brianfromoregon Report post Posted November 18, 2012 I'm a novice. Making basic belts with materials I have on hand. This is my approach and would like your thoughts on it. 'absurd' and 'wrong' are two words I'm looking forward to... I've secured an ABS pipe cap to my drill press, notched the side with a circular file, and smoothed it with sandpaper. Then I apply black shoe polish to the edge of my already-died leather belt and run it through the 1100 RPM groove. This does an OK job of burnishing, the edge comes out smoother and harder. But if I scrape the edge with my fingernail the fibers pop back out, it's not as hard as I'd like it to be. Something I can tweak here to get harder edges? Thanks. Brian Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
David8386 Report post Posted November 18, 2012 Try wetting the edges with water first and from there move to paraffin or gum traq. Do a forum search for edging and go from there. Oh yeah I almost forgot " absurd and wrong" good luck David Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
brianfromoregon Report post Posted November 19, 2012 Just ordered gum tragacanth and yellow saddle soap. Will try that next weekend. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
electrathon Report post Posted November 19, 2012 Just ordered gum tragacanth and yellow saddle soap. Will try that next weekend. I like to use glycerine saddle soap to edge with. Comes in a bar at the feed store. A wooden dowell will work better than the plastic. Aaron Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnBloch Report post Posted November 19, 2012 notched the side with a circular file, and smoothed it with sandpaper. Oh my lord. I've had all the tools to do this, but for some reason thought I needed a lathe. My brain never ceases to amaze me. Like the other guys have said, wood would probably be ideal, but I'm curious as to how abs would differ. Get some gum trag or another edging product and I bet your edges will be looking slick! As for me, I know what I'm doing tonight! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chrisafrika Report post Posted March 29, 2013 Use wallpaper paste. Mix the powder with water and apply by brush or which ever other method you use for burnishing. Works great ! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fowlingpiece Report post Posted March 29, 2013 I like hide glue crystals mixed with boiling water. Stain can also be mixed in. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
