Burnishing - how many RPM?

[mike02130]

Yeah sure, the outside spins faster than at the shaft. This is a 1.75" leather burnisher we're talking about, not a large wheel.  The person only has a few options at speed choices.  No one has presented an optimum speed. So sitting down and figuring out ratios would be a mute point. Get the burnisher on a machine and see if it works.  If the Cobra machine works well at two thousand rpms(I'm assuming that speed is measured at the shaft) and burns the leather at 3000 then one would go to 2000 rpms or less. A 1725rpm motor should be fine. I used one at 180 rpms and that worked well.  

I'm sure there are other solutions, but no one has offered any 

[chrisash]

Makes you wonder what speed hand burnishing is, and that seems to work well

[Mattsbagger]

My Harbor Freight drill press is running at its slowest speed. It’s the small bench top one. It works just fine with a 1.5 inch burnisher. When I use it. Mostly just use canvas and water now because rarely do I use leather thicker than 5oz.

[bullmoosepaddles]

My reply does not answer your question. It does present you with a less expensive option and provide you with easily achievable results. I never tried it originally  because it seemed to simple. 

I turned burnishers, used lathes, drill presse, 1/4 horsepower motor to turn wheels of different types and sizes.  I chased the illusive perfectly burnished edge for a while looking for an easier way.

The best edges I have ever produced were using the method demonstrated by Don Gonzales on YouTube. It cost next to nothing as compared to the burnishers I tried.   

Also that method has never given me a bad edge. For a rag, soap, stick and water its worth a try. 

I wish you well in your search. 

[Japi]

When the Englishman first designed and started selling his burnisher, he did a deal with the people that helped developed it and they sold the burnisher and power source as a unit. Needless to say, it was all a con and the power source was a cheap generic brand , phase 1, two shaft machine that ran at 3000 rmp. Intended for a 150mm wheel power was 370W, Volts 230v- 50Hz and Amps 2.  Having developed emphysema, I am no longer able to burnish anything much and nothing well I have used this machine with it's 2 1/4" outside diameter burnishing wheel since I got it, a little before I joined this site in 2016. I don't post much but I try to help. Take care and remember to have fun

Edited April 6, 2019 by Japi

[Matt S]

4 hours ago, Japi said:

When the Englishman first designed and started selling his burnisher, he did a deal with the people that helped developed it and they sold the burnisher and power source as a unit. Needless to say, it was all a con and the power source was a cheap generic brand , phase 1, two shaft machine that ran at 3000 rmp. Intended for a 150mm wheel power was 370W, Volts 230v- 50Hz and Amps 2.  Having developed emphysema, I am no longer able to burnish anything much and nothing well I have used this machine with it's 2 1/4" outside diameter burnishing wheel since I got it, a little before I joined this site in 2016. I don't post much but I try to help. Take care and remember to have fun

Hi Japi,

I bought the same burnisher several years ago though I supplied my own motor. The one designed by Nigel Armitage ("the Englishman") and sold by Just Wood. I've burnished literally hundreds of belts and other leather items with it in the past year alone. The burnisher itself is very well made and service was prompt from Just Wood. Nigel responded within 48 hours when I asked him a question so I can't fault his service either.

I find it interesting that you describe it as a con. The motor is a Draper model #29620, which retails for between £70 and £100 online. Just Wood sells it at about the middle of that range. They have done the job of removing the safety guards and grinding stones, which is a half-hour job for which not everybody has the necessary tools and hand strength so there's added value there too. In what way is that a con? Draper is a long-established firm that, while not selling top quality tools don't charge top price either. I've used cheaper motors on my burnisher and trust me -- you don't want that.

The burnisher itself is not cheap (currently about £85 on its own) but it's cheaper than buying a lathe, turning tools and learning to make a wooden tool that's balanced enough not to vibrate when turning 50 times a second.

When you say you haven't been able to burnish anything, do you mean with this machine or that your health problems have meant that you can't now burnish by hand? I had to modify my technique a little when I got it, and make adjustments when using different leathers. That's just part and parcel of leatherwork.

[chrisash]

History about Draper tools

https://www.drapertools.com/about-drapertools

Quite good for a family run business

[Japi]

On 4/6/2019 at 2:56 PM, Japi said:

When the Englishman first designed and started selling his burnisher, he did a deal with the people that helped developed it and they sold the burnisher and power source as a unit. Needless to say, it was all a con and the power source was a cheap generic brand , phase 1, two shaft machine that ran at 3000 rmp. Intended for a 150mm wheel power was 370W, Volts 230v- 50Hz and Amps 2.  Having developed emphysema, I am no longer able to burnish anything much and nothing well I have used this machine with it's 2 1/4" outside diameter burnishing wheel since I got it, a little before I joined this site in 2016. I don't post much but I try to help. Take care and remember to have fun

To live is to die, all else is prologue.

[Matt S]

3 hours ago, Japi said:

To live is to die, all else is prologue.

I... see...

[mikesc]

Having watched many of Nigel's videos, ( even though my business is not one for which they are applicable ) I always found them to be extremely well made and clear..Personally I object very strongly to the suggestion that he is in any way a "con"..There are many scams and cons in leatherwork ( and in other craft based businesses )..In my opinion he is not one of the people perpetrating them..Selling a burnisher as part of an "all in one" with a motor

Needless to say, it was all a con and the power source was a cheap generic brand , phase 1, two shaft machine that ran at 3000 rmp. Intended for a 150mm wheel power was 370W, Volts 230v- 50Hz and Amps 2.

is not a con merely because you personally do not think that the motor is a good one, or that it lacks a "brand name" that you personally approve of..

To accuse someone of being involved in a "con" is to say that they are dishonest..which in UK law is defamation and more specifically libel ( because your defamation of Nigel Armitage is in written form )..and is actionable in justice..