Buffing wax edge burnishing to a shine

[thisiszoness]

Mike,

Harder waxes will result in shinier edges. Beeswax is soft (relatively) and doesn't polish to a glossy finish. I've started using a product called Columbus Edge Wax; very hard and shines up great with a bit of canvas. I apply it after burnishing with water and tokonole. 

[paloma]

8 hours ago, thisiszoness said:

Mike,

Harder waxes will result in shinier edges. Beeswax is soft (relatively) and doesn't polish to a glossy finish. I've started using a product called Columbus Edge Wax; very hard and shines up great with a bit of canvas. I apply it after burnishing with water and tokonole. 

it's exact, Tokonole is o good product water based tragacanthe but it's just good to fix fibers of the leather,it fix and hardener a litle bit leather fibers,after that there are several ways by workers .I noticed that, like Thisiszoness , using a harder wax after Tokonole/adraganthe gum and after bees-wax like carnauba makes the best shynny finish.And more durable.

You can use this product https://www.amazon.com/Beall-Tools-Carnauba-Wax-5-1/dp/B0037MM4PC/ref=sr_1_4?crid=1ORXDFDATED1W&keywords=carnuba+wax&qid=1559112976&s=gateway&sprefix=carnuba+wax%2Caps%2C241&sr=8-4

or this: https://www.amazon.fr/Carnauba-qualité-Brillant-instantané-perlage/dp/B00IHW4QDK?pd_rd_w=lWvpD&pf_rd_p=a658d894-5bca-4d5c-b618-b473bca5ca47&pf_rd_r=YQ5ADJKGTDBKADKGT2Y1&pd_rd_r=c71921c9-8785-4c9f-8a57-ff8625fa49ec&pd_rd_wg=bj7s5&ref_=pd_gw_cr_simh

for finishing operation  and you are sure to get:obtain the best results.

Edited May 29, 2019 by paloma

[billybopp]

Not sure what you have there, but tokonole is nothing like the tragacanth that I have used.   The gum tragacanth that I have used works OK for a little while, but eventually the edges wear and fibers come loose.  That does not happen for me when I use tokonole, it makes a nice tight gloss edge that stays that way.  

- Bill

[Mike1261]

15 hours ago, thisiszoness said:

Mike,

Harder waxes will result in shinier edges. Beeswax is soft (relatively) and doesn't polish to a glossy finish. I've started using a product called Columbus Edge Wax; very hard and shines up great with a bit of canvas. I apply it after burnishing with water and tokonole. 

I'm about to order the Columbus. How do you use it? Do you soften it up before applying or just use friction? How much do you use, can you overdo the wax?

[Mike1261]

I just tried the Tokenole. Wow what a difference! The Eco Flo Gum Trag from Tandy is a way different consistency. It's almost like the Tokenole is a wood glue lol. My edges on drum dyed chestnut leather look gorgeous with the Tokenole! The Gum Trag was leaving the edges looking a little like particleboard in appearance. Lighter than the chestnut color, with a mishmash of chestnut and lighter fibers. It was "OK" but I wasn't happy. Kinda left me feeling as though I needed to dye my edges, which defeats the entire purpose for selecting a drum dyed leather.

The Tokenole leaves a darker more uniform leather finish, the same color as the chestnut dye on the finished surface. It burnishes quickly and smoothly and the canvas shines it right up. I love it!

The columbus wax should be here next Tuesday. Will see if I can protect the edge nicely using that stuff :-D I'm very excited if you can't tell LOL.

[bikermutt07]

18 hours ago, Mike1261 said:

I just tried the Tokenole. Wow what a difference! The Eco Flo Gum Trag from Tandy is a way different consistency. It's almost like the Tokenole is a wood glue lol. My edges on drum dyed chestnut leather look gorgeous with the Tokenole! The Gum Trag was leaving the edges looking a little like particleboard in appearance. Lighter than the chestnut color, with a mishmash of chestnut and lighter fibers. It was "OK" but I wasn't happy. Kinda left me feeling as though I needed to dye my edges, which defeats the entire purpose for selecting a drum dyed leather.

The Tokenole leaves a darker more uniform leather finish, the same color as the chestnut dye on the finished surface. It burnishes quickly and smoothly and the canvas shines it right up. I love it!

The columbus wax should be here next Tuesday. Will see if I can protect the edge nicely using that stuff :-D I'm very excited if you can't tell LOL.

Glad it's working out for you.

[wizard of tragacanth]

Hey Mike... glad you tried Tokonole!  I just used it for the first time on my last project.  It is NOTHING like Gum Tragacanth, no similarity AT ALL... as you have found out.  

I intend to use it from now on but I did want to mention something about edges.  I still consider myself a beginner but I have learned a few things and not everybody has figured this part out, so I want to share it.  You have to start with a good edge in order to end up with a good edge, no matter what product is used.

Somewhere on this forum is a post by Chuck Burrows (Wild Rose Trading Company)... one of my idols, he has passed now.  He tells how to use GT in a manner that I had never tried.  I always applied it, let it soak in for 30 seconds or so and burnished it with a wooden tool.  Done.  Mr. Burrows talked about applying one coat of GT, letting it dry, applying another coat and letting it dry... completely... and then sanding, more GT, more sanding, then a coat and burnish.  The GT makes the fibers stiff and stand up when it is sanded.  If all your sanding is done on bare leather, the fibers just flex back and fourth, never getting really short.  It is also important to use very fine grits.  Work up to at least 400, 600 or finer.  If you do not get the fibers super short, they will eventually stand up again and make the edge feel rough.

nick

 

[wizard of tragacanth]

I hope that I am not out-of-line doing this but I dug out a couple of old pics (from August 2011) that I had saved of Chuck Burrows work.  I don't know where else you could see it now.  These days the Wild Rose Trading Company is a Sporting Dog store... not at all what is once was.  Wish I had kept some of his Indian style beaded knife sheaths.  Anyway, here are the pics...  If there is anything wrong with me doing this, please delete this post.

[bikermutt07]

Those are some good pics.

I'm going to try the method you described @wizard of tragacanth

[GatoGordo]

Paloma,

Would you please explain how you make the gum tragacanth gel. I assume you start with the gum tragacanth powder.