Looking for a fast and effective way to burnish natural veg-tan

[chiefjason]

5 hours ago, JerseyFirefighter said:

Thay sounds ridiculously messy no?

Not at all, get a scrap piece and give it a shot.  My pro edge burnisher is mounted on my drill press as well.  The leather soaks both of them up, so nothing to really sling around.  You could possibly wipe any extra off before burnishing.  Don't dunk the dauber in the saddle soap, just kind of touch it to the surface until you get the hang of it.  The thinner saddle soap is easier to work with.  Tractor Supply carries some that works very well.  

Also try edging with the edges damp.  It kind of pre burnishes the edges as it cuts.  I rarely sand the edges anymore since I started burnishing wet.  

A lot of belt guys will hook the belt on a nail and pull it through denim or similar cotton to burnish the edges.  Apparently it's pretty fast.  I do know burnishing a belt on the drill press is time consuming.  I've done a few that way.  

[MADMAX22]

I actually started using this stuff Thread lube  from campbell randall. It works pretty good. 

I burnish with that stuff then go back over with my regular edge wax and burnish real quick and am done. 

[Mark842]

I run a motor burnisher, variable between about 2000 to 3500 RPM. On one side I installed a holder that would fit a standard 2" diameter sanding disc, the other side a standard hardwood burnisher..pick your favorite brand. On the side with the sanding wheel mount, instead of using it as a sanding I have a 4" long section of canvas fire hose. 2" of the fire hose is soaked with saddle soap, the other 2" is packed with bees wax. I sand my edges smooth on a separate belt sander, edge bevel, run the edge over the canvas side at about 2500rpm, then go to the wood at full speed 3500rpm and then the wax side of the canvas at 2500rpm. puts a nice smooth shiny slicked edge on a belt in about 2 minutes from start to finish.

[JerseyFirefighter]

19 hours ago, chiefjason said:

Not at all, get a scrap piece and give it a shot.  My pro edge burnisher is mounted on my drill press as well.  The leather soaks both of them up, so nothing to really sling around.  You could possibly wipe any extra off before burnishing.  Don't dunk the dauber in the saddle soap, just kind of touch it to the surface until you get the hang of it.  The thinner saddle soap is easier to work with.  Tractor Supply carries some that works very well.  

Also try edging with the edges damp.  It kind of pre burnishes the edges as it cuts.  I rarely sand the edges anymore since I started burnishing wet.  

A lot of belt guys will hook the belt on a nail and pull it through denim or similar cotton to burnish the edges.  Apparently it's pretty fast.  I do know burnishing a belt on the drill press is time consuming.  I've done a few that way.  

I mean messy as in dyeing the edge with pro oil dye and then straight to the burnisher. Die all over your hands, the project, etc. I do everything else similar except I used a sponge to wet it, and a mix of glycerin soap and beeswax or paraffin to give it a waxy finish. 

[bikermutt07]

6 hours ago, JerseyFirefighter said:

I mean messy as in dyeing the edge with pro oil dye and then straight to the burnisher. Die all over your hands, the project, etc. I do everything else similar except I used a sponge to wet it, and a mix of glycerin soap and beeswax or paraffin to give it a waxy finish. 

On the edges the dye soaks in pretty quick. I use a small paint brush for my edges. 

[JerseyFirefighter]

I use the heritage dye box... I agree it soaks in quick, but doesnt stop from rubbing on anything and everything during the first 15 mins... then on the hands only after that for the next 4-6 hrs. 

[bikermutt07]

6 minutes ago, JerseyFirefighter said:

I use the heritage dye box... I agree it soaks in quick, but doesnt stop from rubbing on anything and everything during the first 15 mins... then on the hands only after that for the next 4-6 hrs. 

Lol, I think I would retire that thing.

[chiefjason]

16 hours ago, JerseyFirefighter said:

I mean messy as in dyeing the edge with pro oil dye and then straight to the burnisher. Die all over your hands, the project, etc. I do everything else similar except I used a sponge to wet it, and a mix of glycerin soap and beeswax or paraffin to give it a waxy finish. 

I wear gloves while I'm dyeing and burnishing.  After about 30 minutes it's good to go.  I regularly work a holster up in the evening and stitch it that night.  And that is edged and fully dyed just a hour or two before sitting down to stitch it.  The main problem is when I want to burnish a natural edge.  I have to clean the burnisher really well.  

 

I go back over my edges with a mix of paraffin and bees wax to fill in the small spots that don't get burnished too.  

 

 

[Mattsbagger]

5 hours ago, chiefjason said:

I wear gloves while I'm dyeing and burnishing.  After about 30 minutes it's good to go.  I regularly work a holster up in the evening and stitch it that night.  And that is edged and fully dyed just a hour or two before sitting down to stitch it.  The main problem is when I want to burnish a natural edge.  I have to clean the burnisher really well.  

 

I go back over my edges with a mix of paraffin and bees wax to fill in the small spots that don't get burnished too.  

 

 

I was gonna post a question about cleaning the burnisher. What do you use. I just got a 'bolo burnisher. I had a problem with dye transfer with my hand held Tandy one one so I used a 2nd hand held for natural. But that be a bit pricey with a motor burnisher. Lol

[chiefjason]

4 hours ago, Mattsbagger said:

I was gonna post a question about cleaning the burnisher. What do you use. I just got a 'bolo burnisher. I had a problem with dye transfer with my hand held Tandy one one so I used a 2nd hand held for natural. But that be a bit pricey with a motor burnisher. Lol

 

I put some denatured alcohol on a rag, turn the burnisher on, then run it through the burnisher.  Seems to work fine when I need to burnish a natural edge.  And that is pretty rare so it gets a lot of use with dye ahead of the cleaning.  Basically, about the only edging I do is with black dye so I don't bother cleaning it unless I have too.  And I usually check it by burnishing a scrap piece first.