Fantastic Leather Edge Burnisher

[Jaymack]

I just bought a 2 piece Cocobolo Rosewood burnisher from ebay. One for my drill press and one for a dremel. I got them for just over $20 plus shipping. The one for the drill press works great! I need to make a couple belts this weekend and I'll try the dremel one.

[sdkid]

He has the head listed separately now.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Fantastic-Leather-Burnisher-HEAD-ONLY-NEW-Even-Better-/220721077173?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3364005bb5

[Bobby hdflame]

He has the head listed separately now.

http://cgi.ebay.com/...=item3364005bb5

Looking at that, I don't see why you couldn't just take a bolt, cut a stack of canvas or felt with a round die cutter, stack them together between two nuts and flat washers, and tighten. Then cut off the bolt head, add collette for the motor shaft or just chuck up in the drill press. Then all you'd need is your favorite edge dressing.

I think I may try making one.

[sdkid]

Randy,

What do you use along with the saddle soap?

I got one of those little plastic discs and use that with the Tragacanth. So far I've just used it by hand, but the plastic disc has a hole in the middle, I guess for a shaft. I thought about putting something like a 1/4 20 bolt in it and using it with a drill.

What speed should I use? Slow, med, or fast?

I have a bolt in mine. Works ok, I think would be better with a drill press. Making your own would be good too. You can get a mandrell for an electric motor at the hardware store.

[kc8290]

I made one. I purchased a wool felt wheel (two actually). I mounted it on a ½” shaft arbor. It works okay. Currently I have a piece of heavy canvas wrapped around it (glued). I like the canvas a little better but really haven’t used it that much. I also made one with leather washers (instead of the wool wheel) stacked on a shaft arbor. Works well also.

Picture of a wool felt wheel and wool felt wheel on the shaft arbor with canvas wrapped around it, attached.

[Bobby hdflame]

I made one. I purchased a wool felt wheel (two actually). I mounted it on a ½" shaft arbor. It works okay. Currently I have a piece of heavy canvas wrapped around it (glued). I like the canvas a little better but really haven't used it that much. I also made one with leather washers (instead of the wool wheel) stacked on a shaft arbor. Works well also.

Picture of a wool felt wheel and wool felt wheel on the shaft arbor with canvas wrapped around it, attached.

Where did you find the wool felt wheel?

Bobby

[kc8290]

I purched two on ebay for $5 each. I think it was a lucky find. Normally they run around $20. You can search under "wool felt wheel". You can also order them from http://www.buffalofelt.com/Felt_Wheels.aspx The sizes are not listed on their website, you have to call them. They come in soft, medium and hard. I think i have medium. Don't know which is best. The harder (more compact) it is the more it costs. I have a 3" diameter. I would like a smaller diameter because you can see the work results faster (if you burnishs from the bottom of the wheel).

The width I have is 1-3/4". You need at least that much so you can make at least two sizes of grooves. Two inches wide perhaps would be better. I used a round file and screwdrider to form the grooves.

Ken

[Bobby hdflame]

I purched two on ebay for $5 each. I think it was a lucky find. Normally they run around $20. You can search under "wool felt wheel". You can also order them from http://www.buffalofe...elt_Wheels.aspx The sizes are not listed on their website, you have to call them. They come in soft, medium and hard. I think i have medium. Don't know which is best. The harder (more compact) it is the more it costs. I have a 3" diameter. I would like a smaller diameter because you can see the work results faster (if you burnishs from the bottom of the wheel).

The width I have is 1-3/4". You need at least that much so you can make at least two sizes of grooves. Two inches wide perhaps would be better. I used a round file and screwdrider to form the grooves.

Ken

Thanks for the info. I'll check on prices, but it's sounding like it may be just as cheap and quick to buy the fantastic wheel and wax on eBay.

Bobby

[Saddlebag]

I made something similar using the motor out of an old vacuum cleaner - free.

[Bobby hdflame]

I made something similar using the motor out of an old vacuum cleaner - free.

I've got a holster making video by John Bianchi. He shows how he made one just like it. I remembered that I have an electric motor from an old piece of equipment that I no longer use. I'm going to make my own with it.

John Bianchi used round pieces cut from 100% wool saddle pads to make the burnisher.