What material makes the best burnisher?

[Spyros]

Canvas always gives me the best results, and now I'm wondering how come no one has made a rotating wheel out of canvas for burnishing...  maybe because it will probably wear too quickly.  Maybe I should make one and try 

[dikman]

Spyros, the same thought occurred to me once, but as you say I don't think it would stand up to the pressure and speed.

kgg, I thought about making one out of aluminium as it would be pretty easy to do on the lathe but the biggest problem was how to cut the thread for the shaft in the ally. The advantage of wood is that I could drill the centre hole slightly undersize and then force it onto the shaft, using the shaft thread to cut a matching thread in the wood.

[kgg]

2 hours ago, dikman said:

I thought about making one out of aluminium as it would be pretty easy to do on the lathe but the biggest problem was how to cut the thread for the shaft in the ally.

My plan of attack is to use a metal lathe that way I can use either wood or metal for the burnisher. My main shaft on my burnisher / polisher is 3/4" that tappers down to a 5/8"-11 threaded section.

So far me thoughts are:

For a aluminum: Drilling a 17/32" hole almost to the end then drilling a 13/16 " hole so far down and then tapping the 17/32" section for a 5/8" - 11 bolt thread. Once that is done cut the grooves in the surface, drill and tap a grub screw in the 13/16" end.

For wood: Round and mill the grooves into the wood to the correct diameters, drill a 11/16" hole completely from end to the other then drill a 1 5/8" hole so far down to accommodate a 5/8"nut and on the other end drill a 1 3/8" flat washer to butt up against the 3/4" shaft.

[Cumberland Highpower]

4 hours ago, Spyros said:

Canvas always gives me the best results, and now I'm wondering how come no one has made a rotating wheel out of canvas for burnishing...  maybe because it will probably wear too quickly.  Maybe I should make one and try 

Well it sort of has been done.  I have a shoe finisher/lineshaft type deal and it has a cast iron 'lobed" wheel of some kind that has a canvas jacket over it.  That qualifies as a burnisher of sorts. (I think?)   I also have both a bench Randall Burnisher and a Galli FCE that has wheels that are made from alternating layers of canvas and leather.  

4 hours ago, dikman said:

Spyros, the same thought occurred to me once, but as you say I don't think it would stand up to the pressure and speed.

kgg, I thought about making one out of aluminium as it would be pretty easy to do on the lathe but the biggest problem was how to cut the thread for the shaft in the ally. The advantage of wood is that I could drill the centre hole slightly undersize and then force it onto the shaft, using the shaft thread to cut a matching thread in the wood.

Dikman I don't know if aluminum is a good idea.   Aluminum is soft and can rub off onto the leather.  Damp leather might be ok, but if it were somewhat less than soft it would make black on your leather from the aluminum rubbing off...

Edited December 1, 2021 by Cumberland Highpower

[dikman]

When I first thought about it I wasn't sure it would work either, but the fact Sam Andrews uses one proves that it does, in fact, work. The only proviso could be in the grade of aluminium used, some are harder/denser than others.

kgg, I needed mine to fit on the left side of the grinder, which is a left-hand thread, plus the shaft is too short to extend past the burnisher. Finding such taps here isn't easy and the lathe I had back then couldn't cut threads. Your ideas should work.

[coma44]

Hickory would be very hard and tough.