What material makes the best burnisher?

[kgg]

I am planning on turning a 3" diameter burnisher and am wondering what material would be best suited and why for burnishing using a motorized burnisher?

metal: steel / brass / aluminum

wood: soft woods / hardwoods

Any thoughts

kgg

 

Edited November 29, 2021 by kgg
wording

[McCarthy]

Cocobolo is pretty much universally respected for burnishing. The grooves darken but don't transfer dye after you wipe it. I have tried oak and didn't like it. Also tried brass and it didn't do much.  I have seen someone on youtube using aluminum but I forget who. Sam Andrews maybe.

[Hardrada]

Yeah, cocobolo.

I tried using brass with a burnishing attachment for my creasing machine, but it didn't really work that well with Edge Kote.

[dikman]

Yep, Sam Andrews uses aluminium so it can't be too bad. I made a couple out of wood, one using a hardish wood the other a slightly softer wood and both work fine, but I think hardwood would be better than softwood.

[DrmCa]

Cocobolo is pricey.

Any hard wood would work.

I'd be weary of soft wood as it breaks and wears easily.

[kgg]

Thank you all for the info. If I go with wood I would like to us a North American species. I can see the softwoods like spruce cracking / breaking / wearing or even your softer hardwood species where as your tougher hardwoods like your eastern iron woods, white oaks and hard maples being stronger.

This info has sent me down the wood rabbit hole and so far have found the following info:

A lot burnishers use the non native to North America rosewood Cocobolo which has Janka rating of 2,960 Ibf

Native to North America:

i) Southern Live Oak (Quercus virginiana) has Janka rating of 2680 Ibf

ii) Eastern Ironwood (Ostrya virginiana) has Janka rating of 1,860 Ibf

iii) Hard maple has Janka rating of 1,500 Ibf

iv) White Oak has Janka rating of 1,360 Ibf

As a reference your typical White Spruce has Janka rating of 460 Ibf.

This raises the question if a good burnisher is based on hardness why not just go with metal or are there other factors?

9 hours ago, dikman said:

Yep, Sam Andrews uses aluminium so it can't be too bad.

I couldn't find him so if you have a link I would appreciate it.

11 hours ago, Hardrada said:

Yeah, cocobolo.

kgg

 

[DrmCa]

Do not overthink it. Beech, birch, oak, all of the hardwoods will do just fine.

[Cumberland Highpower]

i found long ago elm made a good hard burnishing head. oak seemed the least stable. maybe the grain structure?

Edited November 29, 2021 by Cumberland Highpower

[JLSleather]

oak is very good - and in N. America it's everywhere

[Hardrada]

This is mine: http://www.proedgeburnishers.com/hand-burnishers.html

Posting as reference, since the OP mentioned he wants to turn his own.

They make burnishers for machines too: http://www.proedgeburnishers.com/motor-burnishers.html