Burnishing edges ....

[UKRay]

Has anyone got experience of using one of those Weaver edge slicking machines? They certainly look the part but do they do the business?

[King's X]

If I can't find cocobolo dowels, what types of wood would be good alternatives?

Ed

Try Hide Crafter, that is where I bought my 'coco' burnisher. Good luck

[quadrary]

I may end up getting a collection of dowels of various woods. If I do end up also getting cocobola turning blanks and I want to turn them into 1"-diameter dowels, would 1.5" x 1.5" blanks be large enough or should I go larger?

The only source I have for premade cocobolo dowels is in Canada. Might anyone know of a U.S. supplier for cocobolo dowels? The best source I found for the turning blanks is Diamond Tropical, which also offers good deals with free shipping on Ebay, but that's for a quantity of 15 pcs of 30" 1.5" x 1.5" blanks.

ed

you can try cue components and the other cue making supply sites those are mainly shaft blanks for making shafts for pool cues

[esantoro]

Theoretically 1"x1" would be large enough for 1" diameter rounds. 1.5" square leaves you plenty of room for error while turning them.

Dan

I ended up getting the 1" x 1" blanks. I'll try turning them by hand until I can find someone with a lathe.

Ed

[RunningRoan]

Has anyone got experience of using one of those Weaver edge slicking machines? They certainly look the part but do they do the business?

I got one of Weaver's FREE demo DVDs a year or two ago and they showed one of these machines working. Pretty slick! (pardon the pun!) I just checked their website and they're still giving them away. It looks like it may be an updated version from the one I have, so I'm not sure if they'll still show the slicker machine, but I'm sure it'll be interesting none the less! Here's the link:

http://www.leathersupply.com/demo_videos.php

[Rayban]

I know it was somewhere on this forum that someone pointed out this guy selling these on ebay...I went, I saw, I bought....here tis.....I rigged it up to an old converted sewing maching that happens to have a 1/2" shaft running through it....don't know how fast it turns, but it seems to work just fine.....

I just picked it up at the PO today, so hopefully by tonight I'll have a project far enough along to burnish...

But just taking it through a trial run, I would say that burnishing will no longer be a PITA for me........more to follow.....

[CitizenKate]

Um, well, it's also a great finish.

Kate

.........and for 17.50 for an 8 oz bottle it should do "something" really special.

[Monticore]

i have been using a variety or method found on this forum but i still can't get a smooth finish , i always get some smooth parts and other parts with little holes that did not seem to be filled with wax/gum and when i rub more the fibres stand up .

if i use gum should i not use wax or water at all or do i still water with canvas, also my problem is the leather i have using to make my watch straps is soft so when i burnish holding it in my hand it creasing the op side a bit. so after i am done working with the leather, sewing, burnishing, etc.. it is full or creases and fold marks.

[RustyMelton]

I saw a post in the leather tools section and a member here is selling motorized burnishers on ebay, his member name is Ivan. Its the same type with the wheel and wax. I ordered one earlier this week and recieved it today. It works great.

[Don Ayres]

Any hardwood should work, but cocobola seems to be what most people prefer because it is an oily wood, maybe teak would work also, I made mine out of rosewood, i'm pretty sure anything that will creat friction will work