Home Grown Burnisher

[Dwight]

Earlier, I saw another home grown burnisher, . . . and this is just to reinforce to especially the new folks, . . . you do not have to spend $1000 on equipment to make your edges look good.

This took me a couple hours, . . . and something like $10, . . . has worked for quite a few years.

Don't recollect what the motor came off of, . . . probably a furnace fan.

May God bless,

Dwight

[Dave Richardson]

Great idea Dwight. Keep it simple !

 

[cjartist]

Looks good and it sounds like it has served you well.  Being a leather worker is super expensive and I'm right there with you.  Why spend hundreds or thousands when you can get the job done for less than $20 (if your even the tiniest bit handy).  You can find motors in many places, even garage sales sometimes.  Biggest thing to pay attention to is the voltage and make sure you can power it correctly and safely.

[RhodesAveDesigns]

I love this!

Many seem to believe they need "the best", i.e. most-expensive, or nearly-most-expensive, products available to do just about anything. While some products are outright awful, cheap, and useless, many things can be accomplished with some ingenuity. 

Quite frankly, I would make just about everything I use, if I could, just because I'm a control freak, prefer knowing where the components came from, and don't like to wait for anything, but that's just me .

[JD62]

Hay Dwight , I'm guessin that's what they call an "open frame " motor?

[Dwight]

11 hours ago, RhodesAveDesigns said:

I love this!

Many seem to believe they need "the best", i.e. most-expensive, or nearly-most-expensive, products available to do just about anything. While some products are outright awful, cheap, and useless, many things can be accomplished with some ingenuity. 

Quite frankly, I would make just about everything I use, if I could, just because I'm a control freak, prefer knowing where the components came from, and don't like to wait for anything, but that's just me .

You and I are cut from the same piece of cloth, . . . or maybe leather  as I have made almost all my specialty cutting tools for straps, contours, belts, etc.  

Made my own drying box, . . . burnisher, . . . and others.

Been called a cheap-skate, . . . and I just smile and nod at the reputation and recognition.

May God bless,

Dwight

[dikman]

Not a cheap-skate (a term usually applied by people who are incapable of making their own "stuff" and are probably just jealous anyhow). I take a great deal of pleasure in fabricating my own gear, when possible. Guess it's how I was brought up.

[RhodesAveDesigns]

I do think it's often either jealousy or a lack of understanding behind a lot of labels; I've learned to accept the "cheap skate" moniker with pride, insofar as it means I am careful with my spending, and tend not to have too many regrets about my purchases (and have $$$ I wouldn't otherwise have remaining). Your ingenuity is a skill, just as much as your leatherwork. 

I didn't have a lot as a child, and had to "make-do" a lot of the time in terms of art and hobby supplies. Sometimes I probably take it too far (this area is known for being frugal; many in West Michigan are of Dutch descent, and being "Dutch" is considered a put-down). I know tonight there were a couple coupons ($20 and $25) for websites where I just placed orders yesterday and earlier this morning, and I'm trying not to get overly upset about it (in the scheme of things, on a student budget, given that textbooks now easily run $300-400 apiece, and textbook rental $$ can vary from hour to hour). 

Anyway, the point is that you should be proud (and now I really need a lathe). I have seen the other, recent, thread with the burnishing unit, and filed that away, as well, as I like to have options.  Having a "name" on your tools makes for pretty Instagram pictures, but it doesn't necessarily get the job done any better. 

- Elizabeth

[dikman]

Elizabeth, you definitely DO need a lathe . Anyone who is a "cheap-skate" will find one invaluable. (Might be cheaper than some of your student stuff, unfortunately I suspect it rates low on your list of priorities at the moment).

[RhodesAveDesigns]

Not as low as you might think, lol. Especially given what I've seen on Craigslist lately, while searching for sewing machines. After all the talk about Shopsmith tool systems the other day, well, let's just say I also really need a larger, hatchback vehicle ($125 w/ 4 attachments?!?!). The possibility of burnishers, tool handles, part modifications, and custom crochet hooks, is awfully tempting, I already have the chisels... maybe next spring.

The God of second-hand/ thrift store items tends to pull in my favor, if I put in the work/ really need something. Sooner or later. Given the recent sewing machine acquisitions, I can't be too greedy. Especially since I'm still elbow deep in the de-gunking and greasing phase. And considering whether I really should re-paint, and, if so, classic black, or a cool racing green.

In the meantime, I'll keep scavenge-ing pieces and parts.