How Do You Sand And Burnish Your Edges?

[RoosterShooter]

I'm following the advice of a guy at Tandy Leather, and using a standard Dremel drum sander to sand my edges, but I'm not happy with the results! It takes off too much material, especially when I'm trying to even out the edges.

What are you using to sand the edges for evening?

Also, I'm using a hand burnishing tool from Tandy, and I think I could get a better tool somewhere else, but don't know where. Furthermore, the Tandy hand burnisher doesn't allow for burnishing inside belt loops, inside belt loop cuts, etc .... What are you using for a burnisher?

[electrathon]

Sanding: Leave all of the layers a little too long. After they are glued and sewn even them out with a belt sander, 36 grit, brand new very sharp belt. Fast and easy. Dremels are good for small inside corners and not much else.

Burnishing: Get a bar of glicerin saddle soap, about $7 for a lifetine supply. Dampen your edge with water, rub soap on it, briskly rub with canvas or denum cloth. Amazing edges fast and easy. The little round plastic thing Tandy sells is good to leave in your tool box to remind you not to buy another one.

[RoosterShooter]

electrathon ....

I know the tool that you are referring tool as an edge burnisher. It looks like a fishing line spool. That's not the one I am using. I'm using the 'multi-edge wood slicker' seen here ... http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/en-usd/home/department/Tools/8121-00.aspx

I took one look at the plastic disk they sell, and told myself it wasn't any good.

Thanks for the tip on the sanding and using soap. I'll try that. Time to go get some new belts for the sander!

[joshk]

Dremels are good for small inside corners and not much else.

I'll respectfully disagree.... I use a pair of Dremels for all of my sanding and burnishing and have for the past few years.... tried other methods, including belt sanders, and the Dremels are what work best for me.... they're great tools when used properly and can quickly ruin a project when not used properly....

Edited October 7, 2012 by joshk

[TwinOaks]

I picked up the multi size burnisher from Tandy last Christmas, thinking it would be useful....and for a while, it was. It WILL slick down the edges, but that is not the final step. If you haven't read Bob Park's (Hidepounder) tutorial, you need to take the time to do so.

The Tandy version is 'okay' for slicking things down, but it requires additional preparation of the edge. Glycerin soap is good, so is Gum Tragacanth. But all you end up with is a slicked edge. You still need to use a medium coarse fiber material to finish the burnish. I've used canvas and denim, both with good results. If you use old blue jeans, be sure it's going to be a dyed edge, because there's a small chance of some color transfer (depending on the denim, of course).

What I use:

Belt sander w/ 80 grit...AND occasionally a dremel for small areas. Then I use a rotary burnisher made from Ipe (ee-pay)...I shameless borrowed the idea from Spinner and had a local guy turn it for me. It works pretty well, but I'll still probably ending up with one of the ones Spinner designed (Now made by Ed the Bearman or his son......contact member 'Bearman') because he spent a lot of time deciding on which wood to use and this one still leaves a bit of room for improvement.

[IngleGunLeather]

I use a drum sander on my drill press at approximately 1750 rpm to get the edges even. Then I dampen the edges and bevel. Re-dye and let dry. I use the Tandy wooden tools and some gum trag to "shape" the edges to a nice rounded edge. After that I use a piece of canvas to burnish. Works like a champ.

I've tried the dremel and it just burnishes more than I like.

Edited October 7, 2012 by CountryTrash

[Matt Alsaker]

I sand with a Dremel and for the most part follow Bob Parks article on burnishing. Instead of canvas, which I use occasionally and gives an awesome edge, I find myself using a wood burnishing wheel attached to my drill press most of the time.

[dirtclod]

If you use the table top belt sander you need to flip the belt part over. They run the wrong way ( away for you ) You want to run towards you. Theirs a nut / allen screw that needs to be loosened up and you can flip the belt over.

[Lobo]

When dressing the edges on a sander (belt or drum) it is important to keep the piece moving to avoid uneven removal of material. I use a drum sander and dampen the leather prior to sanding, which prevents airborne leather dust and lets the damp material drop to the bench top. After sanding the edges will need to be beveled, which can be easier with the leather damp (not wet, just dampened).

For burnishing I rub the edges with a 50/50 mixture of beeswax and parrafin, then burnish with a hard felt polishing wheel chucked into a drillpress and turning about 1700 rpm (a Dremel tool could also be used). Only moderate pressure is required, keep the piece moving, heat builds up quickly melting the wax and sealing the edges, and the felt wheel polishes the edge quickly and easily. With this method in the shop we burnish about 25 to 30 pieces (holsters, belts, pouches, etc) in about an hour. Then they are ready for sealant and final finish.

[katsass]

From the grump; I sand with differing grits of sanding drums in a 3/8" variable speed hand held drill, locked in a homemade fixture so that whatever is chucked in it is on the horizontal. After sanding square and smooth, I switch to a hardwood burnisher (made by Spinner) in the drill, . I then edge, moisten the leather, use a touch of Neutrogena (glycerin) bar soap along the edge, and go to burnishing. . I then polish the edge with a homemade wheel made from a 3/8" stove bolt wrapped tightly (and cemented down) with a strip of denim from an old pair of Levi's. I load the wheel with beeswax while running. I feel that the ability to vary speeds easily, assists in edge finishing. Mike

Edited October 8, 2012 by katsass