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Posted (edited)

I ruined a pan the last time I made some so I'd be up for purchasing some pre-made. Thanks for sharing the info, I'm going to look into the felt polishing wheels, I spend way more than a minute or two on each holster, and as of now I beleive I spend more time on my edges than any part of the build process.

Lobo, Is that your entire edge finishing process, just edge, wax and use the felt wheel?

Billy

I just went to Duro-Felts website and it isn't really simple to order from, especially at 11:30pm, I found though that they have an eBay store and the prices are about the same once shipping is included.

Edited by billymac814
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Posted (edited)
  On 5/17/2011 at 3:00 AM, billymac814 said:

I ruined a pan the last time I made some so I'd be up for purchasing some pre-made. Thanks for sharing the info, I'm going to look into the felt polishing wheels, I spend way more than a minute or two on each holster, and as of now I beleive I spend more time on my edges than any part of the build process.

Lobo, Is that your entire edge finishing process, just edge, wax and use the felt wheel?

Billy

I just went to Duro-Felts website and it isn't really simple to order from, especially at 11:30pm, I found though that they have an eBay store and the prices are about the same once shipping is included.

Billy:

My edge finishing process starts with dressing down the edges smoothly using drum sanders (I dampen the leather first to reduce airborne dust), then beveling the edges, then dyeing, then rub on the wax mixture and burnish on the hard felt polishing wheel. After that the final finishes are applied. That's it.

I've used wooden burnishing tools, thread spools with grooves cut for various profiles, and other methods. The hard felt polishing wheels are the best option I have found. Very easy to use, fast and consistent results, minimum effort required. Combined with the wax mixture described, this is almost idiot-proof.

I would not recommend using good cooking utensils for making up the wax mixture. Just about any Goodwill store or second hand shop should have a few old pots and pans, maybe a muffin tin or two, at much less cost than listening to complaints about what you've done to the household items.

Duro Felt's website ordering process was a bit convoluted, as I recall, but they have been responsive and got my orders out quickly. Once there was a question, and their rep called me to make sure they got the order right. I have been pleased with their products and service.

Edited by Lobo

Lobo Gun Leather

serious equipment for serious business, since 1972

www.lobogunleather.com

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Posted
  On 5/17/2011 at 12:36 PM, Lobo said:

Billy:

My edge finishing process starts with dressing down the edges smoothly using drum sanders (I dampen the leather first to reduce airborne dust), then beveling the edges, then dyeing, then rub on the wax mixture and burnish on the hard felt polishing wheel. After that the final finishes are applied. That's it.

I've used wooden burnishing tools, thread spools with grooves cut for various profiles, and other methods. The hard felt polishing wheels are the best option I have found. Very easy to use, fast and consistent results, minimum effort required. Combined with the wax mixture described, this is almost idiot-proof.

I would not recommend using good cooking utensils for making up the wax mixture. Just about any Goodwill store or second hand shop should have a few old pots and pans, maybe a muffin tin or two, at much less cost than listening to complaints about what you've done to the household items.

Duro Felt's website ordering process was a bit convoluted, as I recall, but they have been responsive and got my orders out quickly. Once there was a question, and their rep called me to make sure they got the order right. I have been pleased with their products and service.

Thank you for sharing, I ordered a few of those felt bobs from thier eBay store last night, I'll call them next time to place an order for larger amounts.

I definately have a dedicated pot to melt wax in now. I've just been making it in small batches by putting equal pieces into a bag and then in boiling water, the one time the bag broke and the wax went through the water and stuck to the pan. I was able to run the water through a filter and save most of the wax, but there was no saving the pan. Next time I'll make bigger batches, I wasn't aware beeswax could be had so cheap, I always just picked up those 1oz bars that are well overpriced and since it lasts so long I never really checked for bigger quantities.

Right now I sand the edges with a belt sander or drum, bevel, use a sanding sponge very quickly, slick with glycerin soap, dye, a little more soap, then wax and onto the wooden burnishing thing, then the finish. I would be happy to cut down some of the time, sometimes I don't need to go through all of those steps to get good results but it generally takes longer than I'd like.

Hopefully in a few days I'll have the felt bobs and try that out, thanks again for sharing.

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Posted

What a fantastic topic.

Thanks for the great write up. What finish do you use after burnishing?

Tom

Tom

Leatherworking Neophyte

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Posted

I use the same wax mixture that Lobo uses. I've been applying it to the edge after the dye is done, then using a wood stick to rub it in, sometimes hitting it with a quick blast from a heat gun.

After reading Lobo's post yesterday though, I called and ordered a 6 pack of the felt wheels as recommended. Anxiously awaiting them so I can give them a whirl.

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Posted
  On 5/17/2011 at 9:21 PM, Shooter McGavin said:

I use the same wax mixture that Lobo uses. I've been applying it to the edge after the dye is done, then using a wood stick to rub it in, sometimes hitting it with a quick blast from a heat gun.

After reading Lobo's post yesterday though, I called and ordered a 6 pack of the felt wheels as recommended. Anxiously awaiting them so I can give them a whirl.

Are these the type polishing wheels you're referring to?

http://cgi.ebay.com/DREMEL-FELT-POLISHING-WHEEL-1-2-LOT-2-414-/180501677794?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a06bd06e2

Rayban
www.rgleather.net

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Posted
  On 5/17/2011 at 9:45 PM, Rayban said:

Are these the type polishing wheels you're referring to?

http://cgi.ebay.com/...=item2a06bd06e2

I tried those, all the did was get stuck in my eye. I think theyre too soft.

More similar to this, but the ones I ordered are 1 inch diameter by 1" long, with a 1/8" shank

http://www.foredom.net/amp8.aspx

MP8.jpg

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Posted

Here are similar ones from the Duro felt company, but they aren't the 1"x1"x1/8", I couldn't find them again today. I ordered some hard 1x1x1/4 since I'll use them in my drill press and some other small ones for in a dremel. http://cgi.ebay.com/3-Felt-Hard-Cylinder-Polishing-Bobs-3-4-x-1-5-x-1-8-/250796954871?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a64a9d4f7

You can go to their ebay store from there as well, they have a bunch of sizes, thier prices are cheaper on ebay but you have to pay a few bucks for shipping so it works out to being the same as what's on thier site, unless you order large quantities anyway. I got 6 to try and if I like them I'll call and order directly next time.

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Posted

I have a standard dremel. It has about 5-6 speed settings, but the slowest one is really fast. Is it too fast for finishing with wax? Do you all use a standard dremel for this?

pete

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Posted
  On 5/17/2011 at 11:21 PM, pete said:

I have a standard dremel. It has about 5-6 speed settings, but the slowest one is really fast. Is it too fast for finishing with wax? Do you all use a standard dremel for this?

pete

I would think it would be fine, Lobo mentioned a bit of smoke coming from it, I would think it's moving pretty fast for that much heat.

On a side note, after writing down all my edge finishing steps I wanted to see how many I could eliminate and still get good results and I found that I can completely eliminate the glycerine soap steps and just sand and bevel and while a little damp burnish with my hardwood spindle thing in my drill press at a pretty fast speed, rub the wax on and go over again on the spindle. I get just as good edges as I did before if not better.

I haven't recieved the felt wheels yet from durofelt but I found one at a surplus store yesterday and tried it and didn't have very good results, I'm going to wait until the other ones come and see if those ones are better. I'm sure it was either the bob or the way I was doing it.

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