Anyone Make Metal Burnishers

[OLDNSLOW]

should someone want to start making these, I would be interested as long as the cost was kept to a reasonable point. As a side point I saw somewhere the other day, ebay, amazon, not sure where but there were some made out of brass, they had a couple of different widths and came to a sharp point, not sure how the brass would workout being that it is real soft in comparison to aluminum.

[charlescrawford]

JLSLeather That is exactly what I am looking for! That drawing is spot on. I totally agree about the steel shank.

I am with Oldnslow if someone should take on this and the price is affordable I would be all over this. I think it would be a great side business for someone that has access to the equipment and has the know how to accomplish this.

[JLSleather]

Yeah, wouldn't take that long. I was thinking if I had a lathe here, I could have made the thing in about the same time as drawing out that drawing!

Only lathes i see for sale these days are either quite new (and starting about $30k) or beat so bad for so long that... well...

[Tigdim]

I will work on making changes/updating my design when I get a chance this weekend.

What do you consider reasonable? To some people it may be $40 for others $150... without a number it is hard to tell if it is worth the effort to even look into mass production. (in this case I am only talking 20-50)

I work with a local machine shop when our shop gets too busy. I could have them quote it in quantity of 10, 20, 50, and 100. But I would have to know that people are interested and willing to pay cost + shipping before I would waste their time.

Aaron

[Troy I]

I like your idea of a metal burnisher, but I have a question before I jump on the bandwagon...What is the advantages of a metal burnisher over a wood one? I use wood now and they do very well.

[charlescrawford]

I will work on making changes/updating my design when I get a chance this weekend.

What do you consider reasonable? To some people it may be $40 for others $150... without a number it is hard to tell if it is worth the effort to even look into mass production. (in this case I am only talking 20-50)

I work with a local machine shop when our shop gets too busy. I could have them quote it in quantity of 10, 20, 50, and 100. But I would have to know that people are interested and willing to pay cost + shipping before I would waste their time.

Aaron

For me affordable would be 40-50 bucks. I am still getting things going and living on disability

[greystoneleatherllc]

I've been working on one that ranges from 12mm with to 4mm slot with for holsters n belts @ 3mm deep with a variable radius

to allow for belts and HD laminated leather and still give a slight curve to the finished edge not 2 corners and a flat spot but a appealing finish and

should be reversible and work on a generic buffer like a HF 3400 rpm buffer w/ variable speed control,

and will allow user to to switch grooves to the inner side or out side which ever works best for the end user

first two have been prototypes and changed to make more of what I want,,,,, but also considering also having a run of 25-50 or a run of 100-1000+

first small run might be $48-52 cost so if I can cover that and 25%? that would cover my out of pocket so far

I'm very happy with what I have,,.my guess a small run cost less than 50, will be in the 70 85 unit range 100 or more will drop 10-15%

I've dumped a several hundred in so far with the first, but getting to where and what I want,

First one were done in stainless as that was on hand The company doing the prototypes is into combat rifle muzzle-brakes and suppressors state of the art CNC laser cutting stuff

run items will be 60 or 70 grade aluminum and tumbled polished

will let you know how it finishes as I'm waiting on a third and hopefully final unit

would be interested in making a production run if interest was more than a few

will share details and end results when we get there,,db

[Nuttish]

I made one out of stainless. It doesn't work, I suspect because the steel obviously doesn't absorb moisture and cannot generate heat from friction.

I want to say I recall someone saying something about dielectric constants of wood and phenolic or some other magical physics nonsense.

[charlescrawford]

JLSleather have you looked at harbor freight for metal lathe's?

Edited February 13, 2016 by charlescrawford

[greystoneleatherllc]

SS steel nor Aluminium absorb moisture, Al and SS/ friction WILL generate HEAT,, AL will heat/cool it quicker than SS steel, that said ,,,,,

burnishing requires HEAT/FRICTION ,, not a lot hence the use of AL,over SS steel,

ALUMINIUM is a clear choice, so a burnishing tool should generate the most heat at a friction rate..

.BUT.....

wood is a better choice BUT durability/production rates made wood a ,,,,???,,, choice

unless you have the ability to supply your own needs with wood and generate the tools at a sane $$$

so AL is a choice to allow consistent duplication of results/// less operator error for leather"""IMHO""""""

but not to throw a wing dinger in finishing edges is a art YOU fine tune based on what others do and what you can manage

or what you know and have learned

I have a enco lathe that is not a HF/cheap o and I know I DO NOT HAVE the skill to do what I want with it

so thats my $0.02

db