Buffing wax edge burnishing to a shine

[Mike1261]

I'm playing with the Columbus wax, but I can't get it to gloss up.

How much wax do you apply?

What do you use to shine it up?

How much pressure to you apply?

[Mike1261]

On 6/1/2019 at 12:26 AM, wizard of tragacanth said:

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.

Thanks for the tip! I do tend to re-sand and try again when I see fibers not behaving how I like, so this totally makes sense to me.

I'm struggling to get a glossy finish to my wax at this point. I have a really gorgeously smooth edge and I have SOME shine to it, and probably it's "sufficient." But if I could get it to look even better I would be ecstatic. I'm going to try using a cotton buffing cloth when I get a hold of one. Right now I have denim, canvas, microfiber, but no soft cotton. Maybe that'll do it...

My wife thinks I'm being too picky at this point LOL. But I feel like I can do better.

[wizard of tragacanth]

37 minutes ago, Mike1261 said:

Thanks for the tip! I do tend to re-sand and try again when I see fibers not behaving how I like, so this totally makes sense to me.

I'm struggling to get a glossy finish to my wax at this point. I have a really gorgeously smooth edge and I have SOME shine to it, and probably it's "sufficient." But if I could get it to look even better I would be ecstatic. I'm going to try using a cotton buffing cloth when I get a hold of one. Right now I have denim, canvas, microfiber, but no soft cotton. Maybe that'll do it...

My wife thinks I'm being too picky at this point LOL. But I feel like I can do better.

I have had great luck with bare wooden slickers.  I have a holster that is at least 5 years old, used almost daily and the edges are still shiny.  But, I agree with your wife.  In fact my mind has really changed on this lately.  I know that many people like shiny belts and holsters but when I used to wear boots, I preferred rough-out or nu-buck.  It's just a personal thing.  I have been going for a semi-gloss or matte finish on my holsters, lately.  So, I am doing the same with the edges.  A plastic slicker will do that... a smooth, barely glossy finish.  I have never used or even experimented with any kind of cloth.

 

[wizard of tragacanth]

Could not get pic of my 5 year old holster to upload on my last post.  Here it is.  Like I said, almost daily wear for 5 years.  This was done with Gum Tragacanth and probably a coat of Satin Shene.

 

 

Edited June 3, 2019 by wizard of tragacanth

[mikesc]

Denim is cotton..a piece of an old cotton tee-shirt is soft cotton..

[thisiszoness]

On 6/3/2019 at 2:10 PM, Mike1261 said:

I'm playing with the Columbus wax, but I can't get it to gloss up.

How much wax do you apply?

What do you use to shine it up?

How much pressure to you apply?

I use friction to apply wax until I can feel a little stickiness on the edge with my finger. Then buff with canvas; denim should also work fine. I buff it pretty hard, getting the edge to heat up a bit. And once it looks pretty good, I'll go back over the edge with just a tiny amount of water, just a couple drops. Smooths out the wax perfectly, resulting in a shiny finish.