009 Members Report Posted March 26, 2009 Just got mine yesterday. It looks beautiful, and works beautifully! Thanks! Kate
Members DeuceTrinal Posted April 1, 2009 Author Members Report Posted April 1, 2009 Oops! I had a small mishap today while turning, I dropped a burnisher while buffing and manged to break off the tip. I re-turned the tip, but instead of a long point for slots it now has a short tip for holes and slot edges. I tested it and it worked just fine on belt hole edges, it just won't do the inside of a slot or deep hole the way a long tip would. It also has a slightly shorter flat spot after the step from the re-turning, which shouldn't affect much at all. If it will still work for what you make, you can save some cash! $5 off, so $33 shipped for the stubby burnisher. The stubby burnisher is sold pending payment! Current orders are in production now, you'll get a confirmation email when your burnisher(s) ship. Thanks to everyone for the interest, I'm glad I can provide a good tool for other craftsmen!
Members Talfuchre Posted April 1, 2009 Members Report Posted April 1, 2009 Paypal sent for the stubby. This is a deal in my book. I didn't really need the long portion. TF
RawhideLeather Posted April 2, 2009 Report Posted April 2, 2009 I find the talk about different speeds for a wood burnisher very interesting. I do realize that the larger the diam. the faster the actual surface speed (used to be a machinist ). However, I've been using a 1 3/4" diameter disc type hardwood burnisher I made in my drill press for a couple of years now and have found through trying different speeds that I get the best results going with the slowest speed I have which is 570 rpm! Seems like most folks here are using much higher speeds like 1750 or higher! I believe that if I were using a burnisher with half the diameter I could go twice as fast and get the same results but that would still be only 1140 rpm. Just for comparison purposes - I first lightly dampen the edges and then apply Gum Tragacanth before I burnish. I then burnish - then go over it again after a few minutes after it dries out a bit to get the results I want which are usually glassy - but not always. I've found that the moisture content has to be just right for the best results. It also seems some leather burnishes better than others even if it's all veg-tan from the same tannery. I started out with the higher speeds and was actually disappointed that I had to go slower as the faster speeds did the edges faster just not as shiny and too fast would burn it. I'm not saying that slower is better - just that it works better for me. Maybe others are using a wax instead and that makes the difference (though I have tried beeswax and didn't care for the result). Anyone else care to chime in on the speed thing and what they're using on the edges? Richard
Members Rayban Posted April 2, 2009 Members Report Posted April 2, 2009 I have found that I don't have to press the leather against the burnisher.....just hold it to make light contact with the wheel for best results. BTW...I started with a 2" sq. block so by now the grooves are about 1 1/2" in dia. turning at 1750.......I just dampen the leather with water....sometimes lick the small spots, which is why I believe it to be a good idea to keep my mouth moist ....usually with Bud Light.......and like the post above, I don't always get the same results with the same effort.......it's an art form right?? Raybanwww.rgleather.net
Members Twosons Posted April 3, 2009 Members Report Posted April 3, 2009 I finally got some time to play with mine and it is great! For the 1st time, I am happy with my edges. Thanks!!!
Members BOOMSTICKHolsters Posted April 3, 2009 Members Report Posted April 3, 2009 (edited) I'm not saying that slower is better - just that it works better for me. Maybe others are using a wax instead and that makes the difference (though I have tried beeswax and didn't care for the result). Anyone else care to chime in on the speed thing and what they're using on the edges? I've been using Yankee wax with the plastic weaver slicker, and water with my wood burnisher, both at ~1100 rpms. I would love to give one of these rosewood burnishers a try and see how it works for me, especially since the wood slicker from weaver is starting to get chewed up from chucking it into the press multiple times It would be great to see some close up pictures of the edges accomplished with this slicker, if anyone has the time. Edited April 3, 2009 by BOOMSTICKHolsters
Members Talfuchre Posted April 6, 2009 Members Report Posted April 6, 2009 I purchased the Stubby burnisher. It came within a week - packaged in an old coffee can (threw off the drug dogs no doubt!) and was padded well. This thing is NICE. I chucked it up and burnished some scrap. I originally had my drill press set too low - so I set it at about 1550 RPS and reburnished. This was about right - a little water or a little bees wax and BOOM - instant (or relatively instant in comparison to hand work) burnished edge. I am psyched. The seller was honest, gave good communication, and did everything right. TF
Schno Posted April 6, 2009 Report Posted April 6, 2009 It's great to see how many people are benefiting from Scott's expertise. He's a fairly stellar individual, and I'm very glad to count him as a friend. We call him 'Google' for the wealth of non-trivial knowledge that he manages keep stored in his head. He's one of those people that, upon discovering some pursuit, devours ever bit of technical minutiae he can find on the subject and thereby quickly becomes an expert in the field. Me, I just make it up as I go Anyway, there's my endorsement. If you need any more convincing, just go back and read through the posts on this thread. Well deserved kudos! Schno - Los Angeles, CA
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