Antler burnishing tool

[Hivernant1962]

I've read on some forum posts here about burnishing using antler. Anybody willing to share the shape, and the technique they use? Thanks.

[Thawk]

I have used an antler tip that is very smooth for the small areas and I use my scraper burnisher on large area's.   I haven't done a thing to the antler tip.  I just picked the smoothest one lying around.  I imagine you could polish one up smooth if you wanted or needed too.   Hope this helps.

[Acer Saccharum]

You can use a piece of hardwood, polished steel rod, etc, as long as it doesn't grab the wood, or deposit material on the surface.

Often builders use a burnisher to bring out the waviness in the wood, burnishing compresses the softer wood and doesn't compress the hard so much. The stock ends up with ripples on the surface. Be careful with hard burnishing if you want a super smooth stock finish.

Some scrub the stock with a crumpled up brown paper shopping bag( Thank you, Don Getz) for a nice soft sheen. Burlap works, too.

[conquerordie]

I use a piece of antler with a few small tines. Works well. Also have used a back of a spoon of larger areas. That worked pretty well too.
Greg

[thecapgunkid]

When I burnish leather on the shoes or bags I make, or occasionally wood, I use a flat bone folder where the corners have been rounded a bit.  I am assuming you are burnishing wood ( being right there on the uptake) so you might try flattening,rounding the edges and polishing the antler or just going to bone.  The flatter surface does a more uniform and smoother job with less work, but antler may be too soft on the inside.  You can pick these babies up at any leather craft store

The best burnisher for surface area, though, has proven to be a simple glass jar.    Right off the grocery shelf, making sure it does not have any raised surfaces.  I will wear a work glove because I am a nervous nellie;  apple sauce or mayo make outstanding, uniform burnishers.

My old Cordwainer Master used to also take a piece of glass, score it, snap it and use it as a scraper on sole leather and I have tried that on wood.  I've never had a scraping or shaving tool more efficient than that.

Don't shoot yore eye out, kid

The Capgun Kid

[Smoketown]

My old Cordwainer Master used to also take a piece of glass, score it, snap it and use it as a scraper on sole leather and I have tried that on wood.  I've never had a scraping or shaving tool more efficient than that.

Don't shoot yore eye out, kid

The Capgun Kid

Great for horn scraping too!   

Cheers,
Smoketown