Kustom Report post Posted September 1, 2009 I saw this variable speed mini grinder on Harbor Freight's website http://www.harborfre...temnumber=43533 I was wondering if it would make an okay burnisher if I had a wood burnishing wheel made for it. Also if I got a small bench top drill press could I lay it down on it's back or side to use as a horizontal burnisher. Your feedback please. Thanks, Steve Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CampbellRandall Report post Posted September 1, 2009 I saw this variable speed mini grinder on Harbor Freight's website http://www.harborfre...temnumber=43533 I was wondering if it would make an okay burnisher if I had a wood burnishing wheel made for it. Also if I got a small bench top drill press could I lay it down on it's back or side to use as a horizontal burnisher. Your feedback please. Thanks, Steve Its hard to beat the price. You'll have to engineer burnishing wheel adapters, which is going to cost more than the machine. FYI, I normally don't recommend over 1400 RPM for burnishing, or you'll burn the leather. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kustom Report post Posted September 2, 2009 Thanks for the info CR. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
K-Man Report post Posted September 2, 2009 Its hard to beat the price. You'll have to engineer burnishing wheel adapters, which is going to cost more than the machine. FYI, I normally don't recommend over 1400 RPM for burnishing, or you'll burn the leather. I burnish at 3600 rpms all day long, and have been for a number of years. Have not had any problems/issues. But to each their own. All that matters in the end is that it works/produces the results you are looking to get. I took a Ryobi grinder and adapted it with a stainless steel version of the Weaver #9 tool on one side and a stainless steel version of their other wood burnisher on the other. I made one small modification on it, and it runs like a champ all day long. You could probably do the same thing with wood versions of the burnishing tools themselves if you want to use that instead. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CampbellRandall Report post Posted September 3, 2009 I burnish at 3600 rpms all day long, and have been for a number of years. Have not had any problems/issues. But to each their own. All that matters in the end is that it works/produces the results you are looking to get. Your speed depends on the type of leather and the type of wheel you are using. I'm not saying you can't burnish at 3600, but the faster you go, and the more aggressive the wheel = more friction = more chance in burning the leather. If you are using wood or steel wheels, they will slick out and produce less friction. If you are using canvas, leather, etc it will behave differently. Our machines us 4" diameter wheels so we normally recommend around 1400 RPM. If you are using, lets say a 2" or less, the surface speed in at least half, so with 3600 RPM your wheel is moving about the same speed as my 4" wheel at around 1750/1400 rpm. Also, if you have a faster machine, you cant let the leather sit in one place for too long. Burnishing is as much science as it is technique. Find the right ingredients for you application and experiment. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kustom Report post Posted September 3, 2009 Your speed depends on the type of leather and the type of wheel you are using. I'm not saying you can't burnish at 3600, but the faster you go, and the more aggressive the wheel = more friction = more chance in burning the leather. If you are using wood or steel wheels, they will slick out and produce less friction. If you are using canvas, leather, etc it will behave differently. Our machines us 4" diameter wheels so we normally recommend around 1400 RPM. If you are using, lets say a 2" or less, the surface speed in at least half, so with 3600 RPM your wheel is moving about the same speed as my 4" wheel at around 1750/1400 rpm. Also, if you have a faster machine, you cant let the leather sit in one place for too long. Burnishing is as much science as it is technique. Find the right ingredients for you application and experiment. Does Campbell - Randall have a burnishing machine set up you sell? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kevinhopkins Report post Posted September 4, 2009 Hi Kustom, as has been mentioned, there are a lot of ways that you can get by to burnishing things. But depending on where you're at in your leather life, you might want to give consideration to picking up a used shoe finisher. THere are cheap ones, and there are expensive ones, but one thing is for sure, if you have one, your leather work will take a big change for the better! Just my 2 cts.... Kevin Hopkins Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dustin29 Report post Posted September 4, 2009 Where would you get a used shoe polisher? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dbusarow Report post Posted September 4, 2009 But depending on where you're at in your leather life, you might want to give consideration to picking up a used shoe finisher. Kevin, Is this just the buffing wheels you see for polishing shoes or something else? Dan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
