Thread: Burnishing Tool

Yes

The burnisher needs to be harder than the scraper; if you are using a HSS scraper you need to check that the drill bit is a harder alloy. See if you can find a drill bit containing ~2% cobalt, these are used for drilling stainless steel.

The best burnisher I've seen was an old sharpening steel that had been turned smooth and polished. The one I use is a Veritas oe with round and triangular bits. Doesn't seem to be in their catalogue now.

would imagine so -only has to be harder than the scraper.

one of my turning tools is from one of these - bone handle and decorative fittings and all. Essentially a skinny bowl gouge reshaped with angle grinder.

Thanks all for the replies.

Originally Posted by Chief Tiff

The burnisher needs to be harder than the scraper; if you are using a HSS scraper.....

Are scrapers hss? I've only ever heard of spring /carbon steel scrapers?
(my education is limited...)

But the shank of a drill bit, while still hss, is not hardened - that's why they can gall up if it slips.
I would think a burnisher could be made of any carbon steel / spring steel/ silver steel - heat to red, plunge into water or oil.
A shaft from an old printer will possibly hardened already.

I use a piece of 5mm HSS tool rod from McJings stuck in a wood handle. Been using it for years and it dosn't have a mark on it, so it's plenty hard enough!

Scrapers for wood are typically about as hard as saw steel so much less hard than HSS. Part of the rationale for turning the burr is that it work-hardens the metal and makes the edge more durable. Some like to use carbide burnishers, which would be marginally better, but not really necessary, imo, but if you happen to have an old solid-carbide router bit that has ended its life in thet context, it could be re-purposed as a burnisher. Scrapers for use on metals like mild steel are much harder, of course, but these are generally not burred, i.e., no burnishing required.

Cheers,

Just a thought here. Try using an old automotive valve stem. You should be able to get one at your nearest auto recycler, auto dismantler, engine rebuilder or junk yard.

In school the instructor used one to burnish scrapers.

I use one as Alex described but can't find it in their current catalog.

I make my scrapers out of an old piece of saw blade and use a decent quality nail punch as a burnisher.