Love this. I would love to see more how-to videos, for leather, metal, and woodworking - any of the skills you are proficient in. I would love to see the different steps in how you make your wallets/rings (or if you know how to make those cool sandals you and Rach made that would be sweeeeeet)
Thankyou for explaining the "why" rather than just the "how" in this video. I'm about to attempt my first leather work project and found it very helpful!
Absolutely excellent direction. I was able to burnish my leather earrings all 3 way and I like the gum tragacanth best too. I also brought renaissance crystalline wax polish, nice finish as well. TFS. I'm a newbie and will be hanging around for more videos.
Hey Rose, Could you do a video on different types of leather edge finnishing (natural burnish, dyed burnish, edge paint, folded edge), compare them in looks, longevity, cost (material price and time spent)?
Good call on the psa for pinning your hair back! I had a kid in my shop class who did not listen to the instructor while using a drill press. He had a permanent bald patch the size of a silver dollar and a goose egg front and center right at the hair line.
Thanks so much! I'm a chainmaille artist, but I've been playing around with making leather cuffs and adding the chainmaille to them. They would benefit from burnishing, right?
I’ve never used anything but water and I’ve done this professionally for 20 years. I’m not knocking this, I am looking to learn different methods. One of the things I build is leather armor and accessories for LARPers and Renaissance Faire goers. A lot of the time, the 12oz plus leathers I’ll cut with a band saw. This will leave a very jagged edge. I edged bevel it, wet it and burnish it. I use the 2” wheel burnisher Tandy sells. I put a 1/4-20 screw with the nut threw it, and stick it in my drill press. If you’re only burnishing one piece of leather, sanding it is an unnecessary step. The burnishing process doesn’t take any longer if left un-sanded . I only find sanding to be a necessary step if it’s multiple pieces that are fairly uneven.
I'm new, so this was a very informative video. Thanks for the tip and link to burnishing rotary bits; I would have never know of them otherwise. Question: how would you clean them, if there came a time?
One word ... TOKONOLE. That is a game changer when it comes to burnishing leather edges and the flesh side. Oh, and a glass burnisher. Good video, but I recommend an updated version that includes tokonole and a glass slicker. MHO :-)
Watched this video after a few months being subscribed. Boy was I surprised to see that long hair )) I thought what a change overnight but then i looked at the date of the video.
I usually pre burnish with ether Aussie conditioner (it has wax in it) it gives a really nice slick burnish. Or I'll use water. Then. After its dried. I'll burnish again with gum trag. If I really want to go overboard though. I'll finish up on top of the gum trag with eco flows edge flex clear finish. Just to add a really high shine and protective finish to my edges. But that's only for high wear items like shoulder straps.. Most items dont need it
Helloo! Thank you a lot for the video! I have a question though. Right now i have a Black Edge Kote and Gum Tragacanth. So, do I need to dye the edge with the Kote before I burnish it with the Tragacanth or after? Also, do I need to apply any other finishing on the edge after the Tragacanth?
I'm curious as to which holds up better and longer between the gum trag and beeswax. A commenter on Etsy said that the gum trag was crusty. I'm going to be burnishing some leather for motorcycle grips and fork/tool bag and some other things. Wondering which one would be best in this application? Anyone?
Well well well some nice tips and things to learn here, when I put on ma leather, and rock to sum Metallica, Delta Parole, Foo Fighters or the Smashing Pumpkins I feel like I can do anything in the whole wide world.
I have this same machine and I’m struggling to find this wood part that goes there. Where did you buy yours? It has a wide part. Mine are is all small if I glue 3 pieces of leather together I can’t use my machine. Where did you buy that wood part?
@Bianca Read, if you're asking about the tapered, handheld wooden piece, you can buy them from Tandy Leather Factory, either online our in one of their brick-and-mortar stores. If you're talking about the one mounted on the buffer's spindle that looks like somebody glued four wooden sewing thread spools together, then it's possible he turned that one on a lathe, himself.
Bianca Read I deleted my last comment because I just found somebody who makes these types of Burnishers that are not only functional, but absolutely beautiful as well! Pro Edge Burnishers at www.proedgeburnishers.com The Cocobolo ones I saw are simply gorgeous.
You're not ready for this one. I'm a pro pool player and the tip we use at the end of the pool cue is made of leather. Layered or laminated leather to be more exact. What glue is used between the layers? No clue. Anyway, when we finish the installation, we burnish the sides of the tip - usually that's made with the cue spinning on a lathe. Most old school cue makers use a little bit of spit (or water) and a leather piece to final burnish the sides of the tip. It absolutely leaves a slick, mirror-like finish, but since the cue often comes in contact with the pool table cloth, the burnished barrier doesn't last much time and the tips tends to fluff up. What would you, dear leather experts, recommend for burnishing the sides of the tip so it last as long as possible. Thanks for your consideration :)
Do not burnish until the end! Burnishing compound will prevent dyes from penetrating and will ruin all your projects! I learned this the hard way because nobody in any of these videos tells you that important fact.
A few notes. You shouldn't burnish with a rotary. They don't have a low enough speed setting so you'll have to be extra careful and will still probably screw up at some point. Never use your fingers to apply gum, it WILL get on the surface of your project. Use a sponge instead. Water burnishing doesn't last nearly as long as the other two methods and doesn't look as nice. If you're going to hand burnish with wax or gum then use a piece of canvas, not that crappy handheld tool. Sanding sponges are best for hand sanding. Auerllcy brand is the best bang for your buck. A one inch sanding drum is all you really need, and the surface will rotate slower than a larger one at the same speed setting. I mention this because if you buy the inexpensive burnishing machine on Amazon you'll have to replace the junk sanding drum that comes with it. Which is accomplished by mounting a "drill chuck adapter for 5/16 inch shafts". Okay, I guess that was several notes. I suppose the moral here is never listen to hippies, they are too chill to give proper advice regarding professional standards.
