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View Full Version : Burnishing a sanded piece with woodshavings- questions about Ron Roszkiewicz book



Oiliver
20th November 2012, 02:02 PM
I just recently received Ron Roszkiewicz book "The Woodturner's Companion" for my birthday, and so far I have enjoyed reading about his techniques and recommendations. However, a few of his ideas seem either dated (the book was published 1984) or plain silly.
> "Of course, don't wear anything loose that can get caught in the revolving work. If turning is a formal occasion, wear a bow tie."

I think that he is joking there, but it made me wonder about some of his other more unusual techniques, especially the idea of burnishing a completed piece with wood shavings. In several points he uses it as a finishing techniques. For instance:
> "The shaped wood is sanded with a series of coarse through fine sandpapers and with steel wool, and then it is burnished with shavings. The smooth piece is finally coated with stains or sealers, or both." With an accompany picture of him just rubbing a handful of shavings against the piece while it is still on the lathe.

My question is does anyone out there still use this technique? If so, what is the reasoning/benefits of burnishing with shavings? Do you have to use the shavings of the piece that you finishing? I assume the shavings must be dry, not green curlies!

Also, has anyone read "The Woodturner's Companion"? It seems reasonably comprehensive, but does anyone have insights on it, or has anyone found it to be outdated?

rsser
20th November 2012, 03:33 PM
Burnishing with shavings gets a mention in a few old books.

Never tried it.

How could it be better than quality fine abrasives? Dunno but I'm open to new, and old, ideas. Suck it and see.

Re steel wool, obviously that can be a prob. where there are voids or checking. The strands can get stuck and have to be picked out. I only use 0000 wool to cut back sanding sealer where the wood is sound.

HTH

michael_m
20th November 2012, 03:41 PM
I didn't realise it wasn't the done thing :o - I do it quite a bit: sand to 600, burnish, tung oil. The burnishing makes quite a difference to the smoothness of the piece compared to 600 grit.

rsser
20th November 2012, 03:49 PM
Whatever works for you.

Maybe the modern equiv. is Neil's EEE-Ultra Shine (cut 'n' polish paste wax) (http://www.ubeaut.com.au/eee.htm)

jimbur
20th November 2012, 03:54 PM
Woodwould mentioned doing it so I gave it a try. It works really well on walnut and elm. I just use a handfull of the shavings from the piece.

rsser
20th November 2012, 05:06 PM
So does it denib raised grain sections or just 'polish' the piece?

jimbur
20th November 2012, 05:36 PM
I think both Ern.

Oiliver
20th November 2012, 07:36 PM
Ooh cool, I didn't quite expect such a response! Seems like this is a bit of an old-timer trick of the trade! I will certainly be giving it a go then.

Jimbur, do you think it only applies to hardwoods (you mentioned elm and walnut) or is it just a general technique? Also, I am assuming you used dry shavings, not wet/green ones?

michael_m, do you use it on all your pieces? Also, are fine shavings or chunkier ones better in your experience? Cos the illustration in the book seems to show a mix of both.

jimbur
20th November 2012, 07:48 PM
Oiliver, I don't often turn softwoods so I can't say. It doesn't cost anything to try so give it a go.:U

RETIRED
20th November 2012, 09:04 PM
I used to do it a long time on pine rolling pins. no other finish just burnish.

You must make sure that it is shavings and not chunks. You will know it if you do.

It is preferable if it is the same timber as what you are turning but not wet, no effect.

Watch out you don't set fire to anything. Remember it is 2 sticks rubbing together. If you do, you are pressing too hard or long.:whistling2:

michael_m
20th November 2012, 09:11 PM
michael_m, do you use it on all your pieces? Also, are fine shavings or chunkier ones better in your experience? Cos the illustration in the book seems to show a mix of both.

I don't on pens (having only made 6 in my life, that's not saying much though), but tend to on the hollow forms and bowls. This is partly because of time - I find it a quick way to get the surface ready and with three little kids, turning time is precious to me; and also a lot to do with cheapness. I just use a handful of the shavings from making it, making sure I don't have any bits of bark in the handful (learnt that one the hard way!). The shaving sizes are a mix of whatever is on the floor/lathe at the time.

I mostly use softwoods because I have a whole lot of mixed conifer logs from the kerb, so yes, it works fine on fir, spruce, cypress and unknown pine.

I also sometimes don't burnish, and use EEE, sometimes I finish with turner's wax, sometimes with shellawax. But I'm just staring out in this turning bizzo, and currently it's all one big fun experiment for me. :U

vk4
20th November 2012, 09:58 PM
I have used this method for many years and on soft to med hard woods it works really well,.

My normal finish, is to sand , burnish, then apply several coats of BLONDE shellac, and burnish between the first 3 coats, then buff with a soft cloth for the next 4 coats(this is my minimum). I then consider wax , that is 4-6 coats with a polish between each.

Jeff
vk4

powderpost
20th November 2012, 09:59 PM
Burnishing has been around for a long time. Most commonly used in days past, when abrasives were fairly primitive. I have used bone, also the back of a roughing gouge on slow concave hollows and the side of a skew chisel on slow convex shapes. The bone was a bovine rib bone treated to remove the marrow and fat.
However this does tighten up the pores of the wood and it will not take a stain evenly. Wood shavings will not "tighten" the grain of the timber as much and will allow the stains etc. to work better.
Jim

hughie
21st November 2012, 08:39 AM
Played around with as a kid, never felt the need these days. As Ern has pointed out we have moved on some to better abrasives etc.

Sparhawk
21st November 2012, 11:30 AM
The last time I was as Sovereign Hill (Ballarat), the wood turner finished everything with wood shavings (and sometime some twine for burn mark accents).

jimbur
21st November 2012, 11:45 AM
Played around with as a kid, never felt the need these days. As Ern has pointed out we have moved on some to better abrasives etc.
But not cheaper Hughie.:U

Oiliver
21st November 2012, 08:42 PM
Very true, and also there is no need to create storage devices for all your sandpapers like in that thread that was floating about earlier! Just grab a handful from infront of you :2tsup:

HardingPens
22nd November 2012, 04:13 AM
This is an old trick that I have used from time to time. Another version of this trick to to rub the part with a piece of a paper bag, which I first read about in Russ Fairfield's finishing methods. Russ claimed these tricks were equivalent to using a grit finer than 12000 Micro Mesh. I have to agree with this since it seems to improve the gloss beyond the 12000 finish.

Tim the Timber Turner
22nd November 2012, 07:29 PM
Like some other things I can think of.
If it makes you feel good, do it!!!
If it dosen't, give it a miss.

Cheers

Tim:)